PilotX

They didn’t say. Only anomaly…there was one mounting bolt that was inside the cowling. Surprised it stayed in the plane, appears that it worked its way out at some point and maybe a bump on landing or rough patch of the ramp caused it to drop out and cause some bowing in the turbo, even that seems implausible as the TIT at landing was 1100 and for the three minutes prior below 1300 during descent. We have reams of engine data and we run the turbo below 1650, generally around 1615, but again, I doubt we will ever know the “cause”. That bolt wasn’t there the week prior when it came out of annual though they did find the left (as you are looking at it) clamp loose, not the the one subject to the AD. Could have been a lot of vibration. Could have been a bearing failure that caused the shaft to shift causing contact with the side of the inlet causing a bend. Could have been space aliens.

Update today. Turbo removed, shaft is bent, should be rebuilt at the lower end of the quote window ~6100.

I'll look at the logs. Given that we have been flying at the same power settings (prior to a probe failure) it should have resulted in the same TIT but checking costs nothing. Still waiting to hear from WS. Hope they get to it by today so it can get shipped off. Still on the ramp, they have not pulled it over yet. The dreaded "hopefully soon".

Western Airways is going to manage the R&R with the turbo overhaul quote range $6-10,5 AU. Reviewed the logs. No indication of pending failure. We fly LOP but TIT below 1650.

Good news, Gary at Main Turbo said around 3-4 day turnaround on an overhaul. Now to get it pulled and shipped. video of the turbo: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yw6nzz18n8felkpol1dtb/IMG_4433.mov?rlkey=1sv01x126mbx2sjuydg1w9ork&st=9qc3qxl8&dl=0

It is wobbly, didn't post a video, but my partner popped off the hose and was able to wiggle it. Sourcing v-band, Textron has some but. What do we need to consider with oil system?

Lot of questions. Plane is a couple hours away, by plane, so I will get somebody to pull it and overhaul it. It will either go to Main Turbo or Western Skyways, which is on the field. Certainly have to make sure there isn't any metal floating around, could be too late either way as it was run a couple of times after the issue was discovered but wouldn't get above ambient MP. I'll let everybody know.

I just looked through the logs, no indication of the age of the turbo (new/overhauled/swapped) from when the engine was installed in 2019. Is the turbo part of a factory overhaul? The governor is listed, the prop (belly landing) oil hoses, oil cooler, overhauled alternators, vac pump, starter.

Think that is what we will need to do. Sunday is not the best day for this to happen. Thanks.

Well looks like the turbo has a chipped blade fin and isn't spinning smooth.

My partner is stuck in KMTJ. Can't get more than 23" of manifold pressure. Did a quick search but nothing definitive on MS or the net. TTSMO is around 350, just out of annual, third flight of the day so while not definitive, not near 1000 hour expected turbo overhaul. Probably not interested in flying at 23" over the mountains, if that is even partially safe. Our mechanic suggested tapping the waste gate controller, I am going to try to find a local A&P. Any initial thoughts?

I run LOP. 2200/30” 12.5 (12.2 sometimes) gph, 2200/32” 13.5, 2200/34” 14.5 = 170 TAS. I fly around the Rocky Mountains all day. Take off west and go straight over the mountains and lean when I get to the crossing altitude. To get better speed you need to be on O2. We have an O2D2 with an inline reducer and cannulas as well as masks but we never get that high finding 15K is great for going west. Good luck with your Bravo.

Congratulations on a fine looking (but non Bravo) bird!

BRAVO! Nuff said.

I know it is a micro switch, mine is probably misaligned but that last time I was at sea level, my boost pump and came on a full throttle. Just an anecdote. Stranger things have happened.