Eduleo Posted July 26, 2021 Report Posted July 26, 2021 Found this upon landing in Western Massachusetts today, after a two-hour hard IMC flight. Only one blade, the other was clean. Only on the front side, nothing on the back. I couldn't remove it with my finger or a cloth. I am assuming it's prop governor grease, but this is the first time that stuff like this shows up on my prop. What should I do next? a) fly another 10 hours until the next oil change at an MSC b) call local mechanic to look at it for reassurance that it's not something serious enough to ground the plane before next visit to my favorite MSC (looks like the best option to me). c) this is much more serious and I'm lucky nothing worse happened, and I'm definitely grounded. Thanks for your insight.
carusoam Posted July 26, 2021 Report Posted July 26, 2021 This looks too serious to fly without a mechanic looking at it… Looks like a seal has gotten away… Lets ask @Cody Stallings our prop guy to have a look at the pic… (prop oil leak, at one blade…) Oil leaks can get worse without much warning… PP thoughts only… Best regards, -a-
N201MKTurbo Posted July 26, 2021 Report Posted July 26, 2021 On McCauley props, that usually happens when the piston starts leaking. It fills the hub with engine oil and forces it out the blade seals. No immediate harm, but you will have to get it fixed sooner than later. 3
Eduleo Posted July 27, 2021 Author Report Posted July 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Cody Stallings said: Is it an oily film? Or Greasy film? Thanks for looking into this, Cody. I can't quite tell if it is oil or grease on the blade since it was dry when I touched it. Couldn't tell if it gel-like or oil-like. Is there any other way to tell? Would that determine if it is prop grease vs. crankcase seal? I assumed it to be grease since it only shows in one blade. There is a good shop on the field and I'll ask them to take a look at it tomorrow when I am not so busy at work. I'll let you know what they say.
Cody Stallings Posted July 27, 2021 Report Posted July 27, 2021 I wonder if it might just be staining. You made comment you had some spent some time in IMC condition. My propeller will sometimes get some black junk that runs off the end of the ant-ice boot then trails towards the trailing edge of the blade like that. I’m a little OCD having a White propeller so it doesn’t stay on long. Its not oil or grease, but seems to be washed out of the inside of the spinner/backplate during IMC flight for long durations. Almost like brakes dust that has been liquified then slung down the blade an drys 1 1
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