Finn Lassen wrote:

Had my first real engine problem today at 22 hours on the airplane and
probably some 35 hours on the engine.

I'd just added another aileron trim tab and climbed up above the clouds
(7000') when I smelled something melting or burning. A few seconds later
I woke up to the fact that the exhaust note had changed. Pulled power
all the way back and spiraled down to a nice landing at the airport,
which happened to be just below me (Brooksville, Hernando Co.). Somewhat
an inconvenient location (some 60 miles from home and 27 miles from my
airport).

Turned out the decision to land was justified. Muffler cracked around
one of the header pipes (well hidden from inspection because of the
surrounding heat shields).

Part of one of the aluminum heat shields had melted to the point of
evaporation. Fortunately the crack was on the engine side and not on the
cowling side (where the muffler wall actually is double).

This failure is not surprising, as it was a known potential stress
point.

I guess I'll just patch it up for now and fly it home, but I'm
considering to change my heat shields to stainless shim material and
also cutting the exhaust pipe where it exits the muffler and adding a
piece of stainless flex conduit/pipe there.

Ain't life exciting?

Finn

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