N3306TX's Wild West Excursion

N

n3306tx

Charter Member
Departing KBFI in Carenado Beech Baron 58 to KORS. Hoping the real-life thunderstorms of much needed rain happening at the moment in Texas don't interfere.
 
Down safe at KHQM.

Distance: 112.2 nm
Flight Time: 00:44:35
Fuel Used: 108 lbs (18 gal)
Tracking: http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=fhX4SmATo3DvXX9yEWg67YiPs

Departed KORS with no problem. Approaching cruse altitude, I could see there was ominous weather ahead. I entered into it just after crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca and approaching Olympus National Park. Within a few minutes, the engine started losing power. Pitot heat-check, fuel vent heat-check, stall warn heat-check, carb heat-h'mmm where is that switch? After frantically searching for a minute or so and losing power and altitude over mountains, I finally resorted to the shortcut key "H". (Thanks DarkCharizma-I read your earlier post!).

Now that the ice plug is out of the carburetor, I climbed back to original cruise altitude. But groundspeed was slow, since I was fighting strong headwinds all the way. Soon, the clouds started breaking revealing the breathtaking scenery below me. Dropped down to make the approach to Bowerman following the Hoquiam River southbound on a right base then turning west onto final with a 10kt crosswind from the left.

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Approaching ominous weather
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Mount Olympus off my right wing
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Turning right-base to final at KHQM
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Down safe at 4S2.

Distance: 126.6 nm
Flight Time: 00:43:28
Fuel Used: 115 lbs (19.2 gal)
Tracking: http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=dcTZ95PXfhZUXf1XL4AG1oZtfjo

Not a bad flight but just couldn't find the sweet spot for ground speed. The higher I went, the worse it got. After passing Mt. St. Helens, I started stepping down the altitude trying to find a comfortable altitude but was also aware of the terrain I was flying over in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Soon, I spotted the Columbia River and once across it, dropped down into a straight approach for landing on runway 7 at 4S2.

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Passing Mt. St. Helens. On the horizon is Mt. Ranier (left) and Mt. Adams (right
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Short final into runway 07 at 4S2. Watch the trees on approach!
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Down safe at KEAT.

Distance: 117.1 nm
Flight Time: 00:39:45
Fuel Used: 91 lbs (15.2 gal)
Tracking: http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=CF1n9desLwMouG2E6TQ8oljI0s

Finally, got a little push from the wind on the backside for a change. The landscape is different on the east side of the Cascades and I was so involved looking around at it, I almost had to nosedive into KEAT. The Wenatchie Valley looks nice and green and looks like agriculture is abundant here.

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Different perspective of the volcanoes. Passing Mt. Adams with Mt. St. Helens (left) and Mt. Ranier (right) in the background.
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On left base for runway 30 at KEAT coming in over the Columbia River and the green valley.
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Down safe at KSFF.

Distance: 118.0 nm
Flight Time: 00:37:29
Fuel Used: 83 lbs (13.8 gal)
Tracking: http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=xNQW7fSghVozNjxUJTNtCMK9jvs

This was my best flight so far in the trip. Not only for sightseeing, but for speed and fuel economy. Had a nice tailwind that allowed me to cut back on the mixture and still average over 190 kts across the ground.

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Heading east toward Spokane. The large lake in the background is Banks Lake.
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Approaching KSFF after passing Spokane International (KGEG) on the left and Fairchild AFB (KSKA)
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On right downwind to KSFF
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Down safe at S27.

Distance: 124.8 nm
Flight Time: 00:44:45
Fuel Used: 105 lbs (17.5 gal)
Tracking: http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=zFUJyAuFoMd4EN3mbnSDaE5uc4

Sunrise departure out of KSFF. Partly cloudy skies until around Noxon Reservoir, when it started raining. On descent, rain quit and skies opened up to beautiful weather with winds out of the south. Intercepted highway 2 around little Bitterroot Lake and followed it northeast through the valley over the Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area. Abeam Lone Pine State Park near the intersection of Hwy 2 and Hwy 93, I made the turn towards the southeast to find the airport and make an approach to runway 13. A little breezy on landing with winds 190 at 13.

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Ready for sunrise departure out of KSFF.
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Nice light diffraction as I traverse in and out of clouds.
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Good Morning, Sunshine!
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Picking up rain around Noxon Reservoir
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Airport in sight and setting up approach for runway 13 at S27.
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While laid over at Kalispell, I called in to update the boss on our progress. He said I had some urgent messages from someone named Ms. Murphy Monroe. Apparently my passenger has reported to her that I have violated something called a "soft" ceiling of 10,000 ft in a few flights...namely KORS-KHQM and KEAT-KSFF. KHQM-4S2 is also in question and will probably need re-flown as well since the violation occurred not from terrain issues but from searching for favorable winds.

I certainly remember from the briefings a hard ceiling limit of 12,000 ft on our specific course but apparently didn't remember anything about the "soft" ceiling. I suppose in my valiant effort to get as much flying in as I could while I could, I certainly didn't follow the briefing correctly regarding altitude restrictions. I tried explaining that we were flying VFR and at proper altitudes for VFR flying depending on our heading and we still didn't violate the "hard" ceiling. Ms. Murphy Monroe didn't care. H'mmm, I guess she must be the FAA...it's always the pilot's fault.

I'm thinking there may be some other ploy by my passenger to re-fly these flights. After all, these violations occurred in airspace over some unique terrain in the northwestern US. I hung up the phone and embarrassed, hung my head down in shame. After all my years of flying, how could something like this happen? I suppose it's from juggling too many things while trying to please Ms. Murphy Monroe.

Anyway, I'll be re-posting the three re-flown flights and will update my score sheet. But for now, I'm heading over to the Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern at the airport here for a nice dinner and drinks! I am on an expense account, right?
 
RE-FLY of KORS-KHQM due to altitude violation of soft ceiling. Departing KORS.

EDIT: Not going to be my day it seems. Computer lockup. Aborted duenna so tracking wouldn't show flight still in progress. Then crashed two times on start due to AP being on. Restarting flight for third time. Hope it's a charm.
 
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