AOPA

Ask the A&Ps

Leisure EN ↓ 115 episodes

Experts Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling answer your toughest aviation maintenance questions. Submit questions to podcasts@aopa.org. New episodes are released the first and fifteenth of every month.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.aopa.org

Author

AOPA

Category

Leisure

Podcast website

www.aopa.org

Latest episode

Oct 15, 2026

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Episodes

"Compression readings are garbage" 01.10.2021

This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle everything from radio gremlins to the big questions of aviation, such as an overall maintenance philosophy and the reliability of our aircraft. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. And please take our survey to tell us how we're doing. You can find it at https://aopa.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZSqTKSpaOTVjdI?Referra...

"Why can't we do something simple like clone an engine?" 01.09.2021

This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle questions big and small. A pilot wonders why aircraft engines are so expensive, a young student knows there must be a better way to clean an airplane, and owners tackle concerns over increasing compressions, throttle lag, and avionics. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org And please tell all of us at AOPA how we're doing on podcasts. Take a short surve...

"There's no free lunch in aviation" 01.08.2021

Broken rocker arms, metal shards in the valve cover, and oil in the cylinder, oh my. This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen focus on listener engine problems, give some guidance on mods for an experimental builder, and bust an oversquare myth. Submit your questions to podcasts@aopa.org

"An oil filter inspection is non-invasive, unless you're an oil filter" 01.07.2021

A savvy owner wonders how to trust her airplane with no logbooks, a Cessna pilot is curious if he's getting all the power he paid for, and Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle an unruly governor. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org

"About the half the time, reported cracked cylinders aren't cracked" 01.06.2021

This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen debate shock cooling, help an owner set his stall warning tab, debunk unapproved equipment myths, give an owner advice on breaking in new cylinders, and more. Submit your questions to podcasts@aopa.org

"Heavy detonation is normally a self-correcting event" 01.05.2021

This month owners look to settle arguments with their mechanics over tire wear and avionics glitches, one pilot tries to determine myth from reality on keeping fuel tanks topped off, a pilot learns his oil pressure problem isn't a problem, and Mike, Paul, and Colleen describe why detonation is a self-correcting event. Submit your questions to podcasts@aopa.org

"I don't see anything that makes me want to attack the engine with tools" 01.04.2021

This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen cover the basics of oil analysis, corrosion proofing, fuel selector play, how to pick an overhaul shop, and prop people. Send questions to podcasts@aopa.org.

'If it moves, squirt it with something' 01.03.2021

This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle a number of questions about oil. Where it should be, where it shouldn't be, and why it isn't where you last added it. Plus, a jet pilot is grounded by tires. 

'We just saved your engine' 01.02.2021

This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen delve into must versus should. Must you open all those inspection ports, is the prop and governor overhaul mandatory, and should one owner retorque his cylinder after a re-installation mistake? Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org

"Did you float the dog?" 01.01.2021

This month Mike, Colleen, and Paul revisit sticky valves, diagnose shimmy dampers, give a bit of career advice, and talk about what right looks right on throttle response. Plus, silly pilot tricks with animals! Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org

'I went to the church of lean of peak' 01.12.2020

Mike, Paul, and Colleen talk about why lean of peak if beneficial. Also, the hosts tackle questions on sticky valves, how to properly break in an engine, oil consumption, and more. 

'You're not going to fall out of the sky because the camshaft wears' 01.11.2020

Snake oil, cranky turbochargers, oil issues, camshaft rust, and more in this month's episode. Plus, a new owner tries to stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen on propeller rpm checks. 

"You're never in a situation where the IA can hold you hostage" 01.10.2020

Corroded control cables, the right oil for engine break in, pesky fouled plugs, and just how far can you push back on your annual. Paul, Mike, and Colleen handle all these topics and more in this month's episode. 

I'm upside down and there's no oil in my engine! 01.09.2020

Checking an airplane for aerobatics, engine failures due to oil starvation, mysterious airplane vibrations, and why replacing cylinders could be a bad idea. Mike, Paul, and Colleen handle these topics and more in this month's episode.

Introducing Ask the A&Ps 10.08.2020

New from AOPA, it's a podcast featuring you, the pilot and aircraft owner. Experts Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling answer your aviation maintenance questions. Subscribe today to catch all the episodes.

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