I Learned About Flying From That
I Learned About Flying From That
Flying Magazine
128. Blinded by Oil
28 minutes Posted May 6, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
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Show notes
In Episode 128 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri welcomes Bill English, a veteran pilot, flight instructor, and former NTSB accident investigator with over 40 years of aviation experience.
Bill recounts a harrowing situation while flying a Cessna 172 that had just undergone a major engine overhaul. Setting out on a cross-country training flight with two CFI trainees, the crew noticed what appeared to be water condensation on the windshield shortly after takeoff. The "rain" quickly worsened, turning into a brown film that completely obscured the front windshield. They soon realized a plug in the engine's hollow crankshaft had blown out, spraying hot oil all over the aircraft's fuselage.
Tune in to hear the full breakdown of the emergency, plus vital lessons learned.