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Hi all, 

Curious for your input and opinions as to further course of action.

Please see image attached of the damaged prop tips.

Prop touched a hard surface runway during landing. Power was at idle. No discernible RPM decrease occurred, the strike was not noticed by pilot when it occurred, only afterwards, after a few more flights (uneventful, all engine parameters identical to previous flights), was the damage at the prop tips discovered. 

Rotax SL (SL-915 i-008R1, Rev. December 2024) excerpts: 

A propeller strike can be defined as follows:

Any incident, whether or not the engine is operating (e.g. damage due to contact with foreign

objects, landing gear failure etc.), that requires a removal of the propeller for repair. Also if a

propeller governor is installed, it must be inspected and repaired in accordance with the propel-

ler governor manufacturer's published instructions.

and 

Propeller constructions should be considered when assessing the possible engine dam-

age from a propeller strike

1. Aluminum and solid composite (including some solid wood) propellers are more likely to trans-

mit the forces and damage the engine due to the increased mass and strength.

2. Lightweight composite propellers with wood or foam cores are less likely to transmit forces to

the engine as they tend to disintegrate upon impact.

3. If no drop in RPM is detected and a lightweight propeller is damaged from a strike it is possible

there is no resulting engine damage.

Curious for any input on what to do next (so far I've heard input ranging from "repair the prop and all good" to "gearbox and engine need to be shipped for extensive testing/overhaul".


Thank you very much! 🙏

11131_1_915_prop_strike.png (You do not have access to download this file.)
  • Re: Prop strike advice

    by » 8 hours ago


    Hi! I am no expert, but I communicated with many and was told the gearbox can handle a lot. Going anywhere other than someone who is Rotax certified will probably result in a complete engine teardown, as they are used to Lycoming engines. I had a somewhat similar situation and needed nothing. I am unsure where you are located, but I know a place in Sandusky, Michigan, that knows Rotax inside and out. (Midwest Sky Sports). Good luck to you. Odds are just new props.


  • Re: Prop strike advice

    by » 7 hours ago


    hello James

    Follow the recommendations from Rotax.  Seek out a qualified Rotax technician.  The prop has to be changed for sure.  Given this take some time to find out if you did not harm inside.  The steps are given to Rotax technicians in their maintenance training.  

    Remove the prop

    Check the prop flange run-out as per the specs.  

    Remove the gearbox assembly and then check the crankshaft run-out.

    The last step is to check and see if there is any crankshaft twist with a special tool (maintenance manual heavy shows tool and steps) 

    If you pass all those tests you should be fine.  Unlike a direct drive engine the gearbox can absorb a lot of the hit and protect the crankshaft most of the time.  Given this is a type 915 I would not suggest you attempt the gearbox work yourself, it requires a lot of special tools.  Generally Rotax will call out a check of the overload clutch and the damping clutches internally.  Do not attempt this bit without special training. 

    Cheers

     


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