An Excellent Adventure!

[New_PIC]

Over the last month or so, with the help of a local AMO, I've been checking out a C-172. Actually, I've been checking out a bunch of planes over the last year and even paid for a pre-purchase inspection on one before that deal fell through. The latest candidate was out on the west coast but all the logs and pictures looked OK. It was time to put up or shut up, and I had time off work over the holidays, so I drove myself and a friend across BC to go look in person. The local AMO gave me a list of stuff to check, including having the mechanic there open up some access panels and pull the cowling off.

If the deal went down, I was prepared to leave the plane behind and make arrangements to get it home. However, with a bit of long ago mountain flying experience, a shiny new PPL booklet, and over 80 hours total time, I figured that if the weather looked really good then my friend could drive back alone. There were even an extra few days available if waiting that long would make it work.

I got all the current charts and a CFS, and practically memorized the VFR route over the #3 highway. Some long ago 172 hours and a checkout last summer satisfied the insurance people with no strings attached. I had Foreflight on an iPhone and iPad with a Bad Elf gps receiver. There was even a handheld radio in the bag. For a few weeks up to Christmas, the weather always looked scary for at least some parts of the route, but a big high settled into BC while I looked at the aircraft. After a bit of dickering we had a deal. And the weather was perfect! I fueled up at a self-serve pump for the first time, stopped for a few minutes to phone in a flight plan, and took off from CZBB.

That's pretty busy airspace for a guy from the rural prairies but I'd studied the VTA and CFS and had no problems. The plan was for 7500' by Hope but with clear cold blue skies and almost no wind, I went up to 9500 and stayed there until Castlegar. The flight didn't get started until the afternoon so it was just sunset when I parked at Nelson for the night. A helpful fellow from the Nelson flying club drove me to a hotel (Thank You!) and my friend caught up later in the evening with my car.

The weather wasn't so pretty the next morning. It was snowing lightly under low clouds as we got to the airport. The snow quit though and there looked to be plenty of room in the valley under the clouds to turn back so I took off. The ceiling was about 2000 to 2500 above the river and down the Kootenay lake, and by the time I got to Creston there were clear blue skies again. I climbed slowly heading up the valley from Creston and went through the Rockies at 9500 again. Those mountains produced a few bumps, especially at the Crowsnest Pass but it wasn't until later that things got interesting.

About 30 miles from my destination, the radio display started flickering. I shut it off, turned it on again, but there was nothing. The audio panel was dark. The ammeter said 0 and the fuel gauges showed empty too. I tried a few things but had no electrical at all. I pulled out the handheld radio but had to turn it way up and take my headset off to hear it. The iPad was still fine too, on the seat beside me, so I used the handheld and got down where I'd planned. The AME later showed me corroded connections on the main solenoid.

I'm not much of a picture taker and didn't think of that the first day but I got a few shots on the second day. They're not uploading from my phone right now but I'll try to add them later.

[ahramin]

I always carry a handheld radio with me but as you've discovered it's a pain without a headset adapter and PTT. When I fly I keep it easily accessible with the adapter and PTT plugged in. If needed it's easy to pull it out, plug my headset into it, and strap the PTT to the stick. You'll also want to keep the cables tiewrapped neatly and to a suitable length or you'll get a mass of unuseable spaghetti when you pull it out of your bag.

Congratulations on the new plane and the trip.

[Rowdy]

Sounds like quite the adventure! Hopefully many more with your new 172!

[MikeInAB]

Congrats on the new plane! I've yet to carry a handheld, but am considering getting one as I get back into flying this spring.

[New_PIC]

If I've done this right this should be a few pictures from the last leg of the trip. First one is from partway down Kootenay Lake with the sunshine over Creston ahead.

[longjon]

ever read Francis Chesister?

[New_PIC]

Google said "Did you mean Francis Chichester" among others and, if that's who you meant, I haven't but the wiki article sounds really interesting. It might be fun to play with some of those navigation techniques.

[CanSaxMan]

Wow, that looks like an amazing trip! And you got some great photos too! As someone who is getting back into aviation after having not flown for many years, to do a trip like this would be a dream for me and to have my own aircraft to do it in would make it even more special. Congratulations!

[eddyb123]

I flew from CYJJ to CYYF one day when the weather was right, after fueling I stayed in Penticton overnight due to weather. Next day I went on over the rocks to CYQL Lethbridge and got more fuel. I ended up in Wpg and the feeling was something I'll never forget. It was an excellent adventure for sure.
I trust when you left Nelson you knew the sky was clear at Creston, I don't think I'd go for the .. run though.

[co-joe]

Congrats.

It was snowing in Nelson and you didn't hit up WH2O? Pilots are weird...Oh well now you can fly back anytime you want.

[iflyforpie]

Congrats.

It was snowing in Nelson and you didn't hit up WH2O? Pilots are weird...Oh well now you can fly back anytime you want.

Tell me about it. I'm always in ZNL at the wrong time of year... I imagine they've got some pretty wicked pow up there now!

[New_PIC]

I was tempted. There were lots of skiers at the hotel that evening. Other than locally at Nelson and down the lake, I knew the weather was really good but I didn't know for how long so I was focused on getting home while the opportunity was available. It was extremely lucky to have good winter weather from the coast to Alberta just when I needed it and I didn't want to blow the chance.

[Pop n Fresh]

Nicely done. You probably should have left out the routing you took home after stealing that airplane. What if the owner reads this?
Pretending to have an electrical failure so you could turn off the Xponder then divert to the real destination was a good plan.