(CYQN) Nakina ON

Oops.
As I neared Nakina I noticed an engine/prop vibration that I finally convinced myself was increasing. Diverted to Nakina. Evidently the rain from the previous day had taken its toll on the leading protective tape on the propeller. At Hearst I had found only a couple of minor tape irregularities. At Nakina found
the end tape sections gone, leaving just the sticky of the tape left. The remainder of the tape had several large bubbles. I assume the driving rain resulted in water under the tape that allowed adhesive failure and tape separation.

Lesson learned: replace the tape every year unless not planning on encountering rain.

Fortiunately staff was at the airport and I was able to borrow some alcohol (or so the container was named) and other supplies. I removed all the tape, cleaned the stickiness with the alcohol, and used some sandpaper and Scotchbrite to smooth any remaining irregularities.

Up until 3 years ago the Pipistrel props had no propeller protection at all. It meant for a lot of chips to be fixed. So I could operate like that again til I got back home.

By this point it was approaching 4 pm. I figured another 3 hour flight was the maximum I could get in today. There are not a lot of options for airports. Red Lake was it, about 2.5 hours away.Read more