I finished up my required training for my instrument checkride last week...I got lots of good information from this board, but unfortunately, never had anything too exciting to post about on here......until today.
I went up with my instructor to "finalize" a few things prior to my checkride, which is scheduled next week. We went over to the local uncontrolled field to shoot an NDB approach, missed, then hold at the NDB. Other than a quick brushup on outbound timing due to winds, all went well. We headed back to LZU, and I started verbally going over "what if" scenarios, and then giving the answers. I talked about pitot blockage, static blockage, and then vacuum pump failure. Then I pointed to the stand-by vacuum system, and went over my thoughts on how it worked just to make sure I completely understood. As we were getting vectored for the ILS, I noticed the AI was indicating a descending left turn. I thought, man, that is weird...but that's it. As I continued with the scan, I got back to the AI, which was now showing a steep descending turn. At this point, I would have ideally checked the vacuum guage. Unfortunately, I tilted my head back, and confirmed that we were straight and level with the actual horizon. THEN I looked at the suction guage, which was pegged to the bottom left. I knew there was no way to simulate actual vacuum failure other than covering up the AI/DG, but I questioned my CFII anyways...he said he was not messing with anything. I said, well then, I guess we have a real vacuum failure!
After all our partial panel training, I am bummed that I didn't catch it right away, and do the cross check to identify. It was a perfect training opportunity, and I blew it by transitioning to visual to confirm. I guess it was a good opportunity to get me thinking more about a possible failure, and how I will react next time.
I sure wish there was a way to simulate vacuum failure other than just covering up the instruments...that is a definite sign they have failed. It would be much more realistic to do partial panel with the "slow death" that actually occurs.
I went up with my instructor to "finalize" a few things prior to my checkride, which is scheduled next week. We went over to the local uncontrolled field to shoot an NDB approach, missed, then hold at the NDB. Other than a quick brushup on outbound timing due to winds, all went well. We headed back to LZU, and I started verbally going over "what if" scenarios, and then giving the answers. I talked about pitot blockage, static blockage, and then vacuum pump failure. Then I pointed to the stand-by vacuum system, and went over my thoughts on how it worked just to make sure I completely understood. As we were getting vectored for the ILS, I noticed the AI was indicating a descending left turn. I thought, man, that is weird...but that's it. As I continued with the scan, I got back to the AI, which was now showing a steep descending turn. At this point, I would have ideally checked the vacuum guage. Unfortunately, I tilted my head back, and confirmed that we were straight and level with the actual horizon. THEN I looked at the suction guage, which was pegged to the bottom left. I knew there was no way to simulate actual vacuum failure other than covering up the AI/DG, but I questioned my CFII anyways...he said he was not messing with anything. I said, well then, I guess we have a real vacuum failure!
After all our partial panel training, I am bummed that I didn't catch it right away, and do the cross check to identify. It was a perfect training opportunity, and I blew it by transitioning to visual to confirm. I guess it was a good opportunity to get me thinking more about a possible failure, and how I will react next time.
I sure wish there was a way to simulate vacuum failure other than just covering up the instruments...that is a definite sign they have failed. It would be much more realistic to do partial panel with the "slow death" that actually occurs.