Paul,
Just writing to give my opinion of using a 13B instead of an "FAA Certified"
engine for a homebuilt.
First of all, I am aware that there are design issues that have to be
addressed and in terms of Tracy Crook's success, I think those hurdles are
very small. My experience as a pilot goes back approx. 25 years. In that
time, I have had more engine problems in aircraft than in my automobiles.
Another issue that has been a thorn in my side is the issuance of AD's
concerning engine problems. Everyone is well aware of the Lycoming oil pump
gear AD that came out a few years ago. This AD came out just about a year
after having our O-360 overhauled, which by the way, included new oil pump
gears. We had to have these parts replaced and the total cost of the labor
and parts was paid by us. Another plane we had at the time was a Cherokee
140. Again, maybe 2-3 years after having this engine overhauled, INCLUDING
a new crankshaft, an AD was issued that made it necessary for us to have the
engine torn down, again at our own expense and have the crankshaft replaced.
What's a couple more thousand when you've already paid nearly ten for the
overhaul. THEN,(it continues) the FAA rescinded the AD for crankshafts used
in our particular engine. Did we get any reimbursement? I'll give you one
guess. Obviously, safety is the main concern of the FAA. It just eats at
me to know that if a component is found to be defective is some way, the
owner is generally the one who has to pay for it. It just seems odd that if
there happens to be a recall on a particular type of car that was built 10
years ago, the current owners are notified and the automobile manufacturer
replaces the part free of charge. With the extremely high price of aircraft
parts, I always thought that we were buying parts that were being sold with
a guarantee that they met certain standards. After all, wasn't that part of
the issue that was used in an effort to reduce liability?
Anyway, for my (future) homebuilt, I'll stick with the 13B, an engine I can
rely on. Thanks.
Davd Kuc
The AirCraft Rotary Engine NewsLetter. Powered by Linux.
http://home.earthlink.net/~rotaryeng/ http://www.linux.org