blakeyoung
Filing Flight Plan
Just wanted to see if anyone else had experienced something similar to this. I have just recently obtained my pilot's license and was renting a Cessna 172. I had only flown a 172 on one other occasion when I got checked out about 2 weeks prior. All of my training had been done in a 162. I only mention all of this because I don't know if this is a particular quirk of 172s or not.
Shortly after starting the engine and while not moving, I began to notice an intermittent noise that I can best describe as a washing machine that gets off balance. I do not remember hearing it at all the first time I flew in this same aircraft for my checkout. If I had, I would have definitely asked my instructor because it was a little alarming. It was a loud, rhythmic "WHOPWHOPWHOPWHOPWHOPWHOP." It even felt like there was a vibration in the plane in sync with the noise like the damn thing was going to rattle itself apart. It was even louder when I took my headphones off, so it was definitely not related to something in the electronics. It would start and build to maximum intensity over about 1-2 seconds, then usually dissipate after about 5-10 seconds. It seemed to mainly occur when the RPM was between 800-1400, and it occurred both during taxi and while stationary, so likely not something wrong with landing gear. I did not notice it during the runup or at any time during flight. It started again after I landed and was taxiing back to the hanger. Just before I rented the plane, my flight instructor had JUST landed in the same plane about 10 minutes before, and he had reported no issues. The very next person after me also apparently reported no issues. When I asked him afterwards, my instructor mentioned that sometimes the way the wind hits the prop can cause this type of noise and that he hears it quite frequently in the 172s. The wind was around 4-5 knots that day, so I'm not sure if that could be the answer or not.
In retrospect, I probably should not have even taken off without at least having an instructor hop in with me and hear it for themself, but thankfully nothing bad resulted.
Does this sound remotely familiar to anyone?
Shortly after starting the engine and while not moving, I began to notice an intermittent noise that I can best describe as a washing machine that gets off balance. I do not remember hearing it at all the first time I flew in this same aircraft for my checkout. If I had, I would have definitely asked my instructor because it was a little alarming. It was a loud, rhythmic "WHOPWHOPWHOPWHOPWHOPWHOP." It even felt like there was a vibration in the plane in sync with the noise like the damn thing was going to rattle itself apart. It was even louder when I took my headphones off, so it was definitely not related to something in the electronics. It would start and build to maximum intensity over about 1-2 seconds, then usually dissipate after about 5-10 seconds. It seemed to mainly occur when the RPM was between 800-1400, and it occurred both during taxi and while stationary, so likely not something wrong with landing gear. I did not notice it during the runup or at any time during flight. It started again after I landed and was taxiing back to the hanger. Just before I rented the plane, my flight instructor had JUST landed in the same plane about 10 minutes before, and he had reported no issues. The very next person after me also apparently reported no issues. When I asked him afterwards, my instructor mentioned that sometimes the way the wind hits the prop can cause this type of noise and that he hears it quite frequently in the 172s. The wind was around 4-5 knots that day, so I'm not sure if that could be the answer or not.
In retrospect, I probably should not have even taken off without at least having an instructor hop in with me and hear it for themself, but thankfully nothing bad resulted.
Does this sound remotely familiar to anyone?
