Gretz Heated Pitot

[rleffler]

My RV-10 has been flying for over three years. I installed the Gretz Heated Pitot. For three years, it has been working fine.

Last Sunday on a twenty minute flight, VFR wx, -10F temp, the pitot melted from the inside. There was no external damage, but from the tip back about an inch, was plugged with the composite material. It appears that the composite material melted, dropped to the end, then solidified.

At this point in time, I'm no longer comfortable with flying with the Gretz Pitot. I can't fathom the world of hurt I would have been if this happened while I was in IMC.

I'll be replacing it with a Dynon Heated Pitot as soon I can get Stein to ship it.

[cajunwings]

For what its worth I have the Gretz system that came out of my 9 that I won't be using. It has 95 hrs total time and will sell for very reasonable price.


Don Broussard

RV9 Rebuild in Progress
57 Pacer

[1001001]

Originally Posted by rleffler

My RV-10 has been flying for over three years. I installed the Gretz Heated Pitot. For three years, it has been working fine.

Last Sunday on a twenty minute flight, VFR wx, -10F temp, the pitot melted from the inside. There was no external damage, but from the tip back about an inch, was plugged with the composite material. It appears that the composite material melted, dropped to the end, then solidified.

At this point in time, I'm no longer comfortable with flying with the Gretz Pitot. I can't fathom the world of hurt I would have been if this happened while I was in IMC.

I'll be replacing it with a Dynon Heated Pitot as soon I can get Stein to ship it.

Asking out of ignorance, is there a fundamental difference in the construction of the two units that precludes this as a common failure mode between the two?

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by 1001001

Asking out of ignorance, is there a fundamental difference in the construction of the two units that precludes this as a common failure mode between the two?

The body of the Gretz is made out of a composite material covering a copper tube.

The Dynon's body is aluminum, making the melting temperature significantly higher.

This is an assumption on my part, since I don't know the melting temperature of the composite material of the Gretz. I just have proof it melted.

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by cajunwings

For what its worth I have the Gretz system that came out of my 9 that I won't be using. It has 95 hrs total time and will sell for very reasonable price.


Don Broussard

RV9 Rebuild in Progress
57 Pacer

I appreciate the offer. But at this point in time I have no confidence that another Gretz Pitot wouldn't yield similar results.

[N661DJ]

Don,
PM sent.
Dick

[cajunwings]

Originally Posted by N661DJ

Don,
PM sent.
Dick

Dick: Nothing in PM. Let's try email. Don

cajunwings@cox.net

[Electrogunner]

Seems to a common thing. I just sold a new gretz to a guy that had his melt. May be an issue with the composite bodied pitots. I sold him the old style metal.

[BobTurner]

Originally Posted by rleffler

I can't fathom the world of hurt I would have been if this happened while I was in IMC.

Bob can you elaborate on this? Were other avionics affected?