From: "Peter Van Arsdale" <phva@mediaone.net>
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Continental 550 Engines
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 20:47:30 -0500
Message-ID: <NCBBIMLLOEJEAMODHGBFCEAACBAA.phva@mediaone.net>
Importance: Normal
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I've been a Lancair IV wanabee for a number of years and when I finally get

around to it, the feedback from LML is going to be invaluable.  I really

enjoy the discussions and feedback.


I have been really surprised to learn about short engine life with the

Continental 550 engine.  At my old company, we operated a fleet of 53 Cessna

402's and had nothing but good experience with the TSIO 550 VB engine.  We

had an approved TBO of 2600 hours and it was rare that an engine did not

make that time with no cylinder problems whatsoever.  Every now and then we

would have a case crack.  Oil changes were performed at 50 hours.  Much of

the flying was done into airprorts with TCA's requiring relatively rapid

decents and deceleration.  The average trip length was about 35 minutes so a

lot of takeoffs were made.  Power settings were changed very slowly and

engines leaned in cruise, but to a very rich setting.  The engines were far

more reliable than PT-6's operated on 20+ turboprop planes.


I will contact friends I have at Cape Air which operates a large fleet of

402's and see what they get for time and what sort of procedures are used.

The information may be useful.  Granted the L-IV is operating in a different

environment, but it hard to believe some owners are only getting 400 hours.


Peter Van Arsdale