Vent left open

[201Steve]

I left the top vent open and the plane got rained on. Should I do anything? ‘77J

[carusoam]

See if your vent’s drain is working...

Then get a cover for your plane...

My M20C lived outside...

Without a cover, rain comes in wherever it can go...

Best regards,

-a-

[rbridges]

On my '65, there is a metal airbox with a drain tube out the aft end which drains down the left side of the fuselage.  Like anthony said, test the vent and see if water drains out the bottom.  If not, the water is going somewhere.  

[N201MKTurbo]

Closing the vent doesn’t do much to keep the rain out, it just slows it down a bit.

If you are concerned, take ou5 your headliner panels so you can see the plenum. Have someone spray the plane with a hose while you are inside and inspect for leaks.

[RogueOne]

I left the garage side door open and the dogs got out once.  Got ‘em both back.  You’ll have that.

[RogueOne]

I also took off once without a fuel cap....that fell off the wing and onto the ramp.  I also forgot to pull the cowl plugs out after a winter lunch.  (They were/are wrapped around prop so I knew of error in a hurry).  In summary “it” happens.  Live and learn.  I put a cabin cover on when outside overnight.  Seems to keep cabin cooler...Is an extra step for prying eyes...and likely repels some water from cabin vents and front avionics access panels.

[RogueOne]

In my defense on the cowl plug I was racing a fellow MSpacer to the fuel island...NOT departing.  Cap was a distraction.  I have not yet repeated either of those “sins” in many hundreds of hours.

[RogueOne]

55 minutes ago, 201Steve said:

I left the top vent open and the plane got rained on. Should I do anything? ‘77J

One Hail Mary and Our father.  Go forth and sin no more.  Otherwise, carry on.

[Yetti]

Is there water on the back seat or is the carpet wet at the base of the back seat?  If no.  Carry on.

[Yetti]

Oh and put some triflow on the vent cable.   I keep forgetting

[ArtVandelay]

Oh and put some triflow on the vent cable.   I keep forgetting

Where exactly, you only see the small section by the vent?


Tom

[201Steve]

Lol  love the responses  

 

it’s just... I haven’t had her long, and I’m maniaccaly obsessed with corrosion and rust. I’m too scared to wet wash it, even. As they say, a Mooney is built like a tank but there’s one thing that’ll ruin it.

I have a Bruce Cover, but I only left for a $100 hamburger when... oil return line started leaking and I was grounded till morning. The moral of the story is... take your cover anyways. 

[RobertGary1]

You can't put the cover on when you fly through the rain. Just make sure the drain is good.

-Robert

[steingar]

That's funny.  My Mooney has been rained on hard and not leaked.  Only time it did was when I left the pilot side window open.

[Yetti]

1 hour ago, ArtVandelay said:

Where exactly, you only see the small section by the vent?


Tom

Yes there.  Work it in.  capillary action will take care of the rest.   It's only a couple of feet long.   Besides what you see is the part that gets wet.

[Andy95W]

5 hours ago, RogueOne said:

I also took off once without a fuel cap....that fell off the wing and onto the ramp. 

I've done that, too- twice!  Worst way to waste $40 in 100LL that I can think of!

 (I swear I thought a guy named Scott around here did the same thing.  Maybe a different guy.)

[ArtVandelay]

Yes there.  Work it in.  capillary action will take care of the rest.   It's only a couple of feet long.   Besides what you see is the part that gets wet.

Since the fuselage slants downward from front to back, I can’t see it making its way forward.


Tom

[PT20J]