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Date: Thu, 02 Jun 2005 14:00:18 -0400
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From: "Gary Casey" <glcasey@adelphia.net>
Subject: Re: Dead Battery
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<<After I started the aircraft and before I took off:

1) The battery was working.
2) The battery was charging at 10 amps, just fine.
3) All instruments were working.
4) The weather was VFR.
5) There were NO detectable problems with the airplane at the time of
takeoff.

Given the above, what regulation was violated in the departure?
Given the above, what was unsafe?>>

Now all these posts are getting me confused.  I can't figure out what
"required" equipment didn't work.  The plane had both a battery and an
alternator that were functional.  All instruments were working.  The only
regulation, then, that might apply is the one about "unairworthy", but that
one leaves it up to the pilot to determine, once all regulation line items
have been complied with, are there any other factors that would make the
plane "unairworthy."  I can't come up with any from the information I have,
so it looks to me like Lorn's flight was completely within regulations and
furthermore was adequately safe.  I'll bet that virtually everyone has
encountered a difficult engine starting situation where the engine finally
started on the battery's last gasp and then took off without a second
thought.  Given all the nay-saying comments on the list every time the
engine takes more than a normal cranking time the flight should be scrubbed
as one would certainly be taking off with less than a full charge in the
battery.  There may be a regulation that says that there should be a
functioning battery in the plane, but I can't find one that gives a minimum
charge condition at takeoff.  I still believe that taking off into IMC
conditions would be unwise, but in VMC (even if operating IFR) I just don't
see the problem.

Gary Casey