charles harbert wrote:

Yesterday, on my 3rd flight since I had the oil cooler split open and cause a
in-flightt fire, I had it happen again. This time I wasn't so lucky, as the
engine quit before I was able to climb very high and I ended up "dead sticking"
it onto the runway before my gear was all the way down. Damage to the plane was
pretty small, as the nose wheel did get locked down. It slid on the aluminum
belly scoop (mounted on the lower cowl), but didn't touch the wings or fuselage,
although the IVO prop lost 2 of the 3 blades. The fire dept lifted the plane,
and the main gear locked down. We towed it back to the hangar, and I pulled the
cowls to see what happened.

 I think the lower (belly) oil cooler split open, but I can't  tell until I test
it. The oil fire pattern was identical to the last event. The leaking oil was
drawn up by ther airflow to the front passenger side of the engine where it was
ignited by the exhaust manifold. The fire melted the fuel injector wires which
cause the engine to quit.

snips..

Chuck, I notice in this picture there is no belly oil cooler on the right side.
Obviously you added one after this picture was taken.
Perhaps radiant heat from the turbo charger softened and weakened the
aluminum of the oil cooler allowing it to split.

Paul Lamar
 
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