Al,
I like the idea. We’ve kicked
it around before, and dropped it for some unknown reason. But in order
for this to work, the builder would have to be known to this group. Was
this “plugs up” builder an active member of the Fly Rotary forum,
or was he off doing his own thing? I don’t see how any of us can
help that type of builder. As for me, I would welcome a visit from anyone
that is knowledgable to the rotary-aircraft world. I live in central Texas, if anyone would
like to pay me a visit and take a close look at my install. Although, I
must say that I would respect the opinion of someone that has “been there
and done that” more than someone who has yet to fly their rotary
installation. I’ll treat them to a nice BBQ dinner.
Mark S.
From: Rotary motors in
aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Al Gietzen
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 1:09 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Seized 13b -
accident prevention
Two things about his set up
doomed it from my view point.
1. He had approx 18-24"
of distance between his pump pickup and the bottom of his sum - clearly a long
way uphill if the pump had drained and was not primed. He told me that it
often took over a minute for the oil pressure to come up.
This is clearly the issue. The
gear style pump is very ineffective pumping air. You’d like to have
a setup where the oil is present at the pump inlet; or the surface of the oil
in the pan within a couple of inches of the pump at startup. And, as
mentioned, there must not be air leaks between an oil surface below the pump
and the pump inlet.
This brings me back to a suggestion I
made a couple of weeks ago; and is further reinforced by our loss of Paul
Conner. We have to help each other prevent engine-out scenarios.
This case with Andy could so easily have caused an in-flight accident, and
could so easily have been prevented if someone had pointed out to him that he
had a potential failure mode waiting to happen. Or perhaps someone did,
and he chose to ignore; I don’t know.
I’m still wondering if would be
possible to have regional teams of 2-3 people with some knowledge and
experience with rotary installations, who could be called upon for critiques,
questions, and suggestions on rotary engine installations before first flights.
Maybe we are just too spread around. I would be willing to travel 2-3 hrs
by car, or when my plane is flying; 2-3 hrs by air at no charge to participate
on such a team. I’m certainly not the expert, but I think I could
be potentially helpful. And I’d certainly appreciate such a session
with others going over my installation.
Am I way off the mark here?
Could/would this work? Are there others out there who would participate as
“examiners”? Would you welcome such “look-over”
on your project? Do you think it would do any good? I’d like some
feedback on this, and then see whether it makes sense to pursue it any further.
I’d be willing to coordinate with
Paul Lamar to see if there are folks on his list (that aren’t also here)
who would participate.
Al