Northern Heights Aviation
30 Roundel Road P1C 0B8 North Bay, ON, Canada

To further serve our customers, we have equipped ourselves to properly carry out dynamic balancing on propellers. A properly balanced propeller can reduce premature failures of sensitive avionics equipment and various airframe components. In some cases it can also improve the performance of the engine. Being able to perform dynamic balancing will compliment well with our other services we offer including: - 121.5 and 406 ELT performance testing - Altimeter certification ... - Transponder correlation - Pitot Static leak tests - Maintenance and inspections - Structural repairs Contact us today to see how we can help you keep your flights smooth!

Been awhile since we have posted anything. Like everyone, life has been hectic. Last winter we started a project on our beloved local Yak 52. It has been quit the journey that started before Covid19. A journey that got dragged on because of Covid19. However we are nearing the end. And I have to say, what a transformation. Working closely with the owner we were able to give this aircraft a new modern cockpit while keeping some of its original Russian charm. To list some of the... updates - Dynon D10 - Dual Trig Comm radios and new intercomm - Trig transponder - Master caution panel was customized for the aircraft - All new instrument layout was created starting with a blank slate. - Instrument panel and side panels repainted - New cockpit upholstery - The list goes on The aircraft may not get airborne this season. However lots of little small details that have been a stick in the mud for this machine are being dealt with so it has a proper clean bill of health for next season. We want to thank the owner for the opportunity to help him with this project.

Following the update to the essential workplace list provided by the Ontario Governemt, Northern Heights Aviation will be closed until further notice. We have also made this decision out of respect to the health care workers who are at an increasing risk of infection as the Covid19 pandemic drags on. We will be looking to serve our customers in what ever way possible from our homes. If you have a question please don't hesitate to call us. As some of our test equipment can b...e relocated into our homes easily, we will continue to offer ELT performance testing and Altimer certifications with some limitations. If you are looking to send us your ELT at this time please contact us for further information. If you have recently shipped an ELT to us, please contact us so we can make arrangements to have the unit picked up. We apologies for any inconvenience this may pose to our customers. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home! Let's make sure we can all see each other again when this comes to pass.

The damage to the aircraft was decent. Pilots did a fantastic job with landing. The flaps saved much of the aircraft and we have been selected to repair the old girl. Lots of belly damage, engines, props and flaps. Very exciting work ahead !

The cause of the gear failure was due to a hydraulic line that sheared right at the flare on the landing gear power pack. The Navajo has a flaw in the emergency system, it relies on hydraulic fluid. Once the line broke the hydraulic pumps expelled the fluid from the reservoir down to the top of the normal system stand pipe, the rest of the fluid was expelled by the pilot while operating the emergency system. Later aircraft of this type were modified to have a completely separate emergency system containing blow down bottles at each gear leg.

We have been spending some time at the Mattawa Airport, putting floatplanes to bed and doing a change over. Here we have Dave coming to pick up our customer who dropped off his floatplane for the season. Giving him a lift back to North Bay. Fantastic location!

To further serve our customers, we have equipped ourselves to properly carry out dynamic balancing on propellers. A properly balanced propeller can reduce premature failures of sensitive avionics equipment and various airframe components. In some cases it can also improve the performance of the engine. Being able to perform dynamic balancing will compliment well with our other services we offer including: - 121.5 and 406 ELT performance testing - Altimeter certification ... - Transponder correlation - Pitot Static leak tests - Maintenance and inspections - Structural repairs Contact us today to see how we can help you keep your flights smooth!

Been awhile since we have posted anything. Like everyone, life has been hectic. Last winter we started a project on our beloved local Yak 52. It has been quit the journey that started before Covid19. A journey that got dragged on because of Covid19. However we are nearing the end. And I have to say, what a transformation. Working closely with the owner we were able to give this aircraft a new modern cockpit while keeping some of its original Russian charm. To list some of the... updates - Dynon D10 - Dual Trig Comm radios and new intercomm - Trig transponder - Master caution panel was customized for the aircraft - All new instrument layout was created starting with a blank slate. - Instrument panel and side panels repainted - New cockpit upholstery - The list goes on The aircraft may not get airborne this season. However lots of little small details that have been a stick in the mud for this machine are being dealt with so it has a proper clean bill of health for next season. We want to thank the owner for the opportunity to help him with this project.

Following the update to the essential workplace list provided by the Ontario Governemt, Northern Heights Aviation will be closed until further notice. We have also made this decision out of respect to the health care workers who are at an increasing risk of infection as the Covid19 pandemic drags on. We will be looking to serve our customers in what ever way possible from our homes. If you have a question please don't hesitate to call us. As some of our test equipment can b...e relocated into our homes easily, we will continue to offer ELT performance testing and Altimer certifications with some limitations. If you are looking to send us your ELT at this time please contact us for further information. If you have recently shipped an ELT to us, please contact us so we can make arrangements to have the unit picked up. We apologies for any inconvenience this may pose to our customers. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home! Let's make sure we can all see each other again when this comes to pass.

The damage to the aircraft was decent. Pilots did a fantastic job with landing. The flaps saved much of the aircraft and we have been selected to repair the old girl. Lots of belly damage, engines, props and flaps. Very exciting work ahead !

The cause of the gear failure was due to a hydraulic line that sheared right at the flare on the landing gear power pack. The Navajo has a flaw in the emergency system, it relies on hydraulic fluid. Once the line broke the hydraulic pumps expelled the fluid from the reservoir down to the top of the normal system stand pipe, the rest of the fluid was expelled by the pilot while operating the emergency system. Later aircraft of this type were modified to have a completely separate emergency system containing blow down bottles at each gear leg.

As many now know, back on April 30th 2019 a Piper Navajo Chieftain had a gear up landing at North Bay/Jack Garland Airport. We were called for the recovery of this aircraft. Here are some photos of that recovery. We called Mammoet Crane Company to help us with the recovery. As we didn't know what the cause of the gear issue was we also ordered a flat bed to remove the aircraft off the runway. Only a few hours from when she landed on her belly to back on gear.

Continuing from the last post. While draining the left fuel tank I noticed these two fine lines in the paint on the sump drain fitting plate. Obviously looks like there could be a crack there. After removing the tank, paint stripper was applied to the area. Unfortunately it was cracked and requires replacement. Good find saving a potential in flight issue.

Doing the annual on my favorite Cherokee 140. We highly recommend to our customers that own Cherokees to do Special Inspection Procedure #14 in the Cherokee Maintenance manual. It calls out to remove the fuel tanks every 7 years and inspect for corrosion on the spar adjacent to the fuel tank. We then apply a corrosion inhibitor to all reachable areas of the spar and replace the flexible fuel line. Because of the lack of inspection panels in the Cherokee wing this is also the best way to give the control cables and the wing structure a very good inspection. Well worth the effort every 7 years. See next post for a not so fun side note !

Beautiful evening at the hangar.

26 aircraft spent the night in North Bay. Race ends at 5 o'clock today in Welland Ontario. Still well over 20 aircraft left to make the trip through North Bay.

The progress of the racers can be viewed on the interactive map found at the link below. 2 aircraft stopped in North Bay yesterday afternoon and continued on to the finish. 3 aircraft arrived in the evening and spent the night. One aircraft is currently enroute from Sault Ste Marie to here. With a group of about 7 aircraft on their way to Sault Ste Marie at the moment With the weather in southern Ontario today we may see many more aircraft forced to spend the night in North B...ay. At the moment the event officials are estimating 25 aircraft to spend the night in North Bay. Wait and see what the day brings https://airraceclassic2019.maprogress.com/

Air Race Classic started yesterday. First aircraft made it to North Bay this afternoon. More to come this evening!

Aircraft owners have good days and they have bad days.... This was a bad day. Luckily it was found on the ground before having a catastrophic in flight failure.