Lesson #17

Log Book - 5/6 C172 IA24 KIOW IA24 2 1.1

As you can see by my notation listed above, the Cessna 172 has finally arrived back from its engine overhaul. It had been 2 months and 6 days since I delivered it to our A&P to have the engine done. While this is an extraordinary amount of time for an overhaul, it is also the way the GCAC needs to do it so that it keeps our costs down. After the last lesson, Dale and I decided that I would do some partial panel work this lesson. The 172 was sitting out as it was being used for an IFR training flight prior to mine. There was plenty of fuel in it, so it was just a matter of doing the typical preflight. The weather was VFR so there was no need to call CID APP before departure. I got the radios set, checked the instruments to make sure the compass, heading indicator and turn coordinator were OK while taxiing for departure. Once airborne and climbing through 1500’ I called CID DEP and requested a couple of KIOW VOR-A (link located below) approaches at KCID. Partial panel in an IFR environment means that you have lost your attitude indicator and heading indicator. You must rely on your turn coordinator and the compass for your heading and attitude. The 172 has an older turn coordinator which took some getting used to. The first approach was questionable as I was felt I was cheating looking at the compass although that is one of the instruments that you need to rely on when in actual conditions. While it’s not technically cheating, I felt that looking out at the clear VFR day with the Foggles on while checking my heading on the compass was cheating. After descending to the DH, I waited while the DME clicked up to the MAP distance. I started the missed approach procedure and contacted CID APP. They gave me instructions to fly the VOR-A again and contact them when inbound on the procedure turn. This approach went a lot better as I was able to get over my “cheating” complex. After reaching the MAP again, Dale instructed me to twist the ODB to the IOW R-330, which should take us right back to IA24. I intercepted the radial and made by way back to land. The second approach went real well and I was feeling more comfortable with partial panel approaches. We will spend some more time with partial panel on my X/C flight which should be coming up soon.

http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/IOW/IAP/VOR-A/pdf