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Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:27:51 -0500
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Subject: Kitplanes Article - Safety is no Accident
From: Mark Steitle <msteitle@gmail.com>
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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There was an article in the February 2011 issue of Kitplanes titled, "Safety
is no Accident", by Ron Wanttaja.  In light of the recent flexplate
failures, I found it interesting that it highlights two areas where
automotive engines tend to fail, the cooling system and the gear reduction
unit.  To quote, "Note that auto conversions have a higher accident rate
right where you would expect it--in engine cooling and in the systems that
convert engine power to a slower speed for a propeller or helicopter
rotor."  Seems that we've hit on one of the primary failure modes
here.  According to Ron's calculations, the accident rate for auto engine
homebuilts was 23% higher than for homebuilts with traditional engines.  The
rotary had the fewest total accidents, but the rotary also has the fewest
number of a/c flying.  This is a well written article that should be on
everyone's reading list.

Note:  Mr. Wanttaja is a systems engineer, engaged in satellite
orbit/constellation design and analysis, launch vehicle and onboard
propulsion system trades, and operations concepts for space systems.  He
worked on the early design studies for the International Space Station.

Mark

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<div>There was an article in the February 2011 issue of Kitplanes titled, &=
quot;Safety is no Accident&quot;, by Ron Wanttaja.=A0 In light of the recen=
t=A0flexplate failures,=A0I found it interesting that it highlights two are=
as where automotive engines=A0tend to fail, the cooling system and the gear=
 reduction unit.=A0 To quote, &quot;Note that auto conversions=A0have a hig=
her accident rate right where you would expect it--in engine cooling and in=
 the systems that convert engine power to a slower speed for a propeller or=
 helicopter rotor.&quot;=A0 Seems=A0that we&#39;ve=A0hit on=A0one of the pr=
imary failure modes here.=A0=A0According to Ron&#39;s calculations, the acc=
ident rate for=A0auto engine homebuilts was=A023%=A0higher than for homebui=
lts with traditional engines.=A0 The rotary had the fewest total accidents,=
 but the rotary also has the fewest number of a/c flying.=A0 This is a well=
=A0written article that should be on everyone&#39;s reading list.=A0 </div>

<div>=A0</div>
<div>Note:=A0 Mr. Wanttaja is a systems engineer, engaged in satellite orbi=
t/constellation design and analysis, launch vehicle and onboard propulsion =
system trades, and operations concepts for space systems.=A0 He worked on t=
he early design studies for the International Space Station.=A0 </div>

<div>=A0</div>
<div>Mark </div>
<div>=A0</div>
<div>=A0</div>
<div>=A0</div>

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