Winter weather creates all kinds of problems for aviators, and one I was recently asked about was how to start a piston engine when it is cold. Colder air is more dense than warm, so if you are used to warm weather like we are in South Carolina, it might come as a surprise that your plane won't start like it normally does (or perhaps doesn't). Dense air simply means there is more of it, so to get the proper fuel mixture for starting, the engine might need a little more fuel than usual. Unfortunately, I have seen people take this too far and add way too much fuel which will also result in a failed start attempt, maybe even a fire.
Today I will show you what I did to get the Lycoming O-235 in a Zenair Alarus CH2000 started on a cold day with a weak battery following several failed start attempts by another pilot. This may not necessarily be the best way to do it (though it is very similar to the method in the manual for this airplane), but it has worked very reliably for me on this and other carbureted aircraft engines. Please refer to the manual for your own aircraft and familiarize yourself with the procedures and potential oddities there before attempting this method.
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a flight instructor, but this video should not be considered a replacement for flight instruction. This video is intended to supplement training from your instructor on proper engine starting procedures. Using this video, or any others on the internet, instead of receiving real instruction from a certified instructor is a bad idea.
30 сен 2024
