Prop damaged by water ingress

[pelmet]

I have seen the small bits of coating missing on a warp drive prop. Was told that it was Ok to fly but it does show what could happen eventually for other reasons. Successful turnbacks seem more likely to me in the smaller categories.


"C-IABP, a Zenair CH601 advanced ultralight was being operated at Langley Regional Airport
(CYNJ), BC, by Hart's Aviation BC Inc. with an instructor and a student on board. On initial climb
out off Runway 19 and while going through 700 feet AGL, at about 2600 RPM a light vibration was
sensed and the engine (Rotax 912) suddenly stopped. The instructor declared an emergency. A
Cessna Cardinal C177 C-FCRD was on short final for Runway 19 with a landing clearance at the
time of the Mayday call and were instructed to pull up and start an immediate right turn. ATC then
cleared the Zenair to land, and the instructor pilot performed a 180 degree turnback forced landing
on Runway 01. The aircraft exited at a taxiway, where it was temporarily disabled. The pilot
observed that one of three propeller blades (Manuf. GSC Systems, Vernon BC) had separated in
flight and was missing.

Maintenance Follow-up: The composite 'adjustable' fixed pitch propeller had recently been
reinstalled following a repair by the manufacturer due to a crack in the coating/covering material
near the cuff. It was suspected that water/rain ingress may have affected the propeller's inner wood
structure."

[photofly]

Successful turnbacks seem more likely to me in the smaller categories.

Or, to paraphrase another poster, perhaps the instructor-pilot had read this forum, took the advice of several experienced and mature posters here, realized that it was a practical manoeuvre worth considering and had actually rehearsed it in case it was ever needed?

I note that if a manoeuvre fails then the most apposite comment is that demonstrates bad decision making by the pilot, but if it succeeds, then it's because of the category of aircraft

[youhavecontrol]

Successful turnbacks seem more likely to me in the smaller categories.

Or, to paraphrase another poster, perhaps the instructor-pilot had read this forum, took the advice of several experienced and mature posters here, realized that it was a practical manoeuvre worth considering and had actually rehearsed it in case it was ever needed?

I note that if a manoeuvre fails then the most apposite comment is that demonstrates bad decision making by the pilot, but if it succeeds, then it's because of the category of aircraft

I noticed that little note about the turn-back and was thinking the same thing

Regarding the wooden composite props, where I used to fly, we had problems with those stupid composite props on the DA20's because the rain would chew them up. The basic rule was to avoid precipitation as much as possible, which meant a ton of great weather lessons were cancelled because of rain.

[JL]

Similar issue on a Woodcomp propeller...

http://copa8.blogspot.com/2016/04/woodc ... e.html?m=1

[digits_]

We're always complaining about how airplane parts are so expensive because of liability issues.

Wouldn't this be a perfect example to take advantage of the manufacturer's liability? I sure wouldn't be happy if my prop would get damaged by rain...

[PilotDAR]

The MT wood composite prop I installed on my friend's 182 amphib did 400 hours of mostly water work without the slightest water erosion. Similarly, the MT on my flight boat has been perfectly fine for water contact damage, though it's not in the splashing much. I did have some minor cracking of the fiberglass coating in a very non critical area near the trailing edge of the blade. The MT manual describes well how to accomplish the repair with 5 minute epoxy, and it was perfectly fine. Inspection of the blades is necessary, as it would be for a metal prop for nicks or corrosion.

[rigpiggy]

The MT's we had had cracks on the trailing edges, cold winter on the coast caused cracking on the trailing edges. long story short all blades overhauled to the tune of 22K USD. I wouldn't put MT's on anything I own. They also don't shed Ice for Shineola