Mojave Breakdown

Posted by Bruce Nelson 07-26-2012

I received a phone call from Wings of Faith board member Jim Yost on June 23rd asking if I could help out a fellow Missionary Pilot. Randy Henry’s engine starter failed on his Cirrus SR20 at Eagle Airpark, Bullhead City, AZ.
 
I flew from Torrance to Santa Monica to pick up ace mechanic Cliff Pleggenkuhle, who works for Kim Davidson Aviation. We loaded up the new starter, a tool bag and a spare battery just in case it was needed. The 1.5 hour flight went well and the outside temperature at 7,500 feet was 85 degrees, which was cool compared to the 114 degrees that greeted us at Eagle Airpark!
 
We landed at 3:30pm and taxied right up to Randy’s plane. Cliff got right to work on the starter, and Randy assisted by holding an umbrella over him to provide cover from the hot sun. Within 20 minutes Cliff was finished and the Cirrus started without hesitation.
 
I departed and flew down the Colorado River to Lake Havasu amazed at the hundreds of boaters on the river escaping the heat and then hooked a right turn towards home. Randy flew Cliff back to Santa Monica before returning to his home base at Whiteman Airport next to Burbank.
 
Mission accomplished.