REFLECTOR:MT Prop went missing

[Greg Poole]

I think Dave & Jim S.  might be on the right track in terms of leading edge
stone damage leading to sudden failure of the remainder of the blade. We
didn't see any crushing of the blades & it would be hard to  believe that
two prop blades would be equally hit with exactly the sharp edge of anything
to prevent at least some crushing occurring. Absolutely nothing was missing
from the engine bay that might have gone thru the prop & the LAME (-
licensed aviation mech'l engineer) who looked after the full servicing of
the IO540 powered XL (and who built nearly all of it) was an exceptionally
careful individual.

The wood laminations of the prop blades also tend to confuse what we are
looking at in terms of damage.  I wonder how brittle the wood is once the SS
leading edge and fibreglass wrap are compromised?

Somebody mentioned Hoffman props as a potential option as seen on a Defiant
but I have not seen these used anywhere else. If they are of metal
construction then I remember reading that such are not used in the clean and
disturbed air behind canards due to significant metal fatigue problems....

Greg in Sydney

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Sower" <canarder@frontiernet.net>
To: <reflector@tvbf.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 10:16 AM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR:MT Prop went missing


> I had 6" of exhaust pipe go through my Catto.  Main dink wasn't big enough
to hold the
> last knuckle of my pinkie.  Next blade had a scratch that I've seen made
by cowl
> screws on other props.
> ALL HAIL CATTO ... Jim S.
>
> Scott Derrick wrote:
>
> > Geeze, that's almost catastrophic damage!
> >
> > I had a 3/8 bolt go through my Cato and it just dinged it real good!
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > At 02:57 PM 4/4/2004, you wrote:
> > >Chuck,
> > >
> > > > I guess that answers the question whether a stone strike, or
something
> > > > similar, could cause loss of a blade, or at least a portion of it.
Since
> > > > photos were taken of it in a hangar, it's reasonable to conclude
that the
> > > > plane returned in one piece.
> > >
> > >Yes. The Velocity landed safely. Greg was on board when it happened. He
is not
> > >sure if the prop strike damage occurred on takeoff (stone, bar or
runway
> > >light) or whether a loose object such as a ruler may have departed
during
> > >flight. But whatever it was, it must have been reasonably large and
massive to
> > >have done this much damage.
> > >
> > >Dave Black
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> --
> Jim Sower ... Destiny's Plaything
> Crossville, TN; Chapter 5
> Long-EZ N83RT, Velocity N4095T
>
>
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