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Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2007 08:06:09 -0400
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From: "babyblue" <grabiel@freeway.net>
References: <list-2189100@logan.com>
Subject: Re: [LML] Ram Air Oops
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Paul,
 Thankyou for the heads up on the Ram Air Flap. Mine is one of the first. 
Checked it out and the 2 screws were tight. I promptly put some locktite on 
the threads using a long skinny stick.This will be a regular inspection item 
from now on! Thanks!

  Don G.  LNCE N722B
 P.S. Hope see you at Osh.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Bricker" <pbricker@earthlink.net>
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:44 AM
Subject: [LML] Ram Air Oops


> People,
>
> Not to cause a panic but I feel I should pass on my recent experience. Tim
> is preparing a Service Bulletin that I expect out soon.
>
> A few days ago I installed my Ram Air system on my ES. At that point I had
> about 28 hours on the engine and felt I had a good baseline to compare. I
> flew it about three hours over the next two days. Today during run up I 
> had
> a large (for a LightSpeed ignition) drop on one ignition system, and
> returned to the hanger to investigate. Pulling the plugs I found the top
> plug in #5 bent closed (the LS ignition used plugs that look like 
> automotive
> plugs). On further investigation I noticed that both of the screws holding
> the butterfly to it's' shaft in the Ram air system to be missing, and the
> butterfly cocked a little sideways in the ram tube.
>
> Talking with Tim he stated that these should have been coated with LocTite
> and peened. Today they are made in house at Lancair and that is the 
> process
> they use and inspect to. I bought the Ram air several years ago (Tim is
> checking exactly when for applicability of the service bulletin) and mine
> was probably one previously made for Lancair by an outside vendor.
>
> I bore scoped the engine and saw damage in #5 only (I guess this is good). 
> I
> yanked the jug and piston and at the moment they are in the engine shop 
> for
> evaluation and repair in the morning. There are 20+ marks on both the 
> piston
> and the cylinder head, but it appeared to me that the plugholes and valve
> seats had been missed. Until they look at the head more closely, including
> the surfaces of the valves and seats, I won't know how much damage was 
> done.
> While they are doing that I will pull the whole induction system to make
> sure the other screw isn't still waiting around for its moment of glory.
>
> I hope I have the one and only Ram Air that had this defect, but I'd 
> advise
> inspecting yours before you fly again. This isn't that hard to look inside
> at the butterfly. (On the other hand, tightening those screws without a
> special tool is tough. I think Tim is developing a fix/preventative action
> for the Service Bulletin.)
>
> My plan to leave Monday for KOSH is probably out the window, but given 
> some
> good luck the engine should be running again tomorrow pm and then I'll see
> how long it takes to get back sufficient confidence to leave on 3000 nmi
> trip. Hope to see many of you there.
>
> Paul Bricker
> N63PB
> LNCE
> IO-550-EXP
>
>
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