Gulf Coast Swing 2: FAILURE of BOTH Vacuum Pumps!

The second installment of our Gulf Coast Swing Series. During our IFR flight from Chicago Aurora (ARR) to Auburn, Alabama (AUO) we experience a dual vacuum pump failure. This is incredibly rare as each engine has a separate independent vacuum pump. In my plane the vacuum pumps operate the surface de-ice boots and the backup attitude indicator. Luckily I've upgraded my plane with new digital attitude indicators (AHRS) but there are still many planes flying around with the vacuum attitude indicator as the primary attitude reference for flight in the clouds and their autopilots, in many cases, operate off this instrument. In that case, this would have been a serious emergency situation!
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For more information on the autopilot: stec3100.genesys-aerosystems....
If you're looking for a good shop in the midwest for Avidyne upgrades or maintenance on your piston or jet, check out Burlington Air Center.
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This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as instruction in any way. For instruction please contact your local flight school.
This video does not represent the views of the FAA.

[@cdh77]

17:50 “Well the gear came down” Her expression, priceless.

[@BrianJohnson-cj8xf]

And another enjoyable trip while I sip my coffee after night shift .... good job you two !!!

[@larrydenning3861]

Dual vac pump failures in twins is common. Vac pumps seldom make TBO. If they are both old and have hundreds of hours, they are on borrowed time. If the engines are running, the pumps are working full time keeping the boots (wings and tail) down and operating gyros. If one fails, the other must take up the entire vac load and it will often fail in a few minutes. Best plan is vac pump OH every 4 to 500 hrs. The new glass horizons, or a back-up electric gyro, make it less of an emergency. I see you got your left CHT repaired. Keep up the great flights.

[@310Pilot]

Thanks for the insight Larry! I always thought it was rare. I knew these were getting close to time/hours and now have 2 new ones to track for replacement. As you said, with all my new avionics it was much less of a situation as it would have been IMC a few years ago for me. CHT is repaired and I just picked it back up with two new pumps and the surface de-ice switch that failed replaced. They also re-did my fuel flows and the mixtures are much more aligned now. :)

[@larrydenning3861]

Glad you got everything repaired. I've flown most 310 models for just over 50 years. We've owned 310s for 26 years and currently have a 310R. It's equipped about like your Q except for the new AP and color WX radar. (We're jealous) We have monochrome radar and XM WX along with a Bendix AP. I'm an ATP, AP, IA, have refurbished several Cessna twins, and write tech articles about them. My co-pilot's name is Janie. You guys operate your aircraft like professionals and it's fun to watch. I've turned several of my cohorts onto your site. Good luck with it.

[@CalBart42]

Kevin dude .. its always exciting flying with you guys ... Love your vids man ... you are living my dream thanks for bringing us all along

[@nelsonrandall]

Outstanding as usual. Entertaining and informative! Very interesting to watch! Thanks!

[@jtthill5475]

Well done Kevin. Glad you have the new panel to back up your back up 6 pack. You mastered the mysterious failure with ease. Stay warn and take care of Lady J. Thanks for sharing

[@andrews640]

Scary. Before the electronics it could have been a real problem. You looked concerned, but we're always in control and confident. Good job.

[@philipdaniels6584]

Watched a few flight channels before but I haven’t seen any quite like y’all’s . Keep up the great work!👍🏼

[@Maximum1A]

Jamie’s face when you said the landing gear works was priceless.

[@CoondawgPD]

Auburn....you go South till ya smell it and West till ya step in it! Go Dawgs y’all. Glad you got to make the trip and did so safely!

[@kencraft2751]

Hey guys, nice flight,interested to see what happened to v/pump, looking forward to the rest of the trip, GO DAWGS! Especially tomorrow

[@joetexas1546]

Yep-your Cessna does'nt suck! Really enjoy your Flights- from an old Crew-chief here!

[@harpoon_bakery162]

Glad you got down safe!! Thanks for sharing!

[@larrymayberry2312]

Hope you can get the issues fixed and without any problems. Thanks for another great video.

[@rabh6746]

Great video once again, I'm glad the failure didn't affect anything crucial and you landed safe and well :) Looking forward to the next instalment!

[@310Pilot]

Glad you enjoyed it Rab! The new technology I've installed since buying the plane allowed this flight to continue without the pumps. If this was 2 years ago we'd have been stuck on the ground there until it could be repaired.

[@jeffhunt3146]

Great video guys !!!!! It's sure nice to see you all calm & collected. It's only an emergency if you let it be. And now I have to wait for your next one.....................

[@jameswikstrom4174]

Kevin, Just like old home week for me. I am a displaced Southerner! Grew Up in Montgomery then moved to Birmingham. Still have fond memories of my childhood. Auburn University has a great aviation program. Go “Tigers”! I roll with the “Tide” but my Dad was a diehard “Tiger” fan”! Y’all have a great time in Alabama!

[@ezrider1967]

My 1st video of the day, and it got my blood pumping good! Thanks for the video!

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Wow, that would certainly be a big-time coincidence having 2 independent pumps fail one after the other. As a auto mechanic, my first thought would be some common link, like that valve you mentioned ... or maybe something behind the dash, since that has all been moved around recently. Curious to know if it was actually both pumps! You'd better play the lottery if it was! 😉 I watched a KZbin video a couple years back of someone who lost their pump in IMC - that was a BAD situation! I don't recall how that story ended, but it was INTENSE. Lots of people don't make it out of that. Great you have all that redundancy, and weren't in IMC at the time! Perfect timing for the upgrades! Man, what I wouldn't give to have 82° up here right now. I can't even get my house that warm if I tried! 😂 Beautiful shots flying past those smaller clouds, and a great flight as always! Thanks, Kevin & Jamie! 👍🍻

[@TrainWatcherDon]

Love the story about how 310Pilot got started. So basically your wife sent you to the hardware store but you didn't get past the toy store. Love it! (I have done the same.) LOL

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Happy to see that your new avionics saved you from having a serious problem with the pump failure. Very strange, eh? Stay safe!

[@joshbarnes151]

Never flown in a small plane..! But you two are so REAL LIFE. Barron pilot is ok, but you two make this channel so entertaining!! Please keep up the great video work.

[@srvafool]

"Jolted violently awake". And "that's the new made up phrase". She's great! And Kevin, there was absolutely nothing wrong with that landing.

[@rogerherbert1662]

You guys are really fun to watch. Keep those videos coming!

[@310Pilot]

Thank you Roger!! We'll keep after it as long as ya'll are enjoying it. :)

[@jeffholleyga]

Love watching all of your videos! Very weird with the vacuum pumps. Goooo Dawgs!

[@commonsoldier6442]

War Eagle. AU '91. Love your videos!!!! Going to be a great game tomorrow.

[@gregbergman7412]

I enjoy your videos. I might be picking up my "new" T310Q by the end of January. War Eagle!

[@glennellis1584]

In our 1959 Brand new Cessna 182B, we had a generator failure, with 30 hrs on the airframe & engine. This was on takeoff, when the panel light came on, my dad radioed the tower to go around & land. He did not declare an emergency, but almost blew a gasket himself. There were no parts, as the generator broke a brush on takeoff, a call to the factory got quick action, as we were in Chanute Kansas. With newer pilots relying on glass panels, the old school pilots feel old. Steam gauges are still the best IMHO. Kevin calmly described the problem, while Jamie returned to the right seat, without being asked. They could have had another failure at any time, but continued to the destination. Good job to you both, for handling what easily could have become an in air emergency, at any time.

[@MatHelm]

I've learned that when ever I sleep in anything moving, especially a small plane, I try to figure out a way to loosely connect a seat (or atleast a shoulder) belt around my person. While it hasn't paid off in a plane, it most certainly did while sound asleep in the 3rd row seat of an Expedition. It prevented a minor fender bender from being major injuries as I woke up in midair above the second row seat, after a small 2dr Honda pulled out in front of us...

[@VikingsFan27]

I too have never heard of a dual vacuum pump failure. Nice video!

[@MarkHolliway]

Good landing Chris. Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing!!

[@tonyalsleben2853]

Jamie's face about the gear coming down... classic!

[@glennellis1584]

"THREE IN THE GREEN"

[@waqarsyed6641]

Awesome to see you guys

[@privatepilotlife1770]

Nice flight! Thanks for taking us along... ;)

[@310Pilot]

Thank you...glad you enjoyed it!

[@donemory7459]

Nice flight Jamie & Kevin. I really like your camera view of the new panel...it looks really clear, clean, and neat. I will look forward in what happen to those vacuum pumps that quit working at the same time, it must of been a system failure somewhere that cause both to malfunction at the same time. Well I imagine you know what happened by now. Don :-)

[@al-lr3yv]

Thanks guys, your discussion on vacuum pump and title....funny one!

[@jerryvan6205]

Started watching about 3 months ago ready enjoy the videos

[@AshokKumar-tj3rt]

That's awasome! Loved it

[@socomon69]

Jamie going old school - kriss kross. "weather and NOTAMS" is the new hotness.

[@davidlogan7216]

Thanks for having me along!

[@erikaostlund5229]

The 73 "Q" I flew on a cancelled check run between MSP and MDW with multiple stops every nite back in the 80's, had a dual failure in IMC. it's kinda scary when you see your attitude indicator start rolling over... One finds herself flying Needle, Ball and HSI giggle. Fortunately it happened under my final leg about 30 minutes short of getting back. Sometime along that A/C's life somebody replaced the original WET PUMPS with dry pumps during an overhaul or reman (cheaper) and the dry pumps fail just like that bang - bang... I have had just about one of everything crap out at one time or another in Cessna Twins. Eventually you'll have your bird completely solid. You seem to spend the $ where needed. Enjoy your channel.

[@MikeB0001]

Jaime dont need no stinking mirror!..great video..tks!👍🏻👍🏻

[@brucethompson1879]

Thanks for splainin use of vacuum.

[@Glenn7915]

Love your video's great work thanks really enjoy them !

[@310Pilot]

Awesome...glad you're enjoying the channel Glenn!!

[@lumberjunkee8451]

Enjoyed as always.......👍👍hope you get the pump issue resolved......stay safe!!

[@310Pilot]

Glad you liked it! The pumps and the switch that caused them to fail have all been replaced and we are good to go. :)

[@Big_Nipper]

Every video is better than the previous, keep them coming.

[@310Pilot]

Awesome...thank you Keith!!

[@christopherdoff-sotta4441]

Here it is 2021. The 2nd of jan. 0504 am and I found these videos. Your entrance music just seems peaceful. And watching your videos just really awesome...thank you thank you. I'm going to watch these now.. God bless you guys and fly safe...

[@MagfurSaidi]

Kevin: we had dual vaccum pump faillure.... Jamie: casually looking outside enjoying the view

[@larryehrlich8702]

The only time that I had both vacuum pumps fail, I was IFR and on a IFR clearance headed to Nome Alaska from the north. When I broke out of the weather I saw that if I canceled IFR, I could get below the overcast and scud run into Nome by getting over the water of Norton Sound and just have water below me instead of mountains below me. Nome was 500' overcast and 5 miles visibility. It worked out well...I just had to wait my turn for the special ATC clearance into Nome. I came in under a special VFR clearance with 3 other aircraft at the same time which was a common occurrence when the weather was low. I was flying a Piper Navajo and came in with the other pilots who were all flying Cessna 207's...a work horse of an airplane back then in Alaska (the 1990's) and still is a work horse in Alaska today.

[@99iwaena]

Reminds me back n 70's of Island hopping in Hawaii with a 9-pass. Cessna. Allot of scary moments between the island ocean channels and mountains up & down wind draft.

[@jdanon203]

Panel looks nice with all the new screens and gauges.

[@vanim8]

Awesome. Glad all is well.

[@blued8107]

Definitely need to come down to South Padre. Happy to show you all around!

[@310Pilot]

It's for sure on the list!! Thanks for the offer. :)

[@jackdorsey1384]

Great stuff bro, you seriously are the most chill pilot I have ever seen, do u instruct and if not you really need to. I would be 1st to sign up for your classes. ✈️🛫🛬

[@lenyancey5236]

Jaime, keep your hand to yourself. This is a family show! lol😊

[@roondoggie]

I saw that at 13:54

[@DaHeetFiveOh]

The SEC is well represented in this episode. GEAUX TIGERS!! (LSU) Will probably see your Dawgs in the SEC championship.

[@bermchasin]

CHAMPIONS! geaux burreaux

[@michaelbryant7377]

We used to take our 350i in there all the time. Get's crazy with all of the flight training that is conducted there.

[@MYPROJECTS101.]

Awesome flight and great team

[@jorgeolmos1953]

Thanks for the nice videos. Good luck from Argentina.

[@mikev.6665]

Watching this today was made even better after the game last night, Go Dawgs indeed!!!

[@310Pilot]

Ha ha...the timing of the release was perfect. :)

[@randylinn502]

I would prefer to say "GO DUCKS!!!!" Once again, another wonderful flight!!!!

[@BamaContractor]

Well you infected your plane in Cow Town Auburn! Can’t wait to see what caused the dual? You’re in the Catbirds Seat to the Championship now and I’ll be in the viewing section. Congratulations! It was a rough weekend for the Tide with Tua going down for the season and two more key players. My MSU wife and daughter were happy they accomplished something in their loss (harsh). Looking forward to the next installment. Roll Tide and keep’em coming.

[@randalldevalcourt4000]

Excellent video u guys---the weather looked awesome. I too, liked Jaime's expression on her face---like uh---REALLY!!! GOOoo Tigers and thanks from Cajun Country!!

[@daveglover3944]

Fantastic scenery as usual but don't like things failing while flying. Hope you can get it repaired before you continue on the trip. Fly safe.

[@daneulekowski929]

At least you weren't over the Bermuda triangle when this happened

[@kyledodge496]

I'm in Michigan. Our planes come back.

[@N98858]

Nice Ride Kevin & Jamie...Thanks ';-)

[@310Pilot]

Thank you...glad you enjoyed it!!

[@bobmanahmed7258]

lovely video!! Thanks for sharing

[@garyschmid9607]

I dont have the balls to fly and i have been up for a ride twice on scenic flights in mackinaw city MI. I love your videos sir u are my hero

[@Heyjaybird]

Love it I'm a new sub. Takes me back to some fun times. I'm to disabled to do flying anymore. Love the vlog

[@DrJohn493]

Hope the AUO folks were able to help you with your vacuum pumps. I'll stay tuned for the rest of the story. We hope to have a fully operational ATC tower for the airport in a few years to help sequence the traffic. Their pilot training program is growing by leaps and bounds and game day traffic can really make things exciting.

[@straighttruth5850]

Great video, War Eagle!

[@ewratcrl3772]

Kevin, Really nice video. Good observation of your wing surfaces to notice the boots and then the vacuum pumps. I would fly with you any day. Also, I just read your interview with The Cessna Flyer Association. To be compared with Sky King (which I religiously watched as a child) is what I consider to be an honor. Keep up the great work and look forward to your next adventure.

[@310Pilot]

Thank you RL! They did a nice job with the article. Being that is the first one anyone has ever asked to do on me I was a bit unsure how it would turn out but it was nice. We've been having a lot of fun reviving our version of Sky King. :)

[@LordoftheCats]

@@310Pilot Yeah but now you have to rename Jamie as Penny, Sky. lol

[@edwinkania5286]

Well you had some inflight entertainment with those pumps. She has great radio skill.

[@310Pilot]

Sure did Edwin! I know I may be bias but I have the best co-pilot ever! :)

[@georges4562]

Great video as usual !

[@medicmark9683]

Love your videos keep them coming

[@310Pilot]

Thanks Mark...glad you're enjoying them!!

[@philipdavidson3232]

What a riot you guys are. Who needs vacum pumps, Kevin is all nonchalant about things but at 17:53 Jamies look at you was priceless! In her head she was saying" G**damn landing gear and undercarriage better be ok"! I dont think her eyes could have rolled any harder. Not sure if you noticed it in edit the process or not. Thanks for another video.

[@niceguy2171]

Glad it wasn't more serious, but that is strange, 2 independent system to go like that. Know you told me it wasn't in the new systems, but those old ones are the ones that many of us learned to fly with, and anytime they are compromised it keeps you on your toes. Hope they had the facilities there to help you w/it, have been there, but a long time ago. Pretty area.

[@310Pilot]

Glad it wasn't more serious and I upgraded to new systems so this didn't ground us. Turns out it was the switch that controls the boots that failed and caused them to inflate without letting up and taking the pumps out in the process.

[@phatdonkey78]

Jamie: "Warm it up Chris." Crickets Unacceptable!

[@timmylew]

I'm about to! Warm it up, Chris, cause that's what I was born to do!!!

[@tompinnef6331]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Glad it wasn't anything too 'serious'. Always smart to have redundancy just in case.

[@larryorrman5235]

The Bulldogs played well today so you have to be happy about that !! You flew right over me in Huntsville.

[@310Pilot]

Very happy indeed. Now we just need to win out and somehow beat LSU! :)

[@scottsalinger2007]

Love you guys! 👍🛩🛩

[@jimharding915]

"if you say so" nice reply!

[@donc9751]

Yeah, preceded by long silence....

[@benryan9466]

Nice job... “ Gear is down always a good thing “ now fix the vacuum pumps and good to go

[@kaarebergheim3742]

Another great video once again, and I am glad the failure did not affect anything crucial and you able to land safely

[@JamesBoddie]

Enjoyed this episode. I pass by the approach end of RWY 360 (I-85) frequently. I just have to add a War Eagle, though.

[@realtalk4689]

I was eagerly waiting for the explanation as to the purpose of vacuum pumps (at the edge of my seat like "oh sh#t").

[@lonniefitzpatrick9912]

Loved Jaime's look when you said "the gear came down!" LOL

[@donc9751]

@@Abdulrahman_20j 17:49

[@deborahdobbie]

Love this channel!! You two are too cute ☺️♥️

[@scruffy50531]

"It's doneskis" I loved it

[@michaelmcgovern6361]

I love your videos!!!

[@JMART887]

This Pilot is a highly skilled man and his wife is very intelligent in aviation also, I learn a lot from watching as I am a Student Commercial pilot licence. Kind regards from Australia. I'm a new loyal subscriber. Thanks for the Video's, I'm going to watch them all. :)

[@310Pilot]

Thanks for the nice comment and for subscribing!! Hope you continue to enjoy the channel. :) Can't wait till we get a chance to visit Australia...it's high on our list.

[@erikvannewkirk964]

@@310Pilot out of curiosity what do you do if you need to use the restroom while flying?

[@curtislewis5437]

Go Dawgs, them Ms.State Dog's we only have to deal with the Crimson tide Saturday 👍👌🇺🇸

[@Adirondacks4me]

I use to be called when a sign was out, got there and it had four lamps that were dead not one. So sometimes if something has a backup you don't know there is a problem till both are finally dead...

[@DavidSmith-qo1se]

Lovely. Thanks. Oh... and I enjoyed all of the airplane stuff, too.

[@boboala1]

LOL! Yeah...somebody needs to crawl in the back & keep that poor woman warm! Oh...and then land the plane! ;-)

[@fly4fun610]

This dual failure due to being overworked by the deicing boots is a new one on me, but I'm not surprised. I think I've experienced about all the other ways they can fail. My favorite (not!) was caused by an improperly installed bushing in the accessory section of a newly overhauled Continental IO-360. Had several pumps fail in a row due to vibration in the drive shaft for the pump. I'm still grateful to the Teledyne Continental rep that helped us finally determine what the cause was. I am now a believer in doing factory reman engines instead of local overhauls!

[@310Pilot]

That's awesome they were so helpful in figuring out that problem. I hate problems like that, that are hard to determine and keep costing you money (new pumps and exploratory surgery) to try to figure out. I hope to not need new engine for several years...knock on wood...but will keep that in mind in the future.

[@tylerjustice7644]

Cool y’all flew through Alabama! I live in St Clair County. Big Auburn fan War Eagle 🦅

[@cannondaleman1]

Love her voice. Very nice.

[@Pittsburghpilot]

Fun to watch even though I spend half of my life at flight level 400 but I got to tell you that seeing you taxi off of the taxi lines drives me nuts. When I started my professional flying career I had a 20000 hour Captain tell me “son the center of that yellow line is reserved for Captains and potential Captain’s”

[@donc9751]

Some messages or lessons early on in a career just stick with a person the rest of theirs, and that's probably a good thing.

[@ariadnelagin184]

Scott Rittiger my instructor tell me all the time “you don’t want that nose wheel out of the yellow line”

[@fa300zxtt]

My Mother used to say "wear clean underwear when you are going somewhere" Oh well never mind. Great flight. Cool heads always prevail. Thanks again.

[@donc9751]

LOL I remember my grandmother, probably mom too saying that! Like... if you end up in an accident and going to the ER at least your underwear will be clean??? At least up until the moment of the accident either scares or knocks the crap out of us.

[@ericsprague4273]

Thank You!