Would like to know the year my Rotax 912 ULS was built

S/N 4430069

S/N 4430069

Customer Asks: 

Paul Matthews

Hi I am looking to purchase a Europa aircraft with Rotax 914 Engine Sn: 441778. is there any way I can find out the year of manufacture / TBO? I understand that the engine had an unknown history but was rebuilt in 2015 with a new cylinder head and new TCU. The engine has only done 50hrs since. I am new to Rotax engines but I understand earlier engines had crankcase fretting issues. Any advice/questions I should be asking would be a massive help.

Thank you

Paul

ANSWER:

Engine S/N 4417780

Engine Type: ROTAX 914 UL2

Manufacturing Date: 13.01.1999

TBO: 1000 Hrs

Configuration:

• N/A

Before purchasing a Rotax-powered aircraft, it’s important to have a pre-buy inspection done by a trained Rotax technician, especially one familiar with the Rotax 914.

This video provides more details on what to look for during a pre-buy inspection for a Rotax-powered aircraft: https://www.rotax-owner.com/en/videos-topmenu/912-videos/683 

Regarding the crankcase fretting issue:

While it’s true that pre-2008 crankcases on engines with a TBO of under 2,000 hours were known to exhibit fretting, this concern was less significant on the 80 HP 912 and turbocharged 914 engines, which operate at lower compression ratios.

The issue was more prevalent in the 100 HP 912ULS engines, where higher compression led to greater mechanical stress on the crankcase mating surfaces. Fretting in these cases can reduce crankshaft bearing clearance, resulting in increased rotational resistance of the crankshaft.

To determine whether this condition is present, there is a test procedure described in the ROTAX 914 Line Maintenance Manual (LMM), Section 05–50–00, page 46, titled “Smooth Performance of the Engine.” This procedure helps verify that the crankshaft rotates within acceptable resistance limits (See attachment).

Regarding the Europa Aircraft:

We previously owned a Rotax 914-powered Europa, and one thing we can share is that the standard engine cowling design doesn't provide adequate cooling during sustained climbs. To manage this, you’ll need to perform "Step Climbs" periodically lowering the angle of attack to allow sufficient airflow for cooling as you gain altitude.

This could be why the cylinder heads had to be changed in 2015 as the previous ones probably got overheated

Aside from that, it’s a fantastic aircraft with great performance and is a lot of fun to fly. Just be sure to consult someone familiar with the aircraft model who can check for any applicable Alert Service Bulletins (ASBs) or Service Bulletins (SBs) the manufacturer may have issued.

Good luck with your purchase!

Thanks a lot, but I misread the figures witch actually are :

S/N : 4430049

Tks foir helping

S/N 6374162

Please.

Thanks