MT Hairline Crack

[dmeloche]

My friend and I both have MT CS props, we both had issues with grease leakage from the hub. MT had issued a SB to deal with it. His was out of warranty by a couple of months, they wouldn't cover it. Mine still was and they did the hub modification under warranty but I still had to pay to have the prop disassembled/reassembled and the hub shipped to florida. I like the prop for it's light weight and smooth operation but the low overhaul (500hrs/72months), stingy customer support (at least from the Germany, the folks in florida are good to deal with) and higher price would make me seriously consider the Hartzell next time.

Doug
RV6 350hrs (saving $$ for the OH)

[rv72004]

I had MT on another plane some years back and had poor warranty service. Actually very poor, so instead of putting up a fight,I sold it for next to nothing and got a Hartzell. I have only bought Hartzell since and couldnt be happier. Dont know if their warranty is any better , but you sure dont read about many hassles.
Good luck with the warranty, maybe things have changed.

[MattSR]

Interesting responses here. If you look at the IAC competitions, you will see mostly MT props on the noses of some of the hardest flown prop aircraft in the world. Then head over the Red Bull Air race and it seems to be exclusively the Hartzell Claw in use!

Strange indeed!

[SteinAir]

Originally Posted by Brantel

They can say what they want about cracks but I take any crack in a prop way more serious than a cosmetic issue!!!!

Lose a part of a blade and you have about .1 seconds to react before you might lose your engine mount and engine.

Naturally a "crack" first needs to be determined as either just a paint crack or a structural crack. It could/can be a serious issue, but it very well may not be. It's a WHOLE lot different in a metal or composite or wood prop. Fact is, cracks & splits at the tips of wood props aren't uncommon or automatically unsafe. Those relatively new to aviation might be surprised that an accepted repair on a split wood prop is to wrap the prop with cord, glue it and go fly....it's been done that way since before most of us were born with little problem.

Anyway, there is no need to shout that the sky is falling until we know if it is a crack, where the crack is at, if it's a wood, metal, carbon or other composite prop. Also, losing part of a wood blade is an entirely different story than losing part of a metal blade or losing an entire blade. Same with losing the whole prop.

Sorry I don't have much worthwhile input, but until the real facts are known it's of little use to opine as to the "fix". I can't comment on warranty issues because I don't know when your prop was purchased, etc..

My 2 cents as usual.

Cheers,
Stein

[Russ McCutcheon]

I bought my -4 with the MTV-15b 183-33 installed and out of calendar TBO, I flew it for a year before it had major problems due to the grease drying up and the bearings destroying themselves along with the hub and the blade ferals, my fault for not sending it right in when I bought it.

I sent it to MT USA where Urgen, spelling??? Replaced about everything that moves and re finished the blades, it took to long but the product was perfect and now four years later it has 850 hours and is working perfect, no grease leaks and no cracks. It did have some cracks before and now has some root shrinkage that causes some lines where the glass has separated from the wood and I have sent pictures to MT in Germany, they told me what caused these issues and said they where cosmetic, not to worry they would be addressed at next O/H. The TBO on my prop is 1800 hours or 72 months, looks like it will go back in at 72 months and aprox 1200 hours.

I haven?t had any warrantee issues but the prop has been great and the service has been acceptable, I like it and would do it again, I also like the WW RV-200 prop and would consider it also.

[Brambo]

I thought it only fair to report that MT did cover the repair cost of the prop. I now have it back on the plane and it looks good as new. The only real complaint I have is that it took so long (roughly 3 months). But I guess that's what happens when you have to send the blades back to Germany for repair.

I can't honestly say that if I knew then what I know now I would make a different decision on which prop to buy, but I will say that the lengthy repair/overhaul time should probably be considered a "con" in the pro-con list.

[JDanno]

Great!!!
I just took delivery of my 76" three blade MT for my -10. These horror stories aren't inducing a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart.