Failed Vacuum Pump

[Andy95W]

Cliffy- I do generally agree with that analysis, which is why I mentioned the unknown "hazardous to the aircraft" statement in my post above.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been quite so flippant in the rest of my answer?

Would you placard the inop vacuum step in the cabin, or on the step itself?

[N201MKTurbo]

About a year ago my pump failed en route from Oregon to Arizona. I texted my wife from the plane and she was able to get a replacement and leave it at the airport before I got there. I flew all the way back on the standby. I stopped for fuel and took off with a failed pump. Call the Feds and have me put in jail! Unless you crash the chances of getting busted are slim to none.

When I got home I changed the pump and the next day we flew to New Orleans IFR. (A lot of flying in two days) and changing a pump after an 8 hour cross country is not fun, besides the engine is very hot.

[cliffy]

Like I said, I'm not telling anyone how to fly there airplane, only bringing forth the legalities of maintenance actions. As the OP opined, "there's nothing wrong with flying it that way-IS THERE?

Chances are if I were a fuel stop from home I might do the same thing you did and accept the legal exposure for one more flight.

To just placard the panel that the vacuum system is inop and continuously fly that way for days with no other actions is another issue.

I know it seems like a minor point AND it would probably never be an issue but even placarding the step (it would hang out and as you taxi in) IF an Inspector saw it and IF he knew what he was looking at he might wonder about the correct sign offs. I've know a couple of anal retentive Inspectors in my time.

I agree. its a very long shot that anything would ever come of it but it might be nice to know for those who don't for sometime if the future.

[rbp]

if you follow 91.213, you're in the clear

[cliffy]

rbp Absolutely true!

[Andy95W]

If you put an inop placard on the vacuum pump itself, do you still have to placard the affected gauges inop, or would those be considered associated failures?

[rbp]

 

(3) The inoperative instruments and equipment are—(ii) Deactivated and placarded “Inoperative.” 

 

 

 

I read this to mean each and every affected instrument must be placarded.

In the PA-28, the suction gauge is only 1" in diameter, and across the panel. Imagine someone departs VFR, doesn't look at the suction gauge, which is now placarded, and doesn't notice that the vacuum instruments are a little slow. 30 minutes into the flight, he needs a pop-up....

[Andy95W]

I was joking around, which is why I put the in my post. I'll try to be funnier in the future.

Actually, the vacuum gauge itself would not need an inop placard. It would read correctly at 0 psi because there wouldn't be any vacuum pressure.