REFLECTOR: AeroComposite Prop

[Darrell & Nora Kufalk]

Rene'

My AeroComposites stuck on every flight when OAT was above 80 degrees.
Definitely not acceptable.  Sent it back to American Propeller and they
turned a few thousandths off each blade at the hub.  I now have about 250
hours of flawless operation on it.  AeroComposites covered everything under
warrantee, even shipping.  From what I remember they turned it around in
about 2 weeks.  Rough River is less than 3 weeks away.  Hope to see you
there again.

Darrell


-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of David Rene Dugas
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2012 9:00 PM
To: Velocity Reflector
Subject: REFLECTOR: AeroComposite Prop

As many of you know I have one of the first AC Props and love it.  There is
an issue where on extremely hot days the prop gets hot  on the ground and
will not cycle.  Yesterday when test landing the shimmy dampener I was
flying around for fun and came back in to land and was fairly fast.
Normally I'll pull a few G's and flatten the prop and slow down to gear
speed.  All was fine but on short final I was too fast.  I realized the
RPM's were at 1800 and not 2600.  I did some "S" maneuvers quickly but still
could not get below 100 knts so went around.  On climb out max RPM was 2100
with 500 ft/min climb with MP 27.  I pulled the throttle back to 22 inches
and went around.  Used and IR temp gage on the ground tarmac 150 degrees,
aircraft wing 135, spinner 120, prop hub 130 and engine case 170.  Prop
blades were binding and were in high pitch.  returned to normal in 10
minutes in hanger.  I'm glad for cooler weather.  This is the only time it
has done it in two years.  
Point to all this is in Coarse or High pitch this plane glides very well.
Could not land on a 5000 ft runway.  I do not have an airbrake and this is
the only time I needed one.  Quite a surprise.  Just sharing.  May be forced
to pull prop.  They have offered to hone the prop blade holes to fix it but
I hate to take the plane down but guess I'll have too now that is great
flying weather.

Rene'
_______________________________________________
To change your email address, visit
http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector

Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose Check
new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail Check old archives:
http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html