Mateusz Pawłowski aka Joe Seeder puts his dirt on the web
Oh, I am really sorry, it looks like the “Better ReCAPTCHA” plugin was not really better than “WP – RECAPTCHA” and didn’t display correctly for some time what blocked a few comments reaching me.
I’m terribly sorry. It should work now as I’ve moved back to WP. In case it breaks don’t hesitate to email me at web@generik.co.uk and it’s gonna get fixed as a matter of urgency.
I have a server called host. It hosts my NFS shares as well as a couple virtual machines using VirtualBox.
Recently I had a relapse of NFS performance issues, which basically made it unusable as NFS server. Continue reading →
I was asked recently how can you make sure that Diginotar breach will not compromise your security. Continue reading →
Since the opensolaris.org vanished I was left wondering, what I’m going to use for my storage/vm server next. Fortunately Open Indiana raised from the OS ashes and world was bright again for my server. Continue reading →
Engineer working on turbo system of DA40
After 3 days of waiting we had an engineer come over from Bournemouth to fix the plane.
Even when there is Diamond Industries HQ 100km away, the maintenance company wasted 3 days of our life and didn’t get us anywhere.
The engineer started work minutes after arrival 10am .
First he took off the avionics cover and started replacing the broken switch. It was fun shielding him from the cold wind to make sure that his wireless soldering iron works.
Then it was to find the fault with ECUs, after connecting the diagnostics software it was showing that both CAM sensors failed. Some resetting, power checks with approval from Tower/Ground ( it was fun to see all these cars waiting for us to finish full power checks ) and CAM sensors didn’t show up as faulty. Damn. However another problem was found. The Boost of Turbo was dropping down to 30% from it’s normal operating 60-80% range.
Many parts were changed, still no progress. After few hours we had enough, cold, lack of any perspective that we are going to fly today ( weather and the aircraft were not cooperating ) we headed to the hotel to get ourselves another room for the 3rd night.
After checking back on the Engineer he was sitting inside the cockpit with rain falling , doors closed, Left front seat removed and his hands down, connecting up the FADECs to download data for diagnostics at the company. Later on he has removed the FADEC from the aircraft and headed back with it to England.
We had tried to get more information from the maintenance company, however none was coming. After text message from the engineer that he is not coming the next day and that we can expect a long delay, we decided that this is it.
The Euro Trip is done and gone and not really what we were planning for.
Few hours later we booked very expensive tickets back to London, purchased carry on bags ( as we had to leave ours at the club due to weight restrictions ) and boarded 6.30 am flight to STN. There we took couch to Victoria then to Bournemouth and we paid for time flown and left them with their broken aircraft.
Whole time we were wondering why they didn’t give us the sister aircraft G-OCCL … the one which we flown last couple of days and never had a single issue with…
For this flight I’m the PIC, after embarkation, started pre start check list.
I’ve decided that maybe I will ask ATC for engine start before starting it. Avionics on, Tower set and for some reason I’ve managed to request a flight to Bautzen instead of engine start , got “taxi Delta” … me “request engine start” , “approved, report ready” … oops.
After starting engine , and finishing check list, reported ready, and got taxi to I thing D3. It looked like we are going to take off in front of B738 from RyanAir. I’ve confirmed intersection takeoff and got clearance.
Started take off roll, plane gaining speed , takes a bit of time, It’s heavy. Starting rotation, suddenly after climbing a few meters, engine goes strange, lost 60% of power, DAMN , looking at the screen both ECUs failed. Stress like hell, we need to put it down NOW, when there is still runway available. With Ivans great help we are putting it back on tarmac ( much better touchdown than his previous one an hour ago), not much of it remaining, both breaking hard. It was couple of meters left when we finished going forward. Taxied off the runway.
Somewhere in that time from the beginning for takeoff roll and putting it on the ground, the ECU switch fall of, I tried to switch it and it stayed in my fingers, also I managed to call Mayday to tower ( 2×3 times ). Somewhere in that time Ivan also with his relaxed mind was able to help me to get that plastic plane on the ground safely. He has also mentioned that there was a rough run while we were rolling.
After stopping on the taxiway we try to asses our situation, engine is still running, ECUs failed, no switch, tower calls if we need assistance, looks like we are all good, except for the aircraft, on the radio, call off fire engines, tell them our engine failed on takeoff, requesting taxi to GA apron.
Ivan mentions they are performing runway inspection before letting RyanAir go.
Shutdown, climb out from the aircraft, trying to cool down, that’s a lot to digest. Guy comes around to get a report and my details, telling both ECU failed on takeoff, we lost engine, gave him my Name and aircraft operators address.
Taking some of our stuff and taking it to the GAT.
It’s time to get BFC a call, also Aviation Maintenance ( this was a problem to get hold of someone on the phone ) .
Asked Hanz ( the manager at GAT ) if there are any cheap hotels around, he offers great help managing to call around and it looks like the closest is the cheapest.
We are not flying today any more.
After parking and disembarking the aircraft a fuel truck arrived.
Oh, we didn’t plan fuel requirement yet, fortunately, the driver didn’t had card terminal what gave me a few minutes to make an estimate plus reserve and it looked like we need 13 US gallons. Unfortunately his truck works in litters. Quick dash at my watch , that will be 50l. 25l each tank.
After refuelling we headed to GAT , the General Aviation Terminal.
Just came off a flight from Berlin to London
On approach to STN, sudden go around; climb, flaps, slats, landing light do not go out after prolonged climb, me thinks, hm…
Something wrong, captain comes on PA, flap failure…
I can see some fluid dumping from the wing, initially – thought that it’s jet-a
new aproach… More liquid , strange, intensifies in bursts… Well finally can see airport, blue lights flashing, they are preparing for worst… Touchdown, really fast, breaks, spoilers, reverse thrust … We are slowing down, not much, looks like we passed the second touch down markers… Still rolling… Oh, stop, great, safe on the ground
This reminded me of my Monday, I haven’t blogged About it yet, but we had EFATO in EDFH
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