Shady maintenance...

azpilot84

New Member
Is this 100% legal?
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I would say no. Not because of the adjustments per se, but because 100 is as far as the gauge goes. How would you know if the oil pressure exceeded 100?
 
I'd say sure, it's no different than repainting the gauge in my opinion, which is exactly what a mechanic would to do fix this.

Any A&P's got any idea?
 
It's legal. In fact, it's required that any error on a gauge that would affect safety of flight be placarded.

Most people will wait until a gauge is completely inop before they replace it. The reason for that is that the company that used to make all the gauges got out of the aviation business. Now, in order to replace the gauge with a new one, you must buy an expensive STC to convert it to a new style of gauge made by a different company.
 
One of the Cessna 172s at out school has a generic tach that reads up to something like 3500 RPM and came from the factory with no green arc or red line. So when it was installed the green arc and red line where painted on. It seriously looks like someone took nailpolish and painted it haha

-Rob
 
The Archer I'm flying as a Beechcraft attitude indicator installed. Still tells me what I need to know. :)

It's like that written question for the IR.

"If you have a VSI reading of 100 fpm, can you still fly IFR?"

Yes, you just have to use 100 fpm as your reference to level pitch.

Just have to make do with what you have sometimes.
 
Even if it still is "legal" it's still shady...

Shucks, that's custom-calibrated to that installation. The only thing that could make it better is if the scale of the gauge itself were repainted.

I'd love to have some similar placarding for the fuel gauges, "F=28 gallons," "3/4 = 22 gallons," and "below 1/2 the indications are crap."
 
Well, its better than the mech saying "ha, its close enough" then releasing the aircraft from maintenance. I would say this is fine, it souldnt bother me. Now, if I own the airplane, its a big deal. But not really a safety or legal issue
 
One of the Cessna 172s at out school has a generic tach that reads up to something like 3500 RPM and came from the factory with no green arc or red line. So when it was installed the green arc and red line where painted on. It seriously looks like someone took nailpolish and painted it haha

-Rob

Also legal and perfectly normal practice, however, if the markings are painted on the glass then there must be some way of preventing it from rotating.

Even if it still is "legal" it's still shady...
As always, you don't have to fly it if you don't like it.
 
Hell, you'd think pilots would appreciate the most accurate information possible :-)

Anyhow, that type of gauge simply gives you a range, not a specific number; i.e., the green band. The POH will say something along the lines of..the min is 25 (red line) and max is 100 (redline) while normal operating range is 60 - 90 (green arc). That sort of guage isn't the most accurate anyway, so the maintance folks in this situation have gone a lil' further to let you know what the guage is no ##### telling you so you have accurate info. The yellow arcs are cautionary ranges, not restrictions. Without having the numbers placarded, you would think you had a problem if operating in the upper yellow arc, but they've provided you specific numbers at different power settings that have been tested with separate pressure guages to make informed decisions regarding engine performance.

As someone mentioned earlier...if a pilot thinks it's shady or isn't right, then you can decline to fly it--that's the right that's been bestowed upon you as a pilot. But, just because you decline to fly it doesn't necessarily mean it's broke/wrong.


Pac Man
 
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