Today's Message Index:
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1. 02:02 PM - Engine Failures Update (Randy Dettmer, AIA)
2. 03:55 PM - Re: Engine Failures Update (Bill Bow)
3. 09:35 PM - Re: Pilot Door. (W J R HAMILTON)
Message 1
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Subject: | Engine Failures Update |
Back in February, I reported to the group my experience in losing
the left engine in my 680F while experiencing trouble with the
right engine - at the same time. Heres an update.
After losing oil through the breather, with serious loss of oil
pressure, the left engine threw a rod (the rod separated at the
crank). The right engine lost 2-3 gallons through the breather
during the previous one hour leg, and made so much metal it must
be re-built. Heres the scenario - both engines lost a huge
amount of oil through the breathers (the crank cases became
pressurized), both incidents occurred at the same time, at 5.5.
hrs after the annual inspection. Both engines had cylinders
replaced during the annual inspection (2 on the right, 1 on the
left).
I cannot believe that these episodes are a coincidence.
My mechanic (ex-mechanic now), Morris Kernick (who has maintained
the airplane for the past 7 years) did not put the required
break-in oil in the engines after cylinder replacement (as
specifically recommended by Lycoming). He says that it is not
necessary. Several engine experts who have examined the rings in
the replaced cylinders indicate that they look too used to be
5.5. hours old. Morris and the cylinder shop deny that they are
used. Central Cylinder in Omaha, NE is currently re-building the
engines (at $50K each). They indicate that the cylinder walls
are glazed, which is caused by over heating, and can be a cause
of excessive blow-by and crankcase pressurization. I have
always been very careful about temps, so the only time the
engines could be overheated is during a ground test run. Morris
Kernick has not taken any responsibility for the situation. I
have been very disappointed in his lack of support and
accountability. He has been virtually silent since the incident.
I have had to call him each time to discuss the situation. He has
not called me once. He says that nothing he did caused the
failures. Whether or not Morris caused the problems, I would
have expected him to stand behind his work and to at least do his
best to trouble shoot the problems and help me with a solution.
We still do not know definitely what caused the failures. Morris
did give me an engine core, which I would value at around
$15-20K. I believe that he is hoping that the engine core will
be a cheap way out of being accountable for the work leaving his
shop. At this time, I am still analyzing options to recover some
of the significant expenses incurred because of this incident.
In any case, I wanted to share my story. I have always liked
Morris, and have appreciated his vast knowledge about Commanders.
Morris does not have an A&P license, and relies on his employee
to sign off all work done in his shop. I believe this situation
may be a result of his conviction for falsifying maintenance
records. Because of these factors, and my recent experience, I
cannot trust him to provide me with competent service service
that is so important to the safety and lives of the people that I
carry in my airplane. I feel obligated to share these details
with my fellow Commander owners, so that you can make your own
conclusions.
The engines should be completed in several more weeks, and will
be shipped to SNS and installed on the airplane by Dave Teeters
at Airmotive Specialties. I am looking forward to getting N6253X
back in the air. Its been a long 7 months.
Randy Dettmer, AIA
680F/N6253X
663 Hill Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
805 541 4864 / Fax 805 541 4865
http://www.dettmerarchitecture.com/
<http://www.dettmerarchitecture.com/>
Message 2
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Subject: | Engine Failures Update |
Sorry to hear the results but I'm not surprised.
bilbo
_____
From: owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Randy
Dettmer, AIA
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2007 5:03 PM
Subject: Commander-List: Engine Failures Update
Back in February, I reported to the group my experience in losing the left
engine in my 680F while experiencing trouble with the right engine - at the
same time. Here's an update.
After losing oil through the breather, with serious loss of oil pressure,
the left engine threw a rod (the rod separated at the crank). The right
engine lost 2-3 gallons through the breather during the previous one hour
leg, and made so much metal it must be re-built. Here's the scenario - both
engines lost a huge amount of oil through the breathers (the crank cases
became pressurized), both incidents occurred at the same time, at 5.5. hrs
after the annual inspection. Both engines had cylinders replaced during the
annual inspection (2 on the right, 1 on the left).
I cannot believe that these episodes are a coincidence.
My mechanic (ex-mechanic now), Morris Kernick (who has maintained the
airplane for the past 7 years) did not put the required break-in oil in the
engines after cylinder replacement (as specifically recommended by
Lycoming). He says that it is not necessary. Several engine experts who
have examined the rings in the replaced cylinders indicate that they look
too "used" to be 5.5. hours old. Morris and the cylinder shop deny that
they are used. Central Cylinder in Omaha, NE is currently re-building the
engines (at $50K each). They indicate that the cylinder walls are glazed,
which is caused by over heating, and can be a cause of excessive "blow-by"
and crankcase pressurization. I have always been very careful about temps,
so the only time the engines could be overheated is during a ground test
run. Morris Kernick has not taken any responsibility for the situation. I
have been very disappointed in his lack of support and accountability. He
has been virtually silent since the incident. I have had to call him each
time to discuss the situation. He has not called me once. He says that
nothing he did caused the failures. Whether or not Morris caused the
problems, I would have expected him to stand behind his work and to at least
do his best to trouble shoot the problems and help me with a solution. We
still do not know definitely what caused the failures. Morris did give me
an engine core, which I would value at around $15-20K. I believe that he is
hoping that the engine core will be a cheap way out of being accountable for
the work leaving his shop. At this time, I am still analyzing options to
recover some of the significant expenses incurred because of this incident.
In any case, I wanted to share my story. I have always liked Morris, and
have appreciated his vast knowledge about Commanders. Morris does not have
an A&P license, and relies on his employee to sign off all work done in his
shop. I believe this situation may be a result of his conviction for
falsifying maintenance records. Because of these factors, and my recent
experience, I cannot trust him to provide me with competent service -
service that is so important to the safety and lives of the people that I
carry in my airplane. I feel obligated to share these details with my
fellow Commander owners, so that you can make your own conclusions.
The engines should be completed in several more weeks, and will be shipped
to SNS and installed on the airplane by Dave Teeters at Airmotive
Specialties. I am looking forward to getting N6253X back in the air. It's
been a long 7 months.
Randy Dettmer, AIA
680F/N6253X
663 Hill Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
805 541 4864 / Fax 805 541 4865
<http://www.dettmerarchitecture.com/> http://www.dettmerarchitecture.com/
Message 3
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Bill,
Very interesting historic note, thanks for that.
Cheers,
Bill Hamilton
At 14:58 20/10/2007, you wrote:
>No Problem, the structure is the same. I put a front door in my
>560F. Lot of work but well worth it. FYI the front door was
>originally developed for the military. The Aero Commander was the
>first aircraft used to develop Side Looking Radar for the Army. It
>blocked the cabin door so they need the front door to get in the aircraft.
>
>Bill Leff
>
>
>----------
>See what's
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