Jabiru North America, update on the Jabiru light sport aircraft & Jabiru engines.

www.ultralightf... - Jabiru North America, updated information on the Jabiru line of light sport aircraft, and aircraft engines.
It doesn't often happen this way. When media reporters get hold of a story that casts a company or person in a bad light, this generates headlines. The results can be disastrous for that company or person. However, if the initial article turns out to be overstated, a follow up report does not always earn publication. News organizations don't gain subscribers or advertisers by saying, "All is OK now."
Perhaps this was the situation with Jabiru... the engine side of the house, not the airframe side. As you can read in our earlier report, Jabiru was taken to task for some problems down under. You should judge for yourself.
"I hope people who read [CASA's] report get the main message that well-maintained Jabiru engines were not a problem but sloppy maintenance did them in," wrote Jabiru North America boss, Pete Krotje. "CASA does not mention the group of eight flight schools where most of the problems arose and that the same maintenance company did their maintenance." He ventured further saying, "I can't imagine that the FAA would take steps similar to CASA's limitations without knowing the source of the problem."
Pete wrote, "Limitations have been lifted on engines that have been maintained according to the Jabiru manual and have complied to the 'significant' Jabiru service bulletins & service letters." He expressed that, "It is a real round about way of saying that poor maintenance practices are the real cause of Jabiru engine malfunctions." Like it or not, aircraft - like houses, autos, RVs, boats, well... pretty much everything - require regular and proper maintenance. Fail in this mission and you invite problems.
Especially Pete liked this CASA statement: "The failures experienced can generally be attributed to the maintenance practices, not necessarily poor quality of maintenance but as discussed [in the report], any deviation from the current Jabiru recommendations does appear to introduce conditions that can rapidly deteriorate the engine health to the point of failure."
Jabiru Australia, the designer and manufacturer of their line of engines, wrote to owners of their equipment saying, "We have been notified that CASA will be replacing the [document] that expires on the 30th of June with a [document] that places no limitations on Jabiru powered aircraft compliant with maintenance procedures." They added, "It is heartening to see recognition by CASA of the issues faced which are beyond our control and the steps taken by Jabiru to deal with the issues within our control."
All is not perfect, however. Jabiru Australia wrote, "It is disappointing, however, that CASA still retained an Acceptance of Risk Statement within the limitations for non-compliant aircraft as the signing of this provides no enhancement to the reliability of these engines and is still damaging to our business." The negative effect of a damning report can linger on long after the problem may have been solved.
In the report, CASA stated, "The Jabiru engine has been designed to be lightweight for Light-Sport applications and also to be easy and efficient to maintain. From the data provided, however, it appears that the engine is very reliant on a fastidious maintenance regime and is intolerant of variation to the schedule provided by the manufacturer." In other words, mechanics must follow the instructions of Jabiru.
CASA is aware that engines may not remain in the configuration as originally manufactured. Their report said, "It is understood that 'aftermarket' parts are available for experimental aircraft, and certain Jabiru engines may have been modified in ways that involve the installation of non-Jabiru manufactured parts. All of these modifications have the potential to contribute to the reliability of the engine, in a both a positive and negative manner." They concluded, "[We] recognize that a true and complete picture of reliability can only be achieved on the basis of a consider of known configurations."
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www.ultralightf... - Jabiru North America, updated information on the Jabiru line of light sport aircraft, and aircraft engines.
• Jabiru North America, ...

[@foesfly3047]

I'm rewatching this, December 2019 and I miss Pete K. He was 1 of the hardest working men in EAB and a genuine fellow.

[@mr.ginnationfunlifestyle3891]

I want to add, I now a german ultra light flight school, that flies with the jabiru engine 3300 in a wild thing two seater plane 700 hours each year in flight training. So that works out fine. The problem of the older jabirus was the steel cylinder thing not flying regulary very much. Then it starts to rost. Many private planes sit more on the ground and get up into the air 10 or 15 hours each year with month of breakes in between. That can not work out well. Flying 300 hours and more each year gives you no trouble taking care of the inspection rules. I believe, there is a lot of politics on this. Think about, how many Rotax engines had shut down in flight, or Continentals, etc. No big deal on that. As I said, politics.

[@shirazenema3228]

CASA , were living in the 70,s here in Australia, just a big brake for aviation innovation!

[@frankus54]

Been following this in Australia. Like any large government organization there are the good, the bad and the ugly. The Jabiru engine situation is bad and ugly as far as the CASA management of it is concerned. (And I'm being polite). I know a local school with three J160's and over 30,000 hours on them. One engine stoppage in that time and the A/C was able to glide back to the field. These aircraft are tough and so is the engine assuming it is correctly maintained and run on the right fuel. Cockpit ergonomics are a little "crosshanded" but that is the only criticism. You get use to it.

[@georgeosvald8349]

Just anecdotal evidence.....but.....I personally know three pilots who had engine failures with the Jabiru engine. One of them did not survive. The aircraft is great but if Jabiru was not so stubborn and support other engines, they would sell a lot more.

[@bunnykiller65]

Don't know how things work in Australia , but in the US; you could raise some money and sue. Pull CASA into open court and let them explain their lies in public. If you don't hit them and hit them hard, they will just change tactics and screw with you in a different way. That's what corrupt organizations do.

[@mr.ginnationfunlifestyle3891]

Besides all this, the jabiru planes and engines are also in southern africa, built in factory. Very successfull, selling them great and many planes flying around africa. Really tough bush planes. And we have an excellent price selling with very interessting facts. The J 430 costs well equiped below 100T$, compared to a Cessna 172 highly interesting. The australian CASA did a lot of turbulence to the product and the company. Really unprofessional and stupid opinion minded work with really bad underlighted inspectors. Great that we can see now the truth about all this here in this video. Great job Dan Johnson. He is a sympathic great guy anyway and well educated in aviation. That you can not say from the CASA. Jabiru is a great product by now and today and gives a good price value on fair flying in great airplanes. There are some more countries, who should understand more about aviation, to give more chances to this great aircraft, spoken to Europe for example.

[@philipritson8821]

So at least the truth is out. Don't mess with the truth engine and follow maintenance instructions and you have an acceptable alternative to a Rotax

[@southmac5283]

thanks for the update. nice to see some honest media in defense of a great company always bad news when some one in govt has a grudge against anything. 'our your calender'?

[@FlyingMike]

It would be nice if half of this was true, The regulator doesnt take action like this for no reason. The truth is along way from your babble, sorry Dan you have been feed a unique set of opinions thats far from the truth. CASA do financially assist the RA-Aus each and every year. Get the facts correct !

[@philipritson8821]

Michael Coates How many members of RA-Aus own aeroplanes powered by Jabiru engines and had a vested interest in keeping them flying?

[@ctsteve1967]

@@philipritson8821 about 23