For those of you who wrench on 207s or have operated them extensively, what should I examine particularly closely during a preflight inspection?

Door latches, especially aft rear door. Flap cables and follow through cables. Gear boxes. Seat rails. Tails take a big beating.

Most fly 1000 to 2000 hours a year in some pretty shit conditions.

Gump

Gee Gump never looked at that stuff........always double checked the nose door had come open once C207 was an $$$ making machine for 135 ground lover till they put the cuff on the wing

What breaks on a 207? just about everything on the one I had.I still loved her though.

That stuff is what always bit me when I got a new Sled that someone else had been flying lots. Once I got the bugs worked out, I could keep one going pretty much squawk free for the year. But, you gotta be really fussy, and anal, about preflight and how you run it.

Gump

GumpAir wrote: Tails take a big beating.
Gump

If u could lift the tail with 1500 RPM....u were good to go

GumpAir wrote:Door latches, especially aft rear door. Flap cables and follow through cables. Gear boxes. Seat rails. Tails take a big beating.

Most fly 1000 to 2000 hours a year in some pretty shit conditions.

Gump

Door latches and seat rails I could catch during a pre-flight, but flap cables and follow-through cables?

I thought I saw pre-buy... Sorry.

But pay real close attention when you run flaps up and down, checking for any dragging or noise. If the follow through cable breaks and you end up with split flaps, it's an E ticket ride.

Gump

GumpAir wrote:That stuff is what always bit me when I got a new Sled that someone else had been flying lots. Once I got the bugs worked out, I could keep one going pretty much squawk free for the year. But, you gotta be really fussy, and anal, about preflight and how you run it.

Gump

Chief pilot in FBKS always gave me the old dog of the fleet. He said i had the experience if something went wrong I would be better able to handle it but u do develop a feeling for the plane and feel comfortable after a while, kind of like an old dog or old shoes. It was a partnership .....probably don't make sense unless u been there

Hey Erik...

On the Sled, like I said I was ALWAYS anal about pre-flight and my walk around, on every flight. No matter if it was triple mailers or pax.

I started at the rear doors. I NEVER let a ramper or pax shut the aft door. Never. If that door pops open in flight it's going to do major structural damage. Which means AOG for weeks or months, chief pilot pissed, and possible no job. And certainly no $$$$$$$$$. I shut that door myself, and really check the bottom latch to make sure there is nothing in the way. A piece of gravel or garbage can get in the latch, and let it pop up under stress once airborne. No matter how big a hurry, or someone saying, "I got it," DO IT YOURSELF!!!

Next walk around towards right side front. Check the funky latch for the forward baggage. I've never seen a Sled without the bolt on POS extra catch. And, make sure there's nothing like an engine blanket in the forward compartment. Sooner or later that door will pop open. No big deal if it's boxes or small shit. But if you have a blanket, sleeping bag, or something that will wrap around the tail... Get it out and put it in the back.

And last, walk around the nose on your way to the pilot's side door. More guys get fired from pilot jobs in AK for running over pallets, four wheelers and 55 gal drums than any other reason. And why do they do it? They don't walk around the nose, and they don't make sure some native kid or "helper" has moved something in front of you while you were busy changing seats or loading stuffs.

The rest is just common sense and running a 200 series Cessna. Cold wx adds some steps, but it's Summer soon, so you can work into it! Have Fun!

Gump

GumpAir wrote:Hey Erik...

On the Sled, like I said I was ALWAYS anal about pre-flight and my walk around, on every flight. No matter if it was triple mailers or pax.

I started at the rear doors. I NEVER let a ramper or pax shut the aft door. Never. If that door pops open in flight it's going to do major structural damage. Which means AOG for weeks or months, chief pilot pissed, and possible no job. And certainly no $$$$$$$$$. I shut that door myself, and really check the bottom latch to make sure there is nothing in the way. A piece of gravel or garbage can get in the latch, and let it pop up under stress once airborne. No matter how big a hurry, or someone saying, "I got it," DO IT YOURSELF!!!

Next walk around towards right side front. Check the funky latch for the forward baggage. I've never seen a Sled without the bolt on POS extra catch. And, make sure there's nothing like an engine blanket in the forward compartment. Sooner or later that door will pop open. No big deal if it's boxes or small shit. But if you have a blanket, sleeping bag, or something that will wrap around the tail... Get it out and put it in the back.

And last, walk around the nose on your way to the pilot's side door. More guys get fired from pilot jobs in AK for running over pallets, four wheelers and 55 gal drums than any other reason. And why do they do it? They don't walk around the nose, and they don't make sure some native kid or "helper" has moved something in front of you while you were busy changing seats or loading stuffs.

The rest is just common sense and running a 200 series Cessna. Cold wx adds some steps, but it's Summer soon, so you can work into it! Have Fun!

Gump

The things you've mentioned were stressed in training, for the same reasons you give. I flew in to Crooked Creek today and worried about the "helper" moving something in front of the plane, or worse, backing a vehicle into the plane. You see, the ramp was crowded (three 207s and a CASA) and all kinds of people (including govmnt - maybe FEMA?), and at least three trucks due to the recent flood. Lots of relief materials being delivered, and the locals in shock (some definitely acting spacey) or keyed up (in emergency / high alert mode). Fortunately, the "helpers" left when the CASA pilot announced he was going to start up (nobody voluntarily sticks around when those loud engines start running).

I've heard stories about engine blankets getting caught on the tail - sounds interesting! And not in a good way. Have also heard stories of wool blankets (the ones used during quick stops in lieu of using the engine blanket) being overlooked and shredded by the prop and drawn into the intakes. And stories about nose forks cracking where the axle bearing is pressed in. One of the better stories involved open buckets of eels not properly secured - they slid aft when the plane rotated, and nearly caused the plane to stall onto its tail.

Breakup is largely over and the mosquitoes are out in force. The ice is still jammed at Aniak, but most people feel the flood risk is low. Big bull moose belly deep in the water, browsing in the pond at the edge of the runway at Sleetmute. The buds on the trees and willows haven't opened yet, but you can tell it won't be long. Life is good in Yup'ik country.

PA12_Pilot wrote:Breakup is largely over and the mosquitoes are out in force. The ice is still jammed at Aniak, but most people feel the flood risk is low. Big bull moose belly deep in the water, browsing in the pond at the edge of the runway at Sleetmute. The buds on the trees and willows haven't opened yet, but you can tell it won't be long. Life is good in Yup'ik country.

Good for you! Enjoy this time in life, because when you look back at it all, this will be the best of times as far as flying memories go. If you get the chance with Ryan Air, head up to Kotz to spend some time. Once the Kobuk, Noatak, and Kelly Rivers get their hooks into your heart, you'll be homesick for them for the rest of your life.

Gump

Thanks for the tip about Kotz: I will volunteer to fill in when they are short-handed up there. Right now I am sitting in the pilot house at UNK, looking straight down runway 33. Not long ago an EvertsC_46 took off and flew directly over the house. Nowhere else but Alaska, right?

Tomorrow I'm off to St. Marys (and the always"enjoyable" Pilot Station) and then Emmonak and its villages. Then back to UNK for dinner at Peace On Earth. Life is good!

When in UNK say hi to 84U for me. She's a good Sled.

Gump

GumpAir wrote:When in UNK say hi to 84U for me. She's a good Sled.

Gump

Is that BOOTS on the leading edge ? I went to Wisconsin several years back and saw a 207 with boots on leading edge and tail. They had several 206's with this .

Hell No! That's from me scraping the ice off after I landed at Kotz with that shit packed on thick enough to make me pucker big time.

Gump

Eric - hey I am jealous. Have fun. Have you been to Serpentine Hot Springs yet?

Here is a video from our trip up in that country, with a lot of the hot springs area. It is a pretty place and a nice contrast to the scenery. John

Golden eagle on the beach this morning, sharing breakfast with a sea gull. It looked like salmon was on the menu. Many snow geese between St. Michael and Kotlik. Dozens of moose on the Yukon delta around Emmonak. And after I finished flying for the day I discovered an ermine peering at me from the front bumper of the truck. No shortage of wildlife today!

Life is good.