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New 912iS Owner

in 912iS Technical Questions 8 years ago

  • Re: New 912iS Owner

    by » 8 years ago

    Just because Pipistrel is a dealer doesn't translate over to they did a proper install. Don't assume they followed Rotax wiring. Several aircraft MFG's did not and it caused them problems. Pipistrel has made some bad decisions with wiring installs. I have seen and heard of several especially at the begining of the 912is engine use. I do not know if and or when they have made any changes to help the situation.
    From what I have heard the majority 912is engine installers / aircraft MFG's have made wiring errors. Some have made corrections to rectify the problem. I would implore anyone installing a 912is engine no matter who it is to follow Rotax's wiring setup. Depending on which wire just changing one may cause problems and lots of error codes.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
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  • Re: New 912iS Owner

    by » 8 years ago

    Roger, in a spirit of positive contribution and with respect, there are opportunities for Rotax to increase even more the customer satisfaction with this wonderful engine. I also agree. with your comment about the unfortunate Pipistrel problem - it's most likely the installation , and it is possible the installation manual was not followed.

    I have yet to run mine. I'm about Three months away from first engine run. I have an engineering degree and worked for six years in an airline engineering environment and later, aerospace and Suchlike high tech stuff. I consider myself to be moderately technically capable however I am having continuous issues in planning my installation because in my opinion, I don't understand the thinking behind the design of the engine and the associated logic of the installation and the engine operation compared to conventional engines from Lycoming and Continental and unfortunately the manuals provide less than perfect help.

    However, this is an opportunity for either Rotax or someone like yourself to produce a book highlighting these differences and thus making the theory of operation quite clear because in my opinion it isn't now. It would be tempting to blame this on linguistic confusion in translation, but that would not be true and it is insulting to Rotax and its staff. SUch a book needs to be written by someone who is not infinitely familiar with the engine because such a person knows to much to write well for idiots(dumkopf) like me.

    I will try to give examples by listing the issues I have raised on this bulletin board:

    - Ignition switch, dangerous, use aircraft grade switches instead for Lanes A, B and fuel pumps. In conventional engine, if these fail, engine keeps running, 912 iS - switch fails, engine may stop.

    - fuel pumps, despite being marked "main" and "Auxilliary" in the installation manual, both pumps must be run in flight. This is different from conventional engines.

    - With constant speed propeller, set power by fuel flow (I think) for what rpm? Etc. This is different from a conventional engine.

    - The whole rich /lean of peak Eco mode logic is not available in the manual nor is the logic of handling spelled out.

    - My latest issue with warning lights and fuel pumps, nothing is grounded to the aircraft.

    - The insides of the fuse box are unknown. Fuses for what? Can I change them? Are there spare fuses?

    - wiring sizes? The manual says one thing, the Lockwood diagram says different.

    - the correct use of the "battery backup" switch in an emergency.

    I am sure I will find other things I don't quite understand as I work through installing the engine and the excellent firewall forward kit produced by Skytek of Canada for the Zenith 750.

    These are things that obviously are well thought out by Rotax but are not explained to simple people like me and thus we make mistakes. But for your website and great help I can guarantee my installation would be wrong and dangerous.

    So anyway, I view this as an opportunity for someone to explain things in more detail so that we builders can have a better understanding of this engine.

    I
      
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  • Re: New 912iS Owner

    by » 8 years ago

    a draft of this book is under peer review.
      
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  • Re: New 912iS Owner

    by » 8 years ago

    Rob, please put me down. for a copy. hopefully it goes to print before I make irreparable mistakes :)
      
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  • Re: New 912iS Owner

    by » 8 years ago

    Hi Geoffrey,

    As soon as it becomes available Rob and his group will have it listed here where all the other manuals are listed and most likely have an email out to everyone signed up here.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
    Report
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