In a message dated 8/6/2004 8:15:06 PM Central Standard Time,=20 tednoel@cfl.rr.com writes:

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If you spin a prop without a governor, th= e=20 mechanical forces will drive it to flat pitch. That means that there must=20= be a=20 force applied to drive the prop back to coarse pitch. This is typically do= ne=20 by using oil pressure to drive pistons that move the prop. Of course, when= the=20 engine stops, the oil pressure goes away, and the prop spins to flat pitch= if=20 it is windmilling.

Ted,

Then plan on it and accept the lousy high rate of descent.&nb= sp;=20 Make your actions following an engine out appropriate to the worse case.&nbs= p;=20 Accept it.

This means that any fancy glide range gear you are depending on should=20= be=20 set for the worse case.

Me, I have explosive bolts to release the prop so that the damn thing=20 doesn't get in the way.

Hmmmm...... at idle rpm - 700 or so- I have oil pressure from the gear=20 driven oil pump, albeit lower than cruise. If I remember correctl= y,=20 my governor is gear driven to increase oil pressure to the prop - next time=20= I=20 will pull back the prop and see if it goes to coarse pitch while at idle rpm= (I=20 know it does at 1800 rpm). Thus, if windmilling is below idle rpm the=20 worse case you suggest could exist.

Where are the real test pilots out there (not me, baby!) tha= t=20 have actually lost their engine and pulled the prop to coarse pitch and reme= mber=20 the descent rate while they were saving their a$$?

BTW, Whilst flying a test in my Skymaster (Continental engs, McCauley=20 props), I did kill the front engine - incredible drag until the prop was=20 feathered (and it did feather while windmilling) - I left the rear running a= t=20 the book zero thrust value. Too bad I can't do that in my wee=20 Lancair.

Geez - I love this. Wimpy and sparce unsigned posts for the last=20= two=20 weeks and finally something to get the blood flowing and mental gears=20 rotating. I know there are many lurkers out there - so step up. =20= This=20 stuff is important - even if it just gets you to think about these=20 conditions -- even if your personal aircraft research causes you t= o=20 reach a different conclusion than any of those postulated.

Scott Krueger=20 AKA Grayhawk
Sky2high@aol.com
II-P N92EX IO320 Aurora, IL=20 (KARR)

Opinions and results may vary!

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