Prop dings

[bus driver]

So I'm new to Mooneys. My E prop tip sits 10" above the gnd in the vert position. Within specs 9.5 to 10.5 I'm picking up a lot of FOD dinging my leading edge. I operate from hard surface with good asphalt. Anyone use prop guard? How about 3M anti chafe tape on leading edges?

[jrwilson]

I used prop guard and wasn't happy with it. When it was time to replace it pulled off some paint which wasn't great. I tried ordering it and the stc was out, but I'm not sure if that was resolved. In the end though, the tape wasn't worth the trouble.

[Andy95W]

I use prop guard and like it. Take the time to put it on right, plan to patch it every couple of years, and touch up paint and re- do it every 5-6 years.

I fly off of an airport that is fairly crappy and needs resurfaced.

[N601RX]

How does it affect speed? We were camping at Sun N Fun beside a cessna 182 used it. The owner said it cost him some speed and climb.

[Andy95W]

Absolutely no difference in speed or climb that I have seen.

[cliffy]

Just a question, Are you trying to keep your RPM down while on the ground? It helps a lot to keep the dings down.

All so by opening the throttle slowly on T/O helps also. But you may already know this. 

[garytex]

Cliffy knows the drill.

I learned to fly on a dirt and gravel strip and I remember waiting to take off behind I think it was a Champ which means the prop was probably pretty high off the ground. Everything that flew out of Kitty Hill pretty much was a Taildragger.

As I was watching the run up there was a little vortex that formed immediately in front of the prop and all kinds of dirt and leaves and even little rocks and stuff got picked up and went through the prop during the run up. It took a little while, a few seconds, for the vortex to form. So if you are flying off of a surface that has rocks, do your run up while you're taxiing and when beginning the takeoff run don't open the throttle rapidly from a full stop. Wait till you have a little forward motion so there is not so much low pressue generated in front of the prop while it is stationary and there is not enough dwel time for the little vortex to form.

I occasionally fly off of caliche runway which is about a quarter small sharp little rocks. I never get any dings using this methodology.

[RocketAviator]

I use McFarlin prop guard on my Rocket. Never flown off anything except paved surface, still had lots of prop nicks.. So this year picked the guard up at Oshkosh.

I do use all the tips such as slow ground prop speed, etc. Senior pilot who takes off multiple times daily suggested I do a modified portion of my run up during taxing. I've been doing that since last annual, seems to be significantly less dings than before!

[chrisk]

Does the prop guard work if you all ready have electric boots on your prop?

[Cody Stallings]

Yes Chris, on your application it will be glued on just outboard of your Anti-Ice boot.

With this application, it's strongly recommend to have a really good coat of paint under the boot, or a sealer of some type.

Reason being to keep moisture off of the blade. Also try an make sure you have a even coat of glue on the tape. Anywhere there is no glue, moisture will get in an start the corrosion process.

[chrisk]

Yes Chris, on your application it will be glued on just outboard of your Anti-Ice boot.

With this application, it's strongly recommend to have a really good coat of paint under the boot, or a sealer of some type.

Reason being to keep moisture off of the blade. Also try an make sure you have a even coat of glue on the tape. Anywhere there is no glue, moisture will get in an start the corrosion process.

Hi Cody,

Thanks for weighing in.  You are the expert after all!  I was curious how it would work.  Anyway a prop guard is low on my list, as I really have not had much of a problem with dings.  On the other hand, its not much money and if  things can be made to last longer it would be nice.  Although I bet a prop guard might change the balance on the prop, which I'm really happy with.

 

Are you flying/commuting  out of the new airport yet?

[Cody Stallings]

The new Airport is open, but you can't get in or out. It's locked up like Fort Knox. It's a nice airport, but there are no services at all yet. I have been told that FCY an M65 are going to remain open, till the Reginal Airport is up an running. As of. Ow it's a ghost town with a really nice 6000ft strip