My mechanic just found a giant 3 pound birds nest nestling inside the wing, right behind the firewall of the left engine. The glowing hot turbos are literally just inches away and it would have been a serious fire hazard. Glad nothing happened in the 80hrs I flew without knowing. It was in a really inaccessible place and would not have been found unless the engine was removed and the firewall inspection covers had been opened up. The birds got access through a venting hole in the wheel well.
Couple of weeks ago I also noticed on the old plane that the fuel venting tube seemed plugged. It wasn’t easy to see, but when I shone a light up there it seemed like something was blocking it. I poked it out and cleaned it and it had a waxy feel, like a little cocoon. Must have been some kind of larger insects nest, maybe a cockroach nest. The perils of being parked outside I suppose, but it could have happened even in a hangar as most of them are built like shacks.
