What was the stupidest reason you were grounded

[StinkBug]

I forgot the airplane keys at home and had no time to drive back and come back to the airport...

 

 

For this reason the FBO where I keep my plane also keeps a spare set of keys. Also makes it handy if I need to have the maintenance guys pick up the plane, I can just call and give permission to give them the keys instead of making a 1hr round trip.

[FlyDave]

Keys - yes, twice

Frozen Mooney when on my way to trade the J in on the Bravo (see attached pic)

Instrument instructor (while I was an instrument student) that was afraid to go up in instrument conditions....Priceless

 

 

[whiskytango]

I was "grounded" after landing in my M20C when the pin that attaches the door operator lever to the shaft snapped, trapping me inside the plane.  Of course this happened on a Sunday night in an area with no cell service.  After scrounging through everything in the plane I found an allen wrench that would work as a substitute pin.  Very frustrating. 

[Guest]

I picked up and moved a couple of Hartzell 3 blade props on Monday to make room in the shop for an airplane. Now I'm enjoying some modern Pharmaceutical products.

Clarence

[Marauder]

In all seriousness (I know, it's tough), forgetting the keys was so common place with me that I had multiple sets with lanyards made up for every vehicle I could possibly take to the airport. Of course that didn't prevent me from mixing up the sets when I had the keys made...

[ryoder]

someone in Boulder had gotten ahold of my credit card number and went on a spending spree so we cancelled the card. so I had no card for two days / so no fuel as our field has only a self pay pump

You only have one credit card? Definitely need backups there.

[ryoder]

I was "grounded" after landing in my M20C when the pin that attaches the door operator lever to the shaft snapped, trapping me inside the plane.  Of course this happened on a Sunday night in an area with no cell service.  After scrounging through everything in the plane I found an allen wrench that would work as a substitute pin.  Very frustrating.

I was thinking about this the other day when changing my door panel. Isn't there a stc for an emergency access door mod for the cargo?

[Guest]

Ryan,

The ones which I've seen were made from twisted 0.032" safety wire attached to the baggage door handle inner mechanism, then passed through a hole in the door panel, then attached to a piece of 1/2" dowel to make a pull handle.

Clarence

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I've been grounded this past week because one of the springs on my manually operated port-a-port hangar door broke. Not even myself and two of my buddies can lift that damn door all the way. Heading to the airport right now to meet the repair man.

[The-sky-captain]

I've had my hangar door freeze to the ground during a rare snow storm. Blows.

[wishboneash]

Got grounded once when the card entry to the airport wouldn't work. It was past airport operating hours so couldn't get a temporary entry code. Other times this happened, the airport was open, so I could drive over and get a code. But delayed me half an hour.

[Oldguy]

Not really grounded, but stuck in the plane when the lock on the door of the F we were in vibrated enough in flight we could not open the door once we landed. Fortunately, there was someone at the airport late that night (before cell phones) who we enticed to come over, take the key through the pilot side window and unlock us. He was really intrigued about how we managed to lock ourselves in the plane.

 

John

[Marauder]

Not really grounded, but stuck in the plane when the lock on the door of the F we were in vibrated enough in flight we could not open the door once we landed. Fortunately, there was someone at the airport late that night (before cell phones) who we enticed to come over, take the key through the pilot side window and unlock us. He was really intrigued about how we managed to lock ourselves in the plane.

 

John

 

That would have been funny to see...

[Hank]

That would have been funny to see...

Trust me, it's not fun to experience! Got locked in with CFII when landing after total electrical failure, the inside handle broke off where it is pinned to the shaft. Fortunately someone was around to see me waving out the storm window . . . It was not a nice VFR day.

[201er]

What was the stupidest reason you were grounded ?

President was in town

[MB65E]

I flew to Nashville once to unlock a Jet for a one of our pilots...

From LAX!!!!

I'm working on the emergency power thing.

A buddy lent me his C150. Planned a trip with my wife to Vegas, spent the day prior changing the oil and doing a good preflight and all (wife was flying) All to find out its annual expired the next day.

Seems like keys are an issue to say the least.

Also, have been locked outside of the airport fence several times. These tall fences now are not worth it most of the time.

-Matt

[Oscar Avalle]

Well this was not a stupid reason why I was grounded...but for sure this was a strange reason... Last Tuesday we had a volcano erruption close to the airport... So I drove as close as I could totake a picture.

 

http://mooneyspace.com/gallery/image/36816-volcano/

[Hank]

That's a beautiful photo, Oscar. You should enter it in a contest! Having it happen near your home, though, would certainly cast a whole different perspective on it, though. I hope you stay safe, and that the lava flow avoids settled areas. Maybe the ash won't be too bad.

[Houman]

Mystery finally solved, the Hydro company made a mistake, they had associated an outstanding bill from a condo complex my Mooney co-owner had owned in the past with his account. It just happened that the current condo complex owner had not paid his electric bill, and they disconnected the hanger electricity in my Mooney's co-owner name.

 

Everything was resolved with couple of phone calls and proof of sale of the condo complex on his part, so now electricity has been restored to the hanger, at least that is what he tells me. Will check it out tomorrow morning !