9/10/2014  Peanut, a cute 18-month-old dachshund/terrier mix, needed transport from Midland, TX to Houston, TX (Peanut had been with a foster for All Texas Dachshund Rescue, and was heading to his adopter). Fort Worth, TX Pilots N Paws pilot Doug Stumpf volunteered for the first leg, flying to Midland to get Peanut and then heading east to meet me in Llano, TX; I was to pick up Peanut and then fly him to his new family and home.

Doug Stumpf and Peanut

The day got off to a bad start. While I was refueling 223 at 7:30 a.m., I heard a low-flying twin-engine aircraft. I turned and looked. A mosquito-control plane crossed right above me at 200 feet, dousing me with insecticide.

I arrived at Llano Municipal Airport before Doug and refueled. I climbed back into 20223 to start her up and taxi to parking. She cranked, but wouldn’t start. It was a hot day, and hot starts are sometimes difficult, so I wasn’t immediately concerned. I pulled her away from the fuel pump and awaited Doug and Peanut. Thirty minutes later they arrived.

I boarded Peanut and cranked. Nothing. I tried various starting procedures with no success. Not a cough or a hiccup from the engine. I began to worry about draining the battery. The airport manager said a local mechanic would arrive sometime. Peanut and I settled in for the wait. My scheduled departure time (11:15 a.m.) came and went, so I had to call adopter Julie Morris in Houston to inform her that we “were delayed.”

The mechanic finally arrived at 2:30 p.m. and began to methodically inspect, remove, test, and check various engine functions and parts. While he worked, I began to consider contingency plans. Unless he could diagnose and repair the problem in a few hours, 223 was going to be stranded in Llano. Peanut and I could check into a local motel and wait until 223 was good to fly. We could rent a car and make the long drive back to Houston. I texted Scott Bennett, a fellow Pilots N Paws pilot at my home field, Pearland Regional Airport. Scott immediately volunteered to take off work early, rent a plane and fly to rescue Peanut and me.

While we waited for Scott, the mechanic found the problem. One of 223’s two magnetos (which fire the spark plugs) was fried. (223 can fly with only one good mag, but requires both to start). The finding definitely stranded her, since a new mag had to be ordered, delivered, installed and tested.

Scott touched down at 7:15 p.m. After refueling and boarding a tired Peanut, we took off at 7:30 p.m. We arrived at Pearland at 9:30 p.m., 8 hours behind schedule.  (terrific night landing by Scott)

Approaching Houston TX at night with Scott Bennett at the controls

Peanut was greeted by Julie and her two ecstatic girls.

The moment was priceless, and made everything worth it.

Wade Roberts

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