Backcountry Pilot

[Grassstrippilot offline]

I don't recall a thread covering this and didn't find anything so...since I'm thinking about what to gather, I thought I'd see what you all carry. Sporty's has a kit for sale, but I could see wanting to personalize it a bit. Here is what that kit includes:

• Mini Diagonal Pliers
• Long Nose Pliers
• Diagonal Pliers
• Linesman Pliers
• Adjustable Wrench
• Slip Joint Pliers
• Groove Joint Pliers
• 250 pc. cable tie assortment
• Curved Locking Jaw Pliers
• Multi-tip Screwdriver
• 8 pc. Hex Key Set
• Micro Screwdriver Set
• Duct Tape
• Electrical Tape
• Telescoping Swivel Mirror
• Pencil Tire Gauge
• 3 pc. Cleaning Brushes
• Safety Wire Pliers
• Safety Wire
• Nylon Bag

In addition, I've thought about these items:

Spare tube
Fix a flate?
Socket set
Torque wrench
Ammeter
Spark plug socket
Extra spark plugs
Spare alternator belt

What's in your kit?

[dogpilot offline]

Kind of an obsession with pliers there. Really a set of dykes some duckbills and a small vice grip and a needle nosed vice grip, might be enough. I like a set of gear wenches and a 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, and 9/6 combo wrenches. A reversing screwdriver a leatherman skeleton with the bit set, a small 1/4 drive 12 point from 1/4 to 9/16. A cheap volt meter, like $10 one. I actually like a small point & shoot over a mirror in many cases now. I put it in movie mode and use a mag light to illuminate the scene. I don't like pencil gauges, I use a small Slime dial one. A spare tube is nice and a mountain bike inflation kit works quite well, with a couple of spare CO2's. I always carry a built up tail wheel as a spare. Tie wraps and some duct tape and safety wire, 2' of each size. I've actually repaired a single point fueling system with just a Leatherman, in the field in Zambia.

You will regret carrying fix a flat if it lets loose in the cabin after being punctured. If I need more tools there is always a Wal Mart, Ace Hardware or Home Death Spot nearby. They are nearly as numerous as Starbucks (who are putting outlets at backcountry fields now, since the only other place to expand to is the parking lots of McDonalds). I also have a kit of most of my spare stuff in a plastic bin, the frequently broken or consumed stuff. I mark it and my wife can FedEx it to me if I need it.

You can always carry every conceivable item, of course you may end up over weight. Phudd's Law of Universal Perversity says: If you bring it, it won't break.

Only time I ended up stranded in the field was in Southern Sudan. Hit an entrenching tool with the nose wheel on a Caravan. Sliced it open. I always carried a built up main & a jack & a 3' square of 3/4 plywood. Up until then we had never lost a nose wheel tire. Besides jacking the nose is a bit more difficult, jack needs to be taller, a lot taller. Luckily the Buffalo heard me on the HF and dropped in before dark with the jack and a nose wheel.

[OregonMaule offline]

Insurance, in my pocket, credit card, 406PLB, Gun.

Hammer
Leatherman
Pipe Wrench
Crescent wrench
Duct tape
Vise Grip
Machete
Tire pump: I have sealer in the 35s

[182 STOL driver offline]

You got a ok start but I'd add 2 good or new spare plugs and spark plug socket , 1/4 inch drive with straight and wobble sockets 1/4 inch to 9/16th (Craftsman or Snap-on ) and several 6" extensions.Safety wire .032 spool and safety wire pliers.As far as QUALITY I want Craftsman or better--Open end and box end wrenches from 1/4 to 7/8 inch. Put everything in a tool bag in the back of the baggage compartment or Old metal Ammo cans work good-stay away from the plastic B.S. several shop rags and a really good L.E.D. light flashlight.Some electrical crimp on ends with 10-20 ft. of # 8 or # 10 wire.Jack pad and small bottle jack. Empty pill bottle with #8 sheet metal screws spares ,another with various small /medium cotter pins. Can of LPS2 --Don't use WD-40 on Aluminum unless you want corrosion. Good tools make the job easier . Get a McCurry Parts manual on CD and transfer to thumb drive or your laptop.


Speaking of Survival Kits -I pack my own in plastic kitty litter pails (doubles as water filter and supply )I have a list that I send out on email to [email protected] > I have extended baggage where kits and tools stay until I need them, Be Prepared for the worst. It's a cold hard world out there where when things go bad you want to get home alive.

[born2flyak offline]

I carry in my personal bag on every flight:

1.5L bottled water
First aid kit/survival kit
Women's one day supply of toilet tissue (one mega roll)
Can of Spam
Half a dozen Sailor Boy pilot bread crackers
2 MREs
SPOT2 with tracking subscription (and turned on for every flight exceeding 50 miles one-way)
Some sort of cancer-causing highly-potent mosquito repellent (summer only)
Bear Spray (Ruger Super Blackhawk .44, fully loaded with extra rounds, carried all seasons)
Combination Crescent crench/knife/screwdriver/saw blade multi-tool
Leatherman
Beaver hat and mittens (winter)
Mosquito head net (summer)
Solar cellphone charger

My personal flight bag weighs over 30lbs but I won't fly anywhere without it. I know what's in almost any part 135 aircraft's "survival equipment" and how often it's inspected and replenished. Those are almost worthless in my opinion. The food may kill you, but the flares seem to hold up. I blasted one off last year during recurrent groundschool and it had an expiration date of 1995. Worked just fine.

[Scolopax offline]

I am curious what other BCP members consider to be the essential tools for the back country flying tool kit. This may have been discussed in the past, but I didn't see it when searching.

My current list includes:

Tools:
wrenches: 5/16 - 3/4 inch combo
small socket set
medium crescent wrench
phillips screwdriver
flat head screw drivers (small and large with long shank)
needle nose pliers
vise grip pliers
small hammer
tape measure
utility knife
metal file
hack saw
flash Light
rope and quality carabiners (to rig up a z-drag if I get stuck)
tire plug kit
bicycle hand pump
tire pressure gauge
wire brush
80 grit sand paper

Supplies:
1 small tube of grease
JB Weld
6 oz acetone
gorilla tape
bailing wire
hose clamps
zip ties

This weighs about 7 pounds with a light tool box. I carry a few other useful things in my survival pack, such as hatchet, knife, and leatherman tool.

[Terry offline]

A couple of things I carry that's not on your list.
7/8 wrench for plug wires
Plug socket
One spark plug
And after borrowing brake fluid last year at JC I carry 2-3 oz bottle of it.

[Grassstrippilot offline]

I posted this earlier this month. Zane, can you work some web magic and merge these two together?



http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=12106

[Zzz]

Yeah...shortly. This is great stuff, all good fodder for my new project.

[xcalibursword offline]

I would assume that depending on your Aircraft, the tools would vary for each one type...are these tools listed a "general" list?

[Scolopax offline]

The goal with my tool kit design would be to have the greatest capabilities in the lightest most compact package for unscheduled field service necessities on small Cessnas, Pipers, Maules, Husky's and other aircraft that are ubiquitous in the back country. I know that some maintenance actions are not legal to perform on certified flying machines without the proper licenses, but if I get stranded in a remote location with minor mechanical issues and Darwin comes knocking, I will be performing some maintenance.

There is a thread that has some pretty outrageous field repairs here. Couldn't find it.

[88H offline]

Agree with comments about everyone having a little different list.

This summer, lost a tailwheel tire tube in the backcountry. Had the tube, had a socket drive and socket set, bud didn't have the deep well socket it took to get to the bolts holding the tailwheel together.

[robw56 offline]

I have heard of people carrying an extra Scott 3200 tailwheel tire mounted on an extra rim and ready to swap out if needed. I could have used one of those one time

[Grassstrippilot offline]

The goal with my tool kit design would be to have the greatest capabilities in the lightest most compact package for unscheduled field service necessities on small Cessnas, Pipers, Maules, Husky's and other aircraft that are ubiquitous in the back country. I know that some maintenance actions are not legal to perform on certified flying machines without the proper licenses, but if I get stranded in a remote location with minor mechanical issues and Darwin comes knocking, I will be performing some maintenance.

Yup. That's exactly why they are carried.

[Oregon180 offline]

I have heard of people carrying an extra Scott 3200 tailwheel tire mounted on an extra rim and ready to swap out if needed. I could have used one of those one time

That's what I do. Doesn't weigh that much and saves you a lot of hassle in case of a blown tailwheel tire. Don't ask me how I know!

[dogpilot offline]

I too carry a spare built up Scott tailwheel, have for years, ever since a blown one at a remote site stranded me. I just have a small tool roll I keep with the survival gear in a hard box, along with spare light bulbs and such. You can't carry everything you might possibly need. If I feel I need more, I toss a selection into a tool pouch bag an take it along as well. Otherwise you end up like we did at NOAA, where the twin Otter was the smallest aircraft, since we even carried a 3 wheeler in the back along with tents food, stoves guns sat gear, blah, blah, blah. it was about 1,000 lbs of contingency stuff.

[macktruckfarm offline]

If one has Cessna gear, I always carried a homemade adapter for jacking up the mains, seems most mechanics rig up some dangerous(to the plane) tool instead of the proper one, especially if operating in the tulies.

[robw56 offline]

I too carry a spare built up Scott tailwheel, have for years, ever since a blown one at a remote site stranded me. I just have a small tool roll I keep with the survival gear in a hard box, along with spare light bulbs and such. You can't carry everything you might possibly need. If I feel I need more, I toss a selection into a tool pouch bag an take it along as well. Otherwise you end up like we did at NOAA, where the twin Otter was the smallest aircraft, since we even carried a 3 wheeler in the back along with tents food, stoves guns sat gear, blah, blah, blah. it was about 1,000 lbs of contingency stuff.

Although I don't think carrying a spare tailwheel is a bad idea... A flat sure wouldn't keep me stranded somewhere if I couldn't fix it. I've actually had to fly home with a flat tailwheel a couple times. Just wheel land it and don't let the tail down till your real slow. Then taxi slow back to the hangar using full forward yoke to try to keep the tail light... or just shut it down and tow it.

[RanchAero offline]

I too carry a spare tailwheel and some of that "tire slime". I got the TW and tire from AKB, easy. I also carry spark plug or two and tools. I tool up and down depending on the mission. This is sort of "field maintenance" stuff... This is a great topic and has given me some new ideas.

[dogpilot offline]

When I say remote in that case was away from home base, not the middle of nowhere. It was concrete, so the flat tailwheel would have wasted the rim by the time I took off. Taxing a 185 with the tail off at high power is a risky proposition. I do believe on of our brethren had an incident in a 180 last year doing just that, cost an engine and a bunch of pride. Now if your patient, a Scott tailwheel can be had for as little $200.