The blue paint on the starter ring gear is a nice custom touch too.
Those Cessnas fly at such a blisteringly fast speed
that the curvature should point inward, the higher pressure area then forming the seal against the cowl.
Clearly the bad baffle sealing has been found acceptable during several past annuals. This sort of non-sealing is very, very common in certified GA aircraft, which is why I don't give much weight to RV builder statements like "My CHT's are high, but my mechanic has checked the baffles and says they are fine". You've seen my usual response: "Post pictures".
Please allow some clarity; I don't wish to paint all A&P's with a broad and ugly brush. However, I do have a question, and it's just as applicable to RVs as any other bird. Is this or is this not considered an airworthiness issue? Is the mechanic who signs off such an obvious fail putting his license at risk? Or is this just something a mechanic must sell to an owner to get it done?
I know this is obvious to you guys, but for those of us that haven't been in the guts of cowl can you clarify further the proper install details. I think I get the idea but it would be good to have the specifics. I had assumed that the baffle material was just flat material. I'm now getting the feeling that is not the case and that the curvature should point inward, the higher pressure area then forming the seal against the cowl.
Bill R.
Astronaut Candidate Trainee Assistant Third Class
When I had my Bonanza, annuals had to be signed off by an IA, not just an A&P.What'd you say to the A&P, Dan?
- mark
The baffle seal material should be riveted to the inside of the baffles and curved towards the engine. Thus, when air enters the cooling inlets, it pressurizes the baffles and they seal against the inside of the top cowl forcing the air down between the cylinders, not past the fabric.
Here is a diagram I found on the net:
Clearly the bad baffle sealing has been found acceptable during several past annuals. This sort of non-sealing is very, very common in certified GA aircraft, which is why I don't give much weight to RV builder statements like "My CHT's are high, but my mechanic has checked the baffles and says they are fine". You've seen my usual response: "Post pictures".
Please allow some clarity; I don't wish to paint all A&P's with a broad and ugly brush. However, I do have a question, and it's just as applicable to RVs as any other bird. Is this or is this not considered an airworthiness issue? Is the mechanic who signs off such an obvious fail putting his license at risk? Or is this just something a mechanic must sell to an owner to get it done?
Dan,
Do you have any images of baffles done perfectly? I'm redoing mine and have bounced back and forth on the proper way... Straight piece with bends and cuts where it mounts to the metal, curved piece that has slits where it touches the cowling or multiple straight pieces with overlaps.
Thanks Kyle. I remember helping you put the cowling on once a few years ago. Yours were tight for sure. Is your cowl off now?