Maybe it is and maybe it isn't." The opinions differ with each individual, and what maintenance technicians would do personally is quite often at odds with their professional opinions. Are any of the engines accessories inspected as they should be, and if so to what extent? For me, the one small ray of hope in all this was the unanimous opinion of everyone I talked to — starting with my own local mechanic — that what happened to us didn’t really constitute a true prop strike: There was no visible damage to the prop, which indicated that the engine never actually started: The prop was being swung only by the starter motor. This incident includes propeller strikes against the ground. An engine tear down and rebuild is usually recommended, otherwise there is a risk of an in-flight engine failure, broken crankshaft or loss of propeller. Finding out what needs to be done and whether that agrees with what you feel should be done, whos going to do it and who is going to pay for it, should help make the experience of a prop strike/sudden stoppage as painless as possible. Dialing in the flange is worthless for this. A special note to experimental aircraft builders or someone looking for an engine upgrade: Beware of that great deal on an engine with a less than stellar or unknown history. Why You're More Likely To Have An Engine Fire This Fall. A full overhaul will cost about $12,500 plus accessories. Most of these occur in singles, but last month we had a double prop strike in a Cessna 421B that we manage. There's also the cost of inspection of the accessories, which is extra. Still others will only pay for the labor to do the job and will not pay for any parts. The engine for sale was the model I needed, with about 1,000 hours since a factory overhaul. Well, that takes care of the propeller — what about the engine? If it requires you to remove and repair (or replace) a prop or blade, then you need to tear down the engine. An engine tear down and rebuild is usually recommended, otherwise there is a risk of an in-flight engine failure, broken crankshaft or loss of propeller. This incident includes propeller strikes against the ground. Then he pulled the engine and did a major overhaul, and replaced the prop. But as they came back to land, deer started running across the runway as the pilots touched down in their Cessna 182. TCM's SB 97-6 specifies the mandatory items that must be replaced when the engine is torn down. Already a member? Say the engine is turning only 1000 rpm, barely above an idle. Not a member? dont do it. Any decision to operate an engine which was involved in a [prop strike] without such inspection must be the responsibility of the agency returning the aircraft to service.”Similarly, TCM‘s Service Bulletin SB96-11 defines “propeller strike incidents” in much the same way as Lycoming, and says that “Following any propeller strike a complete engine disassembly and inspection is mandatory and must be accomplished prior to further operation …” It does include one small out: “For instances where the propeller is damaged by a small foreign object during operation, such as a small stone, inspection and repair must be accomplished in accordance with the propeller manufacturer’s published instructions. How much liability insurance do you have? Pilot Loses Control On Landing After Passenger Steps On The Rudder Pedal, Why It's Hard To Make A Smooth Landing In An Empty Jet, 8 Tips To Make A Textbook Traffic Pattern Every Time, What To Expect On Your Private Pilot Checkride: The Oral Exam, Your Guide To Flying Commercial Steep Turns, How To Pick The Best VFR Cross-Country Checkpoints. Following any propeller strike complete disassembly and inspection of all rotating engine components is mandatory and must be accomplished prior to further operation. I spoke with several shop owners and asked their opinion. Service bulletins are one thing, but the real information comes from the people working in the field. Tell us in the comments below. In short, all accessories become suspect to damage under either a prop strike or sudden stoppage incident. My group also argued about the propeller hitting grass and water. Swayne is an editor at Boldmethod, certified flight instructor, and an Embraer 145 First Officer for a regional airline. Get the latest news on coronavirus impacts on general aviation, including what AOPA is doing to protect GA, event cancellations, advice for pilots to protect themselves, and more. If you can imagine a loose rod banging around inside your engine, you know it's bad. Did you knock over a taxiway light while taxiing, or brush your aircraft against another on the ground? Look for dents, unusual scratches/scrapes, warping, grass stains, damage to the tip, etc. They were legitimate, having been initiated after an inspection, but that doesn't help when selling the airplane. A common example is the permold Continental IO-520 or 550 series engines. I didn’t even realize it was damaged.”I couldn’t believe I’d actually flown it with a damaged prop. Your brakes have failed and you have to decide whether or not you'll go-around or continue the rollout. In this case however, there is an existing AD for quite a few differentLycoming engines that specifically mentions prop strikes and mandates some degree of tear down, but not necessarily a full tear down, and only if it is a prop strike as opposed to a sudden stoppage. Can You Identify These 8 Cloud Formations? Are there any hidden costs? a prop strike incident, I always counsel them to look at it not as a problem but as an opportunity. WORLD'S PREMIER INDEPENDENT AVIATION NEWS RESOURCE. The concern, of course, is the prospect of hidden damage, which can cause, and has caused, subsequent engine failures. I won't list them all here, but some of the more expensive ones are: hydraulic valve lifters, connecting rod bearings, the crankshaft's main and thrust bearings, all needle, ball, and roller bearings, exhaust valves, valve springs, piston pins, pistons, crankcase through bolts, all the hardware, seals, gaskets, O-rings, and lots of other small stuff. Dealing with them on this issue is fodder for another article, however. Panagotacos recently paid $66 for the list of a 1956 Cessna 182, which is in his shop. They are often ignored in the prop-strike evaluation, yet they have prescribed inspection criteria even if involved in only a sudden stoppage. Its not a smoking gun, but perusing the accident reports makes one wonder about such coincidences. Propeller strikes can be the result of the propeller contacting the ground due to landing gear collapse, failure to extend the landing gear, or nose-over. To start my investigation, I wanted the official definition of a prop strike.Since my engine is These cases should be handled as sudden stoppages because of potentially severe side loading on the crankshaft flange, front bearing, and seal. A prop-strike also imposes terrific jamming forces backward on the rear of the case-where the gearing is located and easily damaged. TCM-powered aircraft operating under Part 135 of the FARs that have to comply with all manufacturers service bulletins would have to comply with Service Bulletin 96-11B, dealing with prop strikes, dated July 2008, requiring total disassembly and inspection after any incident that requires removal of the propeller for repairs or if the engine physically lost any rpms during the incident. Schwaner made the point that more than a few people have been told their engine's crank is bad, but it just so happens that the shop has the one you need in stock. Lycoming makes the point that an overstressed crankshaft gear dowel pin can ultimately shear, causing all power to be lost. This AD, defines a propeller strike as follows: (i) For the purposes of this AD, a propeller strike is defined as follows: (1) Any incident, whether or not the engine is operating, that requires repair to the propeller other than minor blade dressing. AC 43.13-1B has a great deal to say about what should be done in the manner of inspections and actions, and all the statements are preceded by the word must such as following the manufacturer directives as the priority action, with emphasis on the importance of a teardown when the event meets the criteria. Highly stressed connecting rod bolts also take a beating from a prop-strike, which can cause a slight stretch. How much grass and how deep should the water be, and how sudden is "sudden," and what constitutes an rpm drop? Now I had to determine the consequences. I alluded to the potential of buying an airplane that suffered a prop strike without the required inspections being completed. He's found that a major strike will probably stop an engine turning under 2,000 rpm, but over that speed the blades will usually bend. Yaw dampers make flying more comfortable for passengers and easier for pilots. This may seem to contradict itself since sudden stoppage is mentioned earlier in the AD in the prop strike-definitions section, but thats the way it is written with an orientation to certain types of direct drive Lycoming engines, with only Lycoming O-145, O-320H, O-360E, LO-360E, LTO-360E,O-435, and TIO-541 series engines being exempt. There may be other additional requirements mandated by insurance policies or engine manufacturer and/or overhauler warranty. Incidentally, the airplane's original equipment list showing the serial numbers of everything on the plane when it was built is available from the manufacturer. It's priced at $499 and has... © 2020 Aviation Publishing Group. One of the issues that is particularly hard to quantify if you elect not to tear an engine down, post strike and choose to disregard the fairly specific diagnostic procedures that the engine makers put out is do you have the FAA legal option of ignoring the service directives? According to the salvage yard, the prop strike came about after an out-of-fuel landing on a road in Louisiana. If it has, and there's no indication in the engine logs about a teardown and inspection, it's time for a long explanation from the seller. Prop strikes are one of the most costly incidents that can happen to propeller-driven aircraft.
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