Have you ever had a good rush...the kind that makes your blood run hot from your head to your toes and you can hear your heart beating in your ears? I've had two of them in the past few weeks. I wouldn't say I enjoyed the experiences but they did supply a healthy dose of adrenaline.
Rush One:
I live on the west side of the Rockie Mountains. Denver is on the east side and the flight across is over some of the most rugged terrain in the lower 48. A few weeks ago I was making the flight at night with a patient and his dad on board when the engine started running rough. We keep our planes in the best condition possible so there usually aren't any issues.
I was over Monarch Pass when the problem started and I called Denver Center to let them know. The closest airport was Gunnison (about 30 miles away) so I made a B-line for the final approach on that runway. I watched on the JPI as the temps on cylinder #5 started to dwindle and then totally go off the chart. I was at 16,000 feet and stayed high so that I would have as much time to glide as possible if the engine totally stopped. I couldn't change the power setting because I had no way of telling exactly what was wrong and didn't want to make it worse.
Center told me to call them as soon as I got on the ground because they lost me on radar when I started my descent into Gunnison. I was high and fast on final approach on purpose because I had no idea how long I would have power after I changed the engine setting and wanted to make the runway. The dad was awake but really didn't know what was going on and the little boy was fast asleep on the stretcher. I had to get it right for them.
A few clicks on the radio and the runway lights came into sight. I put the gear down at 180 mph(extention speed is 160 but gear doors didn't matter as much at that point) and dropped all the flaps as soon as I could. It was a cool calm night and I was happy to feel the runway as it reached up and kissed the tires. We were on the ground safe. I called Denver Center to let them know and thanked God that we made it.
It turns out that the engine problem was a clogged injector and was easily fixed. I had no way of knowing that during the flight and even though the rush was there, we were never really in big danger.
Rush Two:
Last Saturday I delivered a couple people to the Denver International Airport and was driving back to the smaller airport where the plane was waiting. The highway is a toll road and is much like the Florida Turnpike. I was going about 80 and was deep in thought when I looked up just in time to see a Ford Ranger in my lane about 30 yards in front of me. It took a half second for me to realize that I was looking at the front of the truck and not the back.
I swerved into the grass still going 80 and missed a head on with him by a matter of feet. Then I started sliding and dust was flying everywhere. I came back up on the highway going about 50 and tried to remember the number to 911 (my brain was jello for a few minutes) after I found my phone on the floorboard. It turns out the guy had a medical problem and they got him stopped before he killed anyone. I have had several close calls and that one certainly made the list. Wow...what a rush! Next time I'll fly into DIA and pay the landing fee.
The pictures are the of the mountains I was over when the engine started acting up.
