Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #2910
From: Westphal, D. (Dana) <Dana.Westphal@Oceanenergy.com>
Subject: Re: Alternative Props
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 13:00:58 -0500
To: 'lancair.list@olsusa.com' <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
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My brother was shooting "touch & goes" in a spam can and had a prop blade
break when throttling up for liftoff.  Luckily, he was not yet airborne at
the time and was able to safely coast off the runway after immediately
shutting down the engine.  Even though the time between prop failure and
engine shut down was short, it was still enough time for the severe engine
vibration to fail the engine mounts causing the engine to "slump".  If
airborne, the engine most likely would have departed the aircraft and would
have been catastrophic due to the significant CG shift, etc (a vision of a
falling leaf comes to mind ...).  Thus, I agree with Ed's comments about
prop choices/considerations and would prefer not to be a test pilot for new
brands and designs.  There are too many other things to worry about
in these experimental birds.  I will spend the extra cheese for a good,
proven prop brand/design and do without some of the other "bells and
whistles". Dana Westphal (360 MKII)
("don't fly like my brother"  Sorry Fred, I couldn't resist.  Actually, my
brother is a better pilot than I ...)


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