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12-17-2013, 10:15 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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Hartzell with a Loose Blade
Just a heads up for those with a Hartzel C/S:
I was just out in the hangar talking on the phone and since I was standing next to the -8 I just idly grabbed the propeller tip and gave it a shake. To my horror, it moved? A bunch! Fore and aft about ? inch; lead/lag about ? inch. Moved around like the shift knob in a VW bus.
Called the prop shop and yep, this happens sometimes. We have not opened the prop yet, but it?s likely a bolt that sets the preload on the shim pack simply broke. It?s a simple fix, but expensive to open the prop.
I bring this to your attention because it goes from ?good? to ?bad? instantly. Just in case you were wondering, this is not an old, junk prop. It?s a Blended Airfoil unit with less than 350 hours on it.
I?ll get back with a full report once it?s fixed, but wanted to give you all the ?heads up? to check this EVERY flight. This was a new one on me.
__________________
WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
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Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
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12-17-2013, 10:45 AM
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Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 1,473
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Wow
Michael, I sure am glad you found it, and how fortunate you found it without actually looking for a problem.
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Scroll
Sid "Scroll" Mayeux, Col, USAF (ret)
52F NW Regional/Aero Valley Airport, Roanoke TX (home of DR's Van Cave)
"KELLI GIRL" N260KM RV-7A tipper
Catch her on YouTube's "Because I Fly!" channel
Exemption waived.
Proud and grateful 2020 -=VAF=- Contributor
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12-17-2013, 11:13 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
Posts: 5,862
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 Keep us posted!
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RV-7 : In the hangar
RV-10 : In the hangar
RV-12 : Built and sold
RV-44 : 4 place helicopter on order.
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12-17-2013, 11:38 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: 8I3
Posts: 3,564
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Its likely the stud that sets the bearing prelload came loose. There is a locknut that holds it in place. The whole prop needs to be disassembled to do this, one blade at a time since you have to go thru the open end of the hub to set the preload on the opposite blade.
Unnerving I agree but due to inertia it probably would be fine in flight.
__________________
Please don't PM me! Email only!
Bob Japundza CFI A&PIA
N9187P PA-24-260B Comanche, flying
N678X F1 Rocket, under const.
N244BJ RV-6 "victim of SNF tornado" 1200+ hrs, rebuilding
N8155F C150 flying
N7925P PA-24-250 Comanche, restoring
Not a thing I own is stock.
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12-17-2013, 11:52 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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Knowing the design of the propeller, I agree that the blade would be retained in the hub in all but the worst circumstances, but the issue with this is more insidious. I could easily imagine the roller bearing in the counterbore getting beaten to death and causing all kinds of (expensive) secondary damage to the hub or blade. Especially troubling is the lead/lag during the firing event.
I just hope I caught it early enough to get off lightly.
__________________
WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
______________
Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
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12-17-2013, 02:01 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,004
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I always grab and shake my blades before every flight. I don't know why I do this or when I started doing it but now I have a very good reason for it.
Take some photos of the inside and what ever the issue ends up being. Would love to see.
Good catch and thanks.
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Paul K
West Michigan
Unfortunately in science, what you believe is irrelevant.
2020 donation made, exempt but worth every dime!
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12-17-2013, 03:25 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Southern Michigan
Posts: 1,966
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul K
I always grab and shake my blades before every flight. I don't know why I do this,,,,
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Must be part of your pre-flight procedures. Good job. Way too many people who own their own planes get lackadaisical during their pre-flight inspection or worse yet,,,don't even bother at all!
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David C.
Howell, MI
RV-10: #41686 Under Construction
RV-9A: #90949 Under Construction
RV-10: #40637 Completed/Sold 2016
Cozy MKIV:#656 Completed/Sold 2007
"Donor Exempt" but donated through Dec. 2020
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12-17-2013, 03:38 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,686
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Cleaning/wiping down the entire aircraft, including the prop, after every flight is a great opportunity to spot these issues.
__________________
Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)
EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
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12-17-2013, 03:47 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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As a side note, I was taught that you never push or pull a plane by the prop, if it is a constant speed.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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12-17-2013, 04:48 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,004
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Walt, Yes, I do wipe the bugs off in the summer including the prop. It seems to really collect bugs. I don't do it so much in the winter because there are no bugs and it is too cold to wipe with my detailing spray.
David, yes, it is part of my preflight. I just don't know when I started doing this.
As a side note, this caused me to go look at my prop log with the documentation from WW. Whirlwind has some movement allowances but not very much and so far, I haven't felt any movement in the blades. About 75 hrs.
__________________
Paul K
West Michigan
Unfortunately in science, what you believe is irrelevant.
2020 donation made, exempt but worth every dime!
Last edited by Paul K : 12-17-2013 at 04:51 PM.
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