I watched the video and figured the pilot had reduced power before hitting the ditch. for the aircraft owner. No more filing blades a bit shorter after a tip strike, or performing a run-up and signing off on an engine after the runway lights have been mowed a bit shorter. A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Fora Area Brasileira FAB Comando da Aeronutica (Brazilian Air Force), Establishing the President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/00-29496, MODS: Government Publishing Office metadata. This condition, if not corrected, could result in crankshaft connecting rod journal fracture, which could result in total engine power loss, in-flight engine failure and possible forced landing. Teledyne Continental Motors has a slightly different approach, but not much different in practice. corresponding official PDF file on govinfo.gov. are not part of the published document itself. Dye Penetrant test didn't show any cracks on the flange, runout is .001 which is well within tolerance. Its possible to do major engine/accessory damage without obviously damaging the prop by hitting water or heavy, tall grass that stops or slows the running engine. We like to think that those we deal with are honest, however, there's a chance of impropiety by a seller, so when buying an airplane, be careful. TCM has informed the FAA that it intends to maintain a 24 to 48 hour turn-around time for notification of the crankshaft airworthiness. Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. After finding out the answer to these questions, its time to discuss with your insurance company what it will pay for and what it wont, before its a big surprise after the inspection is done. On April 28, 2000, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2000-08-51 that is applicable to Teledyne Continental Motors IO-360, TSIO-360, LTSIO-360, O-470, IO-470, TSIO-470, IO-520, TSIO-520, LTSIO-520, IO-550, TSIO-550, and TSIOL-550 series reciprocating engines. The opinions differ with each individual, and what maintenance technicians would do personally is quite often at odds with their professional opinions. A propeller strike (according to this Lycoming bulletin) is defined as follows:(It has all the same definitions found in AD 2004-10-14 that we printed in italics but has additional information): Circumstances which surround accidents are many and varied; therefore, the circumstances of the accident can not, in our opinion, be used to predict the extent of the damage to the engine or assure its future reliability. To start my investigation, I wanted the official definition of a prop strike. This year's numbers have placed us in the top 10, highlighting another strong year of property development. This damage can result in catastrophic engine failure. This is a minor or major prop repair issue, but not a potential engine tear down issue. This could indicate a gear-up landing, or other source of damage that took time to fix. These cases should be handled as sudden stoppages because of potentially severe side loading on the crankshaft flange, front bearing, and seal. TCM SB 96-11B defines a propeller strike as follows, and we paraphrase: First, any incident, whether or not the engine is operating, that requires repair to the propeller other than minor dressing of the blades, for instance where the propeller is damaged by a small foreign object during operation, such as a small stone. Compliance with the requirements of this AD is required within the next 10 hours time-in-service from the effective date of this AD, unless already done. There's a tremendous amount of energy stored in the rotating flyweight, and when all of a sudden you stop the prop and engine, that energy has to be dissipated somewhere.". The crankshaft SN is only used to determine the need for taking a core sample for those crankshafts identified in paragraph (a) and (b) of this AD. Below are three important links from the FAA, Lycoming, and Teledyne Continental regarding the definition of a Prop Strike and sudden stoppage. Start with all relative ADs, collect all service bulletins and service letters offered by the particular engine manufacturer, and sit with the insurance adjuster. Many insurance companies will not pay for any inspection requirements unless damage from the incident is found during that inspection. There used to be, but it was kind of informal and there was a lot open to interpretation. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. The concern, of course, is the prospect of hidden damage, which can cause, and has caused, subsequent engine failures. ", DeJoris adds, "As a result, there is no real relationship today between the extent of damage of the prop and the type of inspection that has to be done to the engine. This dream price just may be the cast off of a prop-strike incident that has been covered up or minimized in some way-or a prop with blades that are out of spec from metal removed from previous overhauls. Basically anything that moves is subject to visual and other forms of nondestructive testing. Lycoming's Service Bulletin 475B requires that in the event that the engine has experienced a propeller strike, inspection and possible rework of the accessory gear train as well as the rear of the engine's crankshaft is required. It is not an official legal edition of the Federal DeJoris says he is dealing with claims adjusters on a regular basis, and many adjusters today choose to have you go the extra mile and tear down the entire engine and propeller and do a thorough inspection." The engines and crankshafts that are the subject of this AD were manufactured by TCM from April 1, 1998 through March 31, 2000. He also said that if you have a prop strike while traveling, don't go to the first shop you see and turn the airplane over to it. Propeller inspections are fairly clear cut damage on the blades is typically quite apparent, and the existence of damage beyond field repair limits dictates that the unit is disassembled and given a searching internal inspection, and in some cases, complete overhaul. However the dates that the engines and crankshafts were delivered may not coincide with their dates of manufacture. DeJoris explains, "Take for example the prop governor drive the rotating mass in the prop governor, mainly the flyweight assembly can really be problem if suddenly stopped. John Schwaner, author of the Sky Ranch Engineering Manual, a must have for all those interested in aircraft engines, and owner of Sacramento Sky Ranch, in Sacramento, California, said the quandary is, "How do you know if something is good or not? Its also important to point out that this is not the only Lycoming bulletinthat discusses prop strikes. The rationale for this hub retirement criteria revolves around the fact that forces great enough to bend blades beyond their respective repair limits represent loads that are in excess of those that the hubs were designed to withstand, while providing sufficient structural safety margins.". documents in the last year. They either read full or A. The alternator is turning 3000 rpm because of gearing. We see flyweights and connecting hardware, in some designs, brutalized quite frequently by sudden stoppage. Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before January 26, 2001. 13132, because it would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. The general consensus is that at least some degree of tear-down is the only safe option under their definition, and largely follows manufacturer data in the general damage/repair evaluation techniques. They all agreed that if it were their aircraft, they would think long and hard about doing a teardown and inspection. the Federal Register. stoppage inspection, we are your source for engine I alluded to the potential of buying an airplane that suffered a prop strike without the required inspections being completed. [FR Doc. Both Lycoming and Continental express concerns about prop-strikes causing damage to the rear of the crank in the vicinity of the rear radius of the oil slinger, which can be shoved back into the case rear. Now I had to determine the consequences. O-435, and TIO-541 series engines being exempt. There is another FAA document with additional specifics for many Lycoming engines, and this is found in AD 2004-10-14, which defines and differentiates a prop strike and sudden prop stoppage and references Lycoming SB 475C, Jan 2003 as the supporting manufacturer document for the inspection and applicable engines. How much grass and how deep should the water be, and how sudden is "sudden," and what constitutes an rpm drop? The FAA has determined that all of the defects were due to unique material composition characteristics combined with process control variations that occurred during the material melt process. Definition of Propeller Strike (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 dressing of the blades. 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. TCM mandatory service bulletin (MSB) 005B, dated May 25, 2000, and MSB 005C, dated October 10, 2000, were issued to include the SN's of those additional suspect crankshafts. That AD requires removing a core sample of material from the propeller mounting flange and sending the core sample to TCM for evaluation. that agencies use to create their documents. McCauley hubs must be retired if any of the blades within the assembly are bent beyond repair limits inboard of the 85 percent blade radius. Following any propeller strike, complete disassembly and inspection of all rotating engine components is mandatory and must be accomplished prior to I wouldn't skimp on safety, but if I could save a few dollars on cosmetics, I sure would. The OFR/GPO partnership is committed to presenting accurate and reliable As for whether the inspection should be done, Anderson said he couldn't answer for anyone but himself; however, he wouldn't hesitate if it were his engine. Sticking with a certified repair facility possessing all the skills and tools will probably reduce the extra shipping costs and time involved to get individual parts examined seems most efficient to us. Engine inspection requirements after prop strikes can become complicated, however, and the regulations and recommendations seem to overlap and intertwine. Service Bulletin 533A has the pertinent Lycoming prop-strike definitions for all Lycoming direct drive engines. Say the engine is turning only 1000 rpm, barely above an idle. That action was prompted by reports of crankshafts on which the connecting rod journals had fractured. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. Jerry Robinette, Senior Engineer, Propulsion, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30349; telephone: (770) 703-6096, fax: (770) 703-6097. Does 500 rpm fit that bill? as a result of sudden stoppage. A propeller strike is: (1) any incident, whether or not the engine is operating, that requires repair to the propeller other than minor dressing of the blades as set forth in Part 1, B of Well discuss that distinction and exempt engines later in this article. Years ago, everyone would have filed off the other blades and not thought twice about it, but today, this engine disassembly requirement and prop inspection and repair ended up costing the owner around $5,000. Removing and reinstalling a propeller take just a few hours, and the prop shops don't care who brings the job through the door. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Atlanta ACO. There's also the cost of inspection of the accessories, which is extra. Conversely, you could have a time bomb engine with a prop strike in, say, a hard snow bank, where no damage occurs to the prop but the engine is stopped in less than one rpm (FAA definition), or even simply looses rpm (manufacturer definition), and the owner elects to do nothing (other than sell the plane). In fact, the customers were sold their own crank. AOPA Members DO more LEARN more SAVE more - Get MORE out of being a pilot -. During the subsequent takeoff, the airplane's right wing hit the mirror of a semitruck, which veered the airplane into a fire truck and eventually a ditch. Some reports are quite specific about a recent prop strike in the engines history. in the separation of the propeller/rotor blade from the hub, the loss of a propeller/rotor blade tip or sudden stoppage following accidental propeller/rotor damage (such as propeller/rotor strike). Re: O-360 propeller indexing (noticeable slight vibration) Lycoming O-360 A-1As (and every other O-360 Ive met) propellers should be indexed such that the propeller stops at the 10 and 4 o'clock position (viewed from the front facing aft) when the engine shuts down. Conditions which surround accidents are many and varied; therefore the circumstances of the accident can not, in our opinion, be used to predict the extent of the damage to the engine or assure its future reliability. 2023 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Better Together: Industry Resources Help Improve Aviation Safety. Be especially wary if this is some form of private cash sale that has to be done right away, unless you are planning to have it torn down and rebuilt by a shop with the right inspection equipment to inspect for crank and gear damage, and be prepared for costs potentially exceeding a factory reman engine i.e. Service Bulletin 533A has the pertinent Lycoming prop-strike definitions for all Lycoming direct drive engines. Highly stressed connecting rod bolts also take a beating from a prop-strike, which can cause a slight stretch. Unfortunately, disassembly and nondestructive testing procedures are the only way to provide a reasonable level of assurance that the engine is truly fit for continued service. Any decision to operate an engine which was involved in a sudden stoppage, propeller/rotor strike or loss of propeller/rotor blade or tip without such an inspection must be the responsibility of the agency returning the aircraft to service. rendition of the daily Federal Register on FederalRegister.gov does not The documents posted on this site are XML renditions of published Federal On severe prop strikes, the mounts can be easily twisted and loaded in a way that it was not designed to withstand," he says. All of the fractures have been grouped around certain manufacturing dates between April 1, 1998, and March 31, 2000, inclusive. Compliance with this service bulletin is mandatory per AD 91-14-22. The AD specifies the inspection at each engine overhaul, after a propeller strike, sudden stoppage, or whenever gear train repair is required. Lycoming's new SB seems to generalize the term propeller strike and sudden stoppage to be quite inclusive. This occurred during several discrete periods, i.e. documents in the last year, 1487 documents in the last year, 90 offers a preview of documents scheduled to appear in the next day's But what is a prop strike and what exactly are the ramifications? It is recommended that the technician views and understands Instructional Video for Compliance with Teledyne Continental Motors Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB 00-5C before performing these procedures. Unfortunately, it had experienced a prop strike. The bulletin reads as follows: I spoke with several shop owners and asked their opinion. Lycoming is particularly concerned with this area and outlines specific inspection criteria with the force of AD 2004-10-14 to support their bulletin SB 475C depending on engine model. Putting the puzzle together For Textron Lycoming must take the position that in the case of a sudden engine stoppage, propeller/rotor strike or loss of propeller/rotor blade or tip, the safest procedure is to remove and disassemble the engine and completely inspect the reciprocating and rotating parts including crankshaft gear and dowel parts. This table of contents is a navigational tool, processed from the has no substantive legal effect. Others are not necessarily so forthcoming, so reliable conclusions are difficult to draw. Sun Sep 23, 2018 8:02 pm. on Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on this rule. Russell explains, "Aircraft operating under Part 135 of the FARs must comply with all manufacturer's service bulletins, and would have to comply with Service Bulletin 96-11 requiring total disassembly and inspection after any incident that required removal of the propeller for repairs or if the engine physically lost rpms during the incident. (3) A sudden RPM drop while impacting water, tall grass, or similar yielding medium, where propeller damage is not normally incurred. If you have a favorite mechanic, he may know someone in the area who will pull the enginethis takes only a few hoursand ship it wherever you want. Still others will only pay for the labor to do the job and will not pay for any parts. Should he also have performed the obligatory engine inspections? The decision was made for me by an advertisement in Trade-A-Plane. Dialing in the flange is worthless for this. Following any propeller strike complete disassembly and inspection of all rotating engine components is mandatory and must be accomplished prior to further operation. Propeller strikes against the ground or any object can cause engine and component damage even though the propeller may continue to rotate. include documents scheduled for later issues, at the request Pre-Flight. You could identify its sound with your eyes closed. Anderson, owner of Corona Cylinder and Engine Overhaul, said the cost of a teardown and inspection, for a small four-cylinder engine like the O-360 or -320, is about $4,000. SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that supersedes an existing AD, for Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming), direct-drive The flange will break before it bends. 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. 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