Bird's nest in less than 48 hours

[Ed de C.]

Good afternoon, folks - this was a surprise.  I had flown from my home base north of Detroit to Easton Maryland for a niece's wedding.  Landed and parked last Friday afternoon and admonished the line guy to be careful moving the plane due to the tow limits.  With that squared away, my wife, daughter and I packed our gear into the rental and headed off.  I remember noticing a Lake Amphibian parked 50 yards from my plane that looked like it had been there for a while.  Birds were flying in and out of the engine cowling, which I mentioned to the desk person.  "Oh, that plane is broken, he's not going anywhere for a while."   

We returned to the airport Sunday morning, and I start the preflight.  The Lake was still there. as were the birds.  First thing I noticed preflighting was bird crap all over the front of the cowling, prop and spinner.  I aimed the flashlight inside the right cowl opening and there was the nest evidence.  Damn!  Luckily, I had a small tool kit with the necessary screw drivers and removed the top cowling.  15 minutes of picking away at the scraps dealt with it.  (No eggs yet.)  My cousin's bird nest episode in an old Grumman Tiger (a fire happened) caused me to reflect again on the wisdom of preflights.  The Pilatus crew that had just taxied in had a chuckle, "Yeah, that's why we do preflights!" 

Now I know what to do with the cowl plugs I inherited from the last owner.  I thought they were just for preheating (my plane lives in a hangar at home).  Another adjustment to the checklist.  Thinking more about this, I'm guessing the bird nest risk is high in the spring when birds are nesting.  Later in the season, the risk should be far less.  

Also, thinking about other openings that could attract birds:  What do you folks do to plug the intake air opening on the bottom cowl?  Any worries about the cowl openings at the back of the lower cowl?  (Note to self, I better shine the flashlight up the lower cowl.)  I see log entries twice that an A/P fished out bird nest material from the tailcone area.  How they get in there is a mystery to me.  

Ed

[Pinecone]

Yeah, cowl plugs have a reason.  And one tip, put them in so that the cord between them loops over a blade, so if you start without removing them, they get removed.  People HAVE taken off with them in, and it is NOT cheap.

I have not heard of issues with Mooneys and birds in the lower cowl. 

[anthonydesmet]

Yep, I flew from Florida to Illinois a few years back. Landed at lunch time, went back in the evening and bird crap on the cowl.  Opened up the oil door and saw the nest.  Went back to the our Illinois house got a bunch of towels, came back cleaned out nest and plugged the cowl.  I also brought some back for the Bonanza parked next to me and left the guy a note recommending a preflight and where the towels came from. When the wife and I left Sunday they were folded under the plane with a “thank you”.

 

over the weekend I ordered my plugs and I never travel without them and they always go in regardless of where I land, even when in my own hanger (habit).  I also close the cowl flaps before I shutdown; 1. For birds and 2. So the line guys see the limit marker.

ive also manufactured two foam plugs to put in the openings in the tail cone to keep critters out. They are painted red with a flag that sticks out. I used a flag from an old dog invisible fence.

[Jetpilot86]

Pool noodles work well. 

[buddy]

Take a look in your tail, I found a birds nest there once. After I removed the next I plugged the opening with a sponge when it was parked outside.

[exM20K]

Saw this at the Springfield, IL airport a few years back.  Robins are notorious for putting their nests in the dumbest locations, and if eggs are present, I believe it is unlawful to move a nest.

[dkkim73]

20 hours ago, Pinecone said:

 And one tip, put them in so that the cord between them loops over a blade, so if you start without removing them, they get removed.  

That's a great tip. I'd kept the cord underneath thinking about its winding around the spinner, but your idea is better. Mine also have little flags visible from the cockpit. 

[exM20K]

3 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

That's a great tip. I'd kept the cord underneath thinking about its winding around the spinner, but your idea is better. Mine also have little flags visible from the cockpit. 

Not necessarily, unfortunately. Last week I saw a serious started with the cowl plugs in. One was thrown to the side, and the propeller parted the strap connecting them. the other was sucked in as the engine attempted to fire. Nothing was damaged other than the cord, but I wouldn’t count on the propeller, snatching both of them out. 
 

If you have TKS, it’s also a good idea to avoid letting that cord between the spinner and the front of the cowling. The right circumstances get hung up on the spring nozzle for the TKS prop slinger. 
-dan

[Pinecone]

Head guy at my local FBO and I were talking and this came up.  He told me of the story of a guy who started with the plugs in, and cord jerked them out and they got chewed up.

His solution was to not have the cord around a blade.  Yeap, he started with them in again.  But no flying plug to let him know, so he took off with them in and overheated the engine severely.  And had to pay for an overhaul.

[EricJ]

A buddy flung his across the ramp during a start with them in once.  Now we both put the rope around a prop blade, and I always suggest other people do the same.   Another airplane I fly has cowl plugs and the rope isn't long enough to go around a blade, which is disappointing. 

[BlueSky247]

We’re cleaning a new nest out of the trainer I’m using every week. Birds are persistent!

[Ragsf15e]

I can personally attest to having flung my cowl plugs across the ramp, shutting down and doing the walk of shame.  Not fun but better than a birds nest or an overheated engine.  The aviation gods were really against me that day too.  I was right in front of a busy airport restaurant with a bunch of onlookers out to see those pilots and their amazing flying machines…