Responsible actions after prop strikes

[designerX]

What's the general going range in $$$ for a teardown and inspection...
... considering they find no internal damage? I'm planning on going the taildragger route and probably will start off with a wooden prop or the 3 blade composite.

Stan

[rwtalbot]

If I was flying behind it, a complete teardown and inspection is what I would require and that is supported by engine manufacturers. Someone who wants to move the engine will often come up with many reasons why it is not required.

I once went to buy an engine from someone who sells a lot of second hand engines to homebuilders. I was pretty keen and the aircraft was described to me as "wind damaged". The logs looked good and the engine had 200 SMOH.

On a whim I punched in the N number of the aircraft it had been removed from, just before I rang the seller to buy. I found the pictures of the aircraft and NTSB accident report. It had been "flown" through a barb-wire fence in a runway overshoot. Both props looked very mangled in the picture.

Of course I offered the seller core value on condition the crank passed inspection. He declined and offered to remove the accessory case and replace one of the gears as per AD. I have never heard back from him, but I am confident there is an Experimental aircraft out there flying with that engine, probably completely unaware of its history.

I now own a Mattituck engine (new) after this and a number of other experiences. Bottom line is that there are very few good deals out there. If you are not absolutely sure of the history of the engine and/or pricing a bulk strip into the deal to find out exactly what you got, walk away. You and your passengers depend on the engine for your survival. Save some money on the avionics and paint if you need to.

Of course I am somewhat conservative, many others are not. Each person needs to make up their mind what sort of risks they are prepared to take.

Richard
RV7A - Finishing

[asav8tor]

I'm not going to advocate NOT tearing it down but perhaps some consideration should be give to what type prop and what did it hit.

Could be different response to a wood prop hitting a mole hill getting mud on it vs a metal prop hitting concrete causing engine stoppage.

I saw a turboprop get two engine changes after it was taxied through a snow berm that was only 10 inches tall. Props only had six inches or so of ground clearance.

[Brian Vickers]

Since you are considering an experimental, you can reason your own definition of "responsibility" as it relates to "prop strike" and "risk tolerance." The government trusts you to make the decision.

Van's website "cost estimator" lists "mid-time used engine" as one of the possible cost line items. I embarked on a quest to find one. After a while, I got worn down spending time on it. They are hard to find. Finally, I started to consider Ebay offerings. A dandy looking (rattle can repainted) mid-time, light prop strike unit came up for auction. The engine had not been torn down in any way. The seller?s description had phrasing like; bolt on and go, die tested, flange +- .002. I consulted my spam-can mechanic and he suggested requesting a photo of the prop. Great idea!! The photo shows the seller's definition of "light prop strike." Do you agree Claude? What do you experts think? The seller could just as easily been a flying RV owner; now for sale. The engine sold for $7,2XX.

[Mel]

No way I would fly that engine without a tear-down inspection. I've seen too many crankshaft gears come loose after minor prop strikes. And that one doesn't look minor to me.
Another thing to consider. Who's to say the seller didn't "tweak" the prop before taking the pictures?

[pierre smith]

....to Mel and the other Tech advisers!

I'll repeat this post for the newbies on here. Several years ago, a Piper lost the engine at night after departing Augusta, Ga and climbing to 5000 or so, and was vectored to Wrens, Ga airport, 15 miles north of my home base.

They came up less than 1/4 mile short and the result was a fireball and five fatalities. Yep, the engine was a H2AD, single drive double mag and the shaft had broken. Further investigation revealed a prop strike to a dirt berm over a year ago, with no major damage and no teardown.

I saw the wreckage while it was still smoldering...ugly sight indeed.

You guys feelin' lucky?

[L'Avion]

I spoke yesterday with an owner who had had a dirt-prop strike recently.

Cost to crate/freight/inspect/comply with AD (no damage) & return, from Memphis to Custom Airmotive in Tulsa - $3000.

[Neal@F14]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

... Several years ago, a Piper lost the engine at night after departing ...

... Yep, the engine was a H2AD, single drive double mag and the shaft had broken...

The H2AD on a Piper?

I thought this engine was a C172N-only powerplant.

[Rivethead]

Here's one that's kind of off topic but not really. One day a few years back my son and I were taxiing behind a twin when one of the props on the twin struck and demolished one of the taxi way lights. I didn't see it happen but Tom did and told me about it. I parked the plane we were flying and decided to walk over to tell the pilot what had happened. As I suspected he hadn't even realized he'd struck anything. When looking at the prop the damage was clearly evident, the first inch of one blade was neatly curled over. I don't know what he did about it; I didn't stick around to see. If you were this guy what would you do?

[John Clark]

Originally Posted by Rivethead

Here's one that's kind of off topic but not really. One day a few years back my son and I were taxiing behind a twin when one of the props on the twin struck and demolished one of the taxi way lights. I didn't see it happen but Tom did and told me about it. I parked the plane we were flying and decided to walk over to tell the pilot what had happened. As I suspected he hadn't even realized he'd struck anything. When looking at the prop the damage was clearly evident, the first inch of one blade was neatly curled over. I don't what he did about it; I didn't stick around to see. If you were this guy what would you do?

For starters I'd make three phone calls. One to my insurance carrier, one to the airport authority, and one to my favorite engine shop.

John Clark
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA