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From: "DaveLeonard" <daveleonard@cox.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Leaks
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 15:25:42 -0700
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Although I now have about 55 hours on N4VY, I have not yet done the maneuver
most likely to cause significant engine problems... planning a trip in the
plane.  That is until Tuesday when right before the trip I sprung
significant oil and coolant leaks (separate)

I did some form flying on Tuesday a.m. trying to keep up with some other
RV's.  A buddy of mine was in his RV-8 with a 180+ h.p. with a c/s prop.  He
was lead and would set 19" MAP at 2500 AGL and I had to run about 27" MAP to
keep up with him.  (although my plane is not jet fully faired, I thing the
turbo back pressure is hurting a little.)  We chased each other around the
sky at speeds a little higher than I had been allowing previously.  At a
couple of miles out from the field the coolant pressure low warning came on.
When I landed I was disappointed to coolant briskly dripping from the cowl.

The culprit turned out to be a crack in an alum tube at a flare fitting.
The line had about a 2.5 foot run before it's other end without support.
Bad design.   I am very glad it was coolant and not fuel, that it happened
at my home field and not at some far away airport on my trip.  I fixed both
the tubing and design issue in a couple hours, almost ready to go on my
trip, when I noticed the oil leak.

The leak, pretty brisk, is coming from the oil cooler itself near one of its
mounting points.  I combination of vibration and dynamic pressure probably
caused a split of the cooler near its mount, though I still can't see
exactly where it is coming from.  The oil cooler is a Setrab.  They come
highly recommended as being tough.  Again, it was probably a design issue
for placing too much stress on the mounting points.

I haven't yet come up with a good plan to solve the issue.  In the mean time
I had to rent a C172 to go on the trip... and that really hurt.  :-)

Dave Leonard