Narrative:

A new (to the area, not to aviation) manager had recently taken over management of the FBO and put different planes on the flight line. The small aircraft I had rented for some dual, possibly to include some hood time, needed some elbow grease and new paint. There were, however, no mechanical problems. I thought that the hourly wet rate was a tad salty for an old aircraft with 1 navcom and a basic VFR panel, but I was anxious to fly with a favorite instrument. Luckily we were in cavu conditions when the navigation's tuning knobs suddenly lost their purchase and the VOR's could no longer be tuned in. I have always twisted those knobs slowly and carefully.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ON TRAINING FLT WITH CFI IS UNABLE TO TUNE NAVIGATION RADIO BECAUSE KNOBS CAME LOOSE DUE TO ACFT AGE. REPORTER ALSO COMPLAINS OF STEEP RENTAL RATE ON SUCH AN OLD AND MINIMALLY EQUIPPED ACFT.

Narrative: A NEW (TO THE AREA, NOT TO AVIATION) MGR HAD RECENTLY TAKEN OVER MGMNT OF THE FBO AND PUT DIFFERENT PLANES ON THE FLT LINE. THE SMA I HAD RENTED FOR SOME DUAL, POSSIBLY TO INCLUDE SOME HOOD TIME, NEEDED SOME ELBOW GREASE AND NEW PAINT. THERE WERE, HOWEVER, NO MECHANICAL PROBS. I THOUGHT THAT THE HOURLY WET RATE WAS A TAD SALTY FOR AN OLD ACFT WITH 1 NAVCOM AND A BASIC VFR PANEL, BUT I WAS ANXIOUS TO FLY WITH A FAVORITE INSTR. LUCKILY WE WERE IN CAVU CONDITIONS WHEN THE NAV'S TUNING KNOBS SUDDENLY LOST THEIR PURCHASE AND THE VOR'S COULD NO LONGER BE TUNED IN. I HAVE ALWAYS TWISTED THOSE KNOBS SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.