X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Received: from co1outboundpool.messaging.microsoft.com ([216.32.180.185] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.5) with ESMTPS id 6382166 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sun, 21 Jul 2013 23:55:03 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=216.32.180.185; envelope-from=rpastusek@htii.com Received: from mail32-co1-R.bigfish.com (10.243.78.244) by CO1EHSOBE003.bigfish.com (10.243.66.66) with Microsoft SMTP Server id 14.1.225.22; Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:54:26 +0000 Received: from mail32-co1 (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mail32-co1-R.bigfish.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id DFDFEC40087 for ; Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:54:26 +0000 (UTC) X-Forefront-Antispam-Report: CIP:157.56.245.5;KIP:(null);UIP:(null);IPV:NLI;H:CH1PRD0710HT005.namprd07.prod.outlook.com;RD:none;EFVD:NLI X-SpamScore: -1 X-BigFish: PS-1(zzc85fh4015Izz1f42h208ch1ee6h1de0h1fdah2073h1202h1e76h1d1ah1d2ah1fc6hzz1d7338h1de098h17326ah18c673h1de097h1de096h8275bh8275dhz2fh2a8h668h839hd25hf0ah1288h12a5h12bdh137ah1441h1504h1537h153bh15d0h162dh1631h1758h18e1h1946h19b5h19ceh1ad9h1b0ah1bceh1d07h1d0ch1d2eh1d3fh1dc1h1de9h1dfeh1dffh1e1dh1155h) Received-SPF: pass (mail32-co1: domain of htii.com designates 157.56.245.5 as permitted sender) client-ip=157.56.245.5; envelope-from=rpastusek@htii.com; helo=CH1PRD0710HT005.namprd07.prod.outlook.com ;.outlook.com ; Received: from mail32-co1 (localhost.localdomain [127.0.0.1]) by mail32-co1 (MessageSwitch) id 1374465263859737_5240; Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:54:23 +0000 (UTC) Received: from CO1EHSMHS013.bigfish.com (unknown [10.243.78.236]) by mail32-co1.bigfish.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id CCAFE580049 for ; Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:54:23 +0000 (UTC) Received: from CH1PRD0710HT005.namprd07.prod.outlook.com (157.56.245.5) by CO1EHSMHS013.bigfish.com (10.243.66.23) with Microsoft SMTP Server (TLS) id 14.16.227.3; Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:54:23 +0000 Received: from CH1PRD0710MB367.namprd07.prod.outlook.com ([169.254.11.78]) by CH1PRD0710HT005.namprd07.prod.outlook.com ([10.255.152.40]) with mapi id 14.16.0329.000; Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:54:22 +0000 From: Robert R Pastusek To: Lancair Mailing List Subject: Potential Problem-Engine Vibration Thread-Topic: Potential Problem-Engine Vibration Thread-Index: Ac6GjodghEzYoXTGSmerSX4F65YAcQ== Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 03:54:21 +0000 Message-ID: <41361035E6613244A377D5AC3BF5EFDD6140019A@CH1PRD0710MB367.namprd07.prod.outlook.com> Accept-Language: en-US Content-Language: en-US X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: x-originating-ip: [96.241.131.4] Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="_000_41361035E6613244A377D5AC3BF5EFDD6140019ACH1PRD0710MB367_" MIME-Version: 1.0 Return-Path: rpastusek@htii.com X-OriginatorOrg: htii.com X-FOPE-CONNECTOR: Id%0$Dn%*$RO%0$TLS%0$FQDN%$TlsDn% --_000_41361035E6613244A377D5AC3BF5EFDD6140019ACH1PRD0710MB367_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Gentlemen, This is an alert for a potentially serious problem with the Continental IO/= TSIO-550 engine/Hartzell 78" Scimitar propeller combination commonly used o= n Lancair aircraft. Please appreciate that this is from a very small data s= ample, and analysis is on-going, but it's important enough to share what we= now know. Lancair (N619SJ) owner Bob Rickard called last week to advise that he'd dis= covered a major crack in his crankshaft at the propeller flange and wanted = to alert other owners flying the above engine/prop combination of his probl= em. Bob has been chasing a random vibration in his airframe since he bought the= aircraft three years/approximately 500 hours ago. The "standard suspects" = of prop balance/run-out, engine mount/isolators, engine contact with the co= wling, etc. had been systematically ruled out over time. In frustration, an= d unwilling to just ignore it, Bob ordered a new MT 4-blade to replace the = Hartzell, remaining very uncomfortable with the vibration and unable to thi= nk of any other possible fixes. Part of Bob's discomfort was based on the f= act that he'd talked extensively to Ed Smith who had similar vibration issu= es with the same engine/propeller combination. (Ed's N9JE experienced an in= -flight crankshaft failure/departure of the prop in 2010; Ed successfully d= ead-sticked the airplane onto a beach.) Bob's recent discovery of the cracked crankshaft was made when the Hartzell= was removed for replacement with a new MT prop. At the time of removal/dis= covery, the engine had just more than 100 flight hours since major overhaul= . The crankshaft had been checked for cracks at overhaul, and the actual ed= dy current test results were still available showing no cracks or irregular= ities at that time. Bob believes that the crack developed within the last 1= 00 flight hours as a result of long-term exposure to harmonic vibration, an= d that this vibration could be a result of an incompatibility between his b= ig-bore Continental and this specific Hartzell prop. He notes that although= this is an "FAA approved" engine/propeller combination, he has talked to o= ther airplane owners flying this combination who have/are experiencing simi= lar vibration issues. We understand that Continental and the FAA have been notified of this probl= em, but we have no additional information at this time. LOBO expects to pub= lish a more detailed report on this in the next monthly newsletter, but bot= h Ed Smith and Bob Rickard felt this discovery was worth making immediate n= otification about. Specifically, any unusual or new engine vibration should= be cause for immediate attention. Bob considers himself very lucky to have= caught the crack before in-flight failure. We'll devote a few minutes to share what we know/answer questions at our LO= BO Safety Forum to be held at 1300 in Forum Pavilion 2, Monday, 29 August, = at AirVenture. Bob Rickard won't be available to discuss this at our safety= forum, but you can email him at r.rickard@rcginc-us.com. LOBO would also appreciate an email or call (rpastusek@htii.= com 757-286-4802) if you are experiencing simila= r problems. Thanks, Bob Pastusek For LOBO --_000_41361035E6613244A377D5AC3BF5EFDD6140019ACH1PRD0710MB367_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable 
Gentlemen,
 
This is an alert for a potentially serious problem with the Continent=
al IO/TSIO-550 engine/Hartzell 78” Scim=
itar propeller combination commonly used on Lancair aircraft. Please apprec=
iate that this is from a very small data sample, and analysis is on-going, =
but it’s important enough to share what we now know. 
 
Lancair (N619SJ) owner Bob Rickard called last week to advise that he=
’d discovered a major crack in his crankshaft at the propeller flange=
 and wanted to alert other owners flying the above engine/prop combination =
of his problem. 
 
Bob has been chasing a random vibration in his airframe since he boug=
ht the aircraft three years/approximately 500 hours ago. The “standar=
d suspects” of prop balance/run-out, engine mount/isolators, engine c=
ontact with the cowling, etc. had been systematically ruled out over time. =
In frustration, and unwilling to just ignore it, Bob ordered a new MT 4-bla=
de to replace the Hartzell, remaining very un=
comfortable with the vibration and unable to think of any other possible fi=
xes. Part of Bob’s discomfort was based on the fact that he’d t=
alked extensively to Ed Smith who had similar vibration issues with the sam=
e engine/propeller combination. (Ed’s N9JE experienced an in-flight c=
rankshaft failure/departure of the prop in 2010; Ed successfully dead-sticked the airplane onto a beach.)
 
Bob’s recent discovery of the cracked crankshaft was made when =
the Hartzell was removed for replacement with=
 a new MT prop. At the time of removal/discovery, the engine had just more =
than 100 flight hours since major overhaul. The crankshaft had been checked=
 for cracks at overhaul, and the actual eddy current test results were stil=
l available showing no cracks or irregularities at that time. Bob believes =
that the crack developed within the last 100 flight hours as a result of lo=
ng-term exposure to harmonic vibration, and that this vibration could be a =
result of an incompatibility between his big-bore Continental and this spec=
ific Hartzell prop. He notes that although th=
is is an “FAA approved” engine/propeller combination, he has ta=
lked to other airplane owners flying this combination who have/are experien=
cing similar vibration issues. 
 
We understand that Continental and the FAA have been notified of this=
 problem, but we have no additional information at this time. LOBO expects =
to publish a more detailed report on this in the next monthly newsletter, b=
ut both Ed Smith and Bob Rickard felt this discovery was worth making immed=
iate notification about. Specifically, any unusual or new engine vibration =
should be cause for immediate attention. Bob considers himself very lucky t=
o have caught the crack before in-flight failure. 
 
We’ll devote a few minutes to share what we know/answer questio=
ns at our LOBO Safety Forum to be held at 1300 in Forum Pavilion 2, Monday,=
 29 August, at AirVenture. Bob Rickard won=
217;t be available to discuss this at our safety forum, but you can email h=
im at r.rickard@rcginc-us.com. LOBO would also appreciate an email or call (rpastusek@htii.com 757-286-4802) if you are experiencing sim=
ilar problems.
 
Thanks,
Bob Pastusek
For LOBO
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