This isn't good news: Extreme aeroplane maintenance

[@markor2476]

Damn sorry to hear about the issue with the engine. Hope you get it sorted as cheaply and as quickly as possible!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Marko

[@ufm10xxl27]

Hello Jon. Very sorry to hear your having engine troubles. Glad it's been found in the workshop and not anywhere else. Best of luck

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Me too. They’re very vigilant at Aero Anglia.

[@av8tor261]

Your Engineer is bang on. Engines that sit for long periods without proper preservation, have problems. Send an oil sample out for analysis and you will get an accurate evaluation. DON'T CHEAP OUT! I'm a pilot engineer go 30+ years. I would send that engine to a overhaul shop for a complete evaluation. It's money in the bank. "Buying an aircraft is cheap, properly maintaining and aircraft is expensive." Be safe everyone.

[@ableese2068]

Jon, I was once told that you don't have to worry about metal particles in the oil unless you can read the part number on it. 😉

[@musoseven8218]

I haven't heard that one in awhile 😄😳☹️

[@PaulUnderwood345]

I shouldn't worry too much if the loss of metal isn't affecting your weight and balance. :-) I was flying in formation with another aircraft just north of Le Touquet some years back that, contrary to normal operation, suddenly ejected a number of hot and rather important engine parts through its exhaust, in a very impressive display, Now that was something that warranted the attention of a mechanic.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I Ike this!!!

[@TrueGuaranteedIrish]

😂

[@mikewilson7833]

I'm watching with interest Jon - good luck mate!

[@marsgal42]

Ouch. You (and your bank account) have my sympathy. 😢 It's two years ago that the shop called me in to show me the gold and silver glitter from my plane's oil filter. There was no question. The engine was toast. It took a while (and a lot of money) but the next time I pulled up to the hold short line was magic.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I like the glitter analogy. Thankfully mine is of the silver type…for now

[@Barabyk]

Jon, I’m certain that you’re familiar with Mike Busch webinars, as they give another angle on secret life of aircraft power plants (though obviously from US perspective), but it’s whole new thing to see it as it happens. Thanks for the usual quality production and good luck with top overhaul!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks for watching

[@CharlieLamdin]

So many parallels with what I’ve just been through! Went for an oil change Ended up with two new cylinders, a new exhaust, all new lifters, and something else I can’t even remember. 2005 engine. 750 hrs. 100 hrs flown in last 12 months. I feel your pain! Sending you best wishes for some, any, silver linings to this cloud, the dark side of aircraft ownership, when perversely, the time the plane costs us the most money is when we can’t even fly it! I lost the whole summer of flying. 3 months. I hope the weather is really bad all the time your plane is on the ground so you can feel the tiny consolation that the weather is too shit to fly anyway! 😅 Disappointing news Jon, fingers crossed for a speedy and inexpensive resolution. 🤞🏻

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Charlie. At least we are grounded now, and we had a great year of flying to remember.

[@stuartessex4535]

Hi Jon. Sorry hear India Victor is poorly😥At least it wasnt at the start of the summer, and more importantly good news it was spotted in the hanger rather than in the air. Good luck, fingers and toes all crossed for you!

[@curiousmatt]

Sorry to see this Jon. Fingers crossed that you can get India Victor sorted and get back flying again as soon as possible.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Matt.

[@evanscm3]

ugh. sorry to hear this. one of the benefits of being in a syndicate is that these wincing moments can at least be shared.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Yes Chris.

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

G,day from Sydney Australia. I'm surprised the engineering didn't use a bore scope in the spark plug holes before pulling "the jugs" off? Well .."my nickel on the grass" the particles are from the crankshaft shaft U saddles? 🌏🔦

[@TheFlyingReporter]

They did.

[@salcombebunker1800]

I feel for you Jon following fitting 4 new cylinders to my Luscombe, it will be worth it peace of mind and there is always some added value to your aircraft when it's been well looked after by your careful ownership. Chris.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Chris.

[@dr_jaymz]

Thats what I did. We had one oversize, two chromed and they all looked rough. I bought 4 new from lycoming. But here's the rub. I had to send 3 back because I wasnt happy with them. With manufacturing defects.

[@darrenhillman8396]

So sorry to hear of your problem with India Victor, Jon. Sadly, owning an aircraft is not just about going for a jolly - it is a heavy responsibility of ownership, especially as a sole owner. I do hope that the wear noted can be readily rectified by the highly skilled engineers at your maintenance facility. Not cheap, I guess, but again, all part of the “joys” of owning your own aircraft. Best wishes from up here on Wirral.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Feeling joyous right now Darren, haha

[@robinsattahip2376]

Good luck with your plane, that is heartbreaking and expensive.

[@kevchilton908]

Sh*t! Sorry to see this happen to you again, Jon. You’re no stranger to this as I went through something similar with you a few years ago. It usually works out expensive! (It did for me!!). I hope not too expensive this time for you though! 😬🤞

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Here’s hoping Kev.

[@tonybeam]

I learned the hard way. When buying an aircraft one must deduct from the purchase price at least £250 (£500 for a twin) for every month that an aircraft has not been flown.

[@MrJpbmusic2005]

I really feel for you John.. I think the Covid Pandemic didn't help which grounded a lot of aircraft for almost a year ,so much so that Aircraft engine manufacturers had to send out memos warning aircraft owners about the dangers of potential corrosion issues, in fact you reported this issue way back then...this could be the case with your aircraft..its a good learning curve so if anybody thinking of purchasing their own aircraft, to be prepared for repair bills like this. I do hope you can get back flying ASAP John

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Joey.

[@theflyingfool]

Ouch!

[@georginahallett8716]

Sorry to hear this Jon, as one who has followed your exploits for the past couple of years, I hope rectification is not too wallet draining🥴

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Hoping so too Georgina. Many thanks.

[@Pragmatistrealist]

Seems like a pretty big jump from flecks to top off - and so it seems.

[@axel-stephanesmrgrav7036]

My thought exactly.

[@TheLincolnshireFlyer]

Let’s hope for a positive outcome

[@DeadReckoner]

We've just had metal in our oil sample too, during our 100-hour. It's not the best news we've ever had! Best of luck with the outcome.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Commiserations. What have they/you decided to do?

[@DeadReckoner]

@@TheFlyingReporter we're wating for costs and options, but the engine is on condition, so just patching it up doesn't really make sense at this point, I'd say. I just want her back!

[@axel-stephanesmrgrav7036]

Metal in a single oil sample is no biggie. But if that persists, your engine is talking to you.

[@barclaac]

Sorry to hear this. Probably a big part were the more strict Covid lockdowns in the UK causing inactivity.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Who knows Alex.

[@johnball4826]

I was always told the Continental 6 cylinder 360 was quite a weak engine, compared to the Lycoming 4 cylinder 360. I think i am right that the TBO on this version of Continental is only 1500 hours ?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I don’t know the actual TBO off the top of my head John, but it is lower, yes.

[@mikeyswingsacrossthesky2244]

feel funny having just clicked "Like" there is nothing really to like, feel for you Jon it is not sounding inexpensive and plenty of downtime, it seems to be one thing after another, the blessing being non of it in the air

[@TheFlyingReporter]

That’s what good maintenance is all about.

[@musoseven8218]

I'm sorry you're going through this, the filter did its job, no catastrophic failure in the air - thank God. But older spam cans, six cylinders, retracts etc? Can hurt the wallet. Worse happens at sea though, I'm sure you'll, relatively soon, be back in the air, they seem like a good workshop. Thanks for sharing, it's interesting and invaluable to see, of help to many I suspect ✌️😊

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Muso

[@gwynsea8162]

These things are money-pits. Bloke I know with a Robin has 30 hours of maintenance every 50 flying hours. That's crazy... For every hour you fly that's 36 minutes of maintenance! Imagine if that was the case with your car!!

[@stephenwalton9646]

I hate to see it but I’ve never seen the Continental 360 make it to TBO without a top overhaul, usually around 8-900 hours, even with mostly constant use. Obviously sitting unused is the worst thing for an aircraft or any other engine. Being in salt air, within 50 miles of a coastline doesn’t help either. When advising prospective purchasers of birds with these engines I just tell them to budget a top overhaul into the budget at 800 hours. Haven’t been disappointed with that advice yet.

[@MrAlwaysBlue]

Running a CofA aircraft with a legacy 6 cylinder engine is guaranteed to cost the Earth.

[@jonathanlambert7004]

So sorry to hear your bad news I guess that's a warning for anyone buying an older aircraft that has minimum use. Ultimately there's no real way of knowing unless you have owned the aircraft from new and look after the engine the way you have been doing

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Jonathan. We went into this with open eyes knowing the engine’s numbers.

[@marvinsmith4322]

A real shame Jon but with something mechanical its always going to be on the horizon. Good to show how well they are inspected though, reassuring.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

We went into this with open minds Marvin.

[@lawrencemartin1113]

Sad face. Hope it gets sorted without too much horrendous cost....

[@Robinbamv]

It is a sad fact that low use engines almost never make TBO with corrosion issues at the root of the problem.

[@chrisc161]

I see a lot of $$$ and unfortunately I see my future because I have the same engine in my Arrow.

[@barclaac]

Yup. Got my last Arrow engine to 1750hrs. Went with a factory reman a couple of years ago and it's been great.

[@robertboykin1828]

seems to me, that since you got it down that far, ya may as well go through the whole thing.

[@JRS2248]

When you buy used you inherit. You should know how it was flown before you buy.

[@Sterlingjob]

Aircraft are not cheap…today I put an extension seat belt on an A350…..£500

[@TheFlyingReporter]

That’s the aviation premium.

[@flyingphobiahelp]

Sorry to hear that. Hope the damage to the wallet is less than what u are planning for. To end with some humour borrowed from our boat owner friends- what does “boat” stand for? Bust Out Another Thousand. Alas, the bane for all of us with £££ hobbies

[@TheFlyingReporter]

We have to be prepared for these things in this game.

[@flyingphobiahelp]

@@TheFlyingReporter yeah, kinda like training, Jon. Take the price (same with time) the training facility tells you and double it 😂😂😂

[@Nord3202]

I disagree the way your mechanics have handled it. The oil & filter should of been sent out for analysis. The compression check would indicate the lowest cylinder. If they all passed compression using the master orfice per Continentals service bulletin they didn't need to be pulled. Change the oil and check it in 20 hours for metal & analysis to get a trend. If one failed the compression or boroscope inspection you just pull that jug. Most engines will get rust on the cylinders with age cause no one flys ever day or can keep a plane in moisture free environment. Running the engine wears the rust off. If it fails compression or uses excessive oil then it's time for a top overhaul. Your mechanics pulled 4 cylinders for nothing & just found normal wear for a older engine.

[@mpgofast]

As a A&P for 50 years and a AI for 45 years, I agree with you, that' s what borescopes are for, usually a piston pin plug gets stuck and starts wearing aluminum and shows up on the cylinder wall as a 1/2 inch line up and down at the 3 or 9 0clock position cylinder and ring wear is not producing aluminum, You want to see an engine make aluminum, I was a R4360 engine mechanic in the Air Force, try 28 cylinders going round and round, Can't wait to see what they find as a cause

[@kkiwi54]

I'd always thought that Arrows had a 4cyl O360 🤔