---------------------------------------------------------- Engines-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 09/14/06: 6 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:37 AM - Re: Engines-List Digest: 2 Msgs - 09/13/06 (Gary Casey) 2. 07:06 AM - Re: Re: Engines-List Digest: 2 Msgs - 09/13/06 (Olen Goodwin) 3. 07:29 AM - T-3A engines (Michael) 4. 01:37 PM - Re: T-3A engines (Hopperdhh@aol.com) 5. 02:17 PM - T-3A Firefly Aircraft Destroyed (Rhonda Bewley) 6. 06:48 PM - CHT question....... (Jim Baker) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:37:29 AM PST US From: Gary Casey Subject: Engines-List: Re: Engines-List Digest: 2 Msgs - 09/13/06 On Sep 13, 2006, at 11:56 PM, Engines-List Digest Server wrote: > Engines-List: FYI > > The US Air Force has announced that it will scrap all 110 > remaining T-3A > Firefly training aircraft in the fleet. The planes were grounded > in 1997 after > > numerous incidents and three crashes. While the Air Force > attributed two of > the fatal mishaps to pilot error, all three accidents involved > problems with the > > engine, a six cylinder Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 generating > 260 hp > driving a three-bladed prop. Any idea about what sort of engine problem? Gary Casey flying behind an IO-540-D4A5, as are a lot of Comanche owners ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:06:53 AM PST US From: "Olen Goodwin" Subject: Re: Engines-List: Re: Engines-List Digest: 2 Msgs - 09/13/06 I think from what I've read over the years that there were problems with the installation rather than the engine. Been a while, but when the AF first admitted the problem, it sounded like the problems were peculiar to that airframe. ----- Original Message ----- From: Gary Casey To: engines-list@matronics.com Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 7:36 AM Subject: Engines-List: Re: Engines-List Digest: 2 Msgs - 09/13/06 On Sep 13, 2006, at 11:56 PM, Engines-List Digest Server wrote: Engines-List: FYI The US Air Force has announced that it will scrap all 110 remaining T-3A Firefly training aircraft in the fleet. The planes were grounded in 1997 after numerous incidents and three crashes. While the Air Force attributed two of the fatal mishaps to pilot error, all three accidents involved problems with the engine, a six cylinder Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 generating 260 hp driving a three-bladed prop. Any idea about what sort of engine problem? Gary Casey flying behind an IO-540-D4A5, as are a lot of Comanche owners ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:29:16 AM PST US From: "Michael" Subject: Engines-List: T-3A engines Any idea about what sort of engine problem? As I recall, and memory being what it is, there was a fuel starvation problem which most likely had to do with the fuel delivery system (lines including routing, etc) rather than the engines themselves. ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 01:37:55 PM PST US From: Hopperdhh@aol.com Subject: Re: Engines-List: T-3A engines Where do I go to buy one of these engines? Dan Hopper RV-7A (future RV-10?) ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 02:17:27 PM PST US Subject: Engines-List: T-3A Firefly Aircraft Destroyed From: "Rhonda Bewley" Sorry for the cross postings, but I felt this issue was worthwhile. See below an email sent to several news agencies. In addition, a letter is in the draft stages to Sen. Jim Inhofe, who is a member of the Senate Arms Committee and a GA advocate. I encourage you to do the same. "Please review the attached stories regarding the Air Force's disposal of 110 T-3A Firefly airplanes that cost the American taxpayers $33,000,000. These airplanes were grounded after three fatal accidents. It was determined that the airplanes had fuel delivery problems. http://www.txaa.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=1554 http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123026857 Generally when aircraft are destroyed, they are disassembled and the good components are then sold through auction or salvage. The Air Force, however, has completely destroyed all components, including new engines and propellers still in the crates from the factory. My company is an engine overhaul facility which supports the general aviation market. The engines associated with these aircraft are used in a multitude of certified and experimental aircraft with very reliable results and are highly sought after. In fact, we had already begun inquiries with the GSA on how to bid on these components when these stories came across our desk. What a waste of the taxpayer's money!! I feel confident that even those individuals who don't have a passion for flight would find this type of activity deplorable. I hope you will give this story your consideration." Rhonda Barrett-Bewley Barrett Precision Engines, Inc. 2870-B N. Sheridan Rd. Tulsa, OK 74115 (918) 835-1089 www.barrettprecisionengines.com ________________________________ From: owner-engines-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-engines-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Speedy11@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 10:14 AM Subject: Engines-List: FYI The US Air Force has announced that it will scrap all 110 remaining T-3A Firefly training aircraft in the fleet. The planes were grounded in 1997 after numerous incidents and three crashes. While the Air Force attributed two of the fatal mishaps to pilot error, all three accidents involved problems with the engine, a six cylinder Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 generating 260 hp driving a three-bladed prop. According to GlobalSecurity.org, the T-3A's engine had failed 66 times during takeoffs or landings. The Air Force grounded 57 of the planes on ten separate occasions due to problems with either engines, fuel systems, or brakes. Do not archive ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 06:48:50 PM PST US From: "Jim Baker" Subject: Engines-List: CHT question....... X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Windows (4.41) --> Engines-List message posted by: "Jim Baker" FARs...... A CHT is required for acft with cowl flaps.... FAR Part 23, Sec. 23.1305 b(3)i If the aircraft doesn't have cowl flaps but the CHT was installed anyway by the factory, could one consider this a mandatory item to be left in place should a JPI, or like engine monitor, be installed? That is, what regulation prevents me from replacing the factory bayonnet with a JPI bayonnet instead of leaving the factory sensor in place and doing a plug gasket as most have done? I already know about the dual bayonnet adaptor...the question still remains....why not disable the factory installed unit. Thanks. Jim Baker 580.788.2779 Elmore City, OK