Vic Syracuse

Georgia

Contributor at KITPLANES

Featured in: Favicon

kitplanes.com Favicon

avweb.com

Articles

The Hummingbird Airworthiness Inspection

5 days ago | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

Many builders think that because I am a DAR (Designated Airworthiness Inspector) I can do my own airworthiness inspections. But that is not the case. I must go through the same process as everyone else, and I am OK with that. I am a firm believer that you can’t ever have too many eyes on an aircraft. Ever. So, for those of you who are building, I am going to walk you through the process. It’s always a good idea to introduce yourself to the DAR sometime during the building process.
Cable Ties For Ballast

1 week ago | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

These lead weights were found cable-tied in place at the aft end of an aircraft during the initial airworthiness inspection. Cable ties will become brittle over time and can break. Having weights come loose during flight, especially near the control system, could really ruin your day. Vic is a fixed-wing and helicopter commercial pilot, CFII with ASMEL/ASES ratings, an A&P/IA, DAR, and EAA technical advisor and flight counselor.
Aircraft Modification Choices

1 month ago | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

One of the reasons certain amateur-built aircraft models have been so popular is because there is a whole cottage industry of aftermarket items available for them. Initially this effort was focused on tools to facilitate the build process. We saw improvements in dimple dies, fiberglass cloth cutters and complete “starter” tool kits being marketed to first-time builders.
Tools and Shop Organization: When It's Time to Start

2 months ago | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

One of the key skills needed in building an aircraft is organization. With the long lead times from some of the various kit providers, organization is something you can get started on prior to the kit arrival. Inventorying everything is certainly one of the first things you will do when the kit or kits arrive. But even more important is to decide on how and where you are going to store them.
Check the Sump Screen

2 months ago | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

It is important to check the oil sump screen for contaminants at least once per year. This was the first time this screen was checked, one year after a major overhaul. The connecting rods were scraping the crankshaft due to misaligned/wrong parts. Vic is a fixed-wing and helicopter commercial pilot, CFII with ASMEL/ASES ratings, an A&P/IA, DAR, and EAA technical advisor and flight counselor.
RTV in Fuel System

Jan 19, 2025 | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

RTV should not be used anywhere near the fuel system. It can cause a blockage resulting in loss of power or complete engine stoppage. RTV was used on these fuel pump fittings. You can clearly see the potential for serious problems by looking into the fuel pump shown on the right. See more about how RTV in the fuel system led to a lawsuit against Van’s Aircraft.
A Baker’s Dozen - KITPLANES

Jan 6, 2025 | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

I completed my first airplane, an RV-4, in December 1983. I worked for Hewlett-Packard at the time, and they did a story on me in the company magazine. They asked if I thought I would ever build another one. I had just finished a childhood dream of building an airplane, and the thought of doing another one hadn’t occurred to me yet.
Common In-Flight Failures, Part 2

Nov 11, 2024 | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

This column is a continuation of common in-flight failures that I began discussing in the September 2024 issue. With today’s glass cockpits and all the associated bells and whistles that are part of them, it is easy to get task-saturated without some preplanned courses of action when presented with certain scenarios. Of course, the first action should always be to fly the airplane, no matter what. Then figure out the proper subsequent course of action.
Unlabeled Switch and Circuit Breakers

Nov 8, 2024 | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

For safety’s sake, all switches and circuit breakers should be labeled as to function and direction. Vic is a fixed-wing and helicopter commercial pilot, CFII with ASMEL/ASES ratings, an A&P/IA, DAR, and EAA technical advisor and flight counselor. Passionately involved in aviation for over 40 years, he has built 11 aircraft and logged over 10,000 hours in 72 different kinds of aircraft.
Why Is My Airplane Slow?

Oct 25, 2024 | kitplanes.com | Vic Syracuse

In the next issue, I will continue discussing common in-flight failures. This month, I want to share a personal experience. I’ve previously mentioned how things can slowly degrade with regards to aircraft performance until something fails, sometimes going completely unnoticed by the owner. In this case it was my own RV-10.