Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #58475
From: Jeff Whaley <jwhaley@datacast.com>
Subject: RE: One rotary down and out
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 16:44:04 +0000
To: 'Rotary motors in aircraft' <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>

Lynn, I don't think there was an oil issue until the second pump-cycle either but I do suspect the engine cycles blew the hose off the barb-end or severely loosened it.

I can't say my times are accurate, guess 2-4 minutes after pump/engine cycles that engine quit.

We haven't got the plane out of the field ... land-owner did not want to move it yet ... probably next weekend.

 

How long can a rotary run at 5600 rpm with no oil?

 

I'll have to get back with more details when I know them.  I do know that I did not shut off all electrics until I got out (yes I should have done that in the air) and I could clearly hear fuel pumps running.

 

Jeff   

 

From: Lehanover@aol.com
Subject: Iron Man/loss of fuel pressure/oil pressure
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 11:19:21 -0400 (EDT)
To: flyrotary@lancaironline.net
It sounds as though a fuel leak developed that could be overcome by both pumps running but not with one pump running.
The best news is that you are here to tell the tale.
I doubt that there was an oil system problem until the last restart.
The rotary can rev up so fast that it is possible to have oil pressure much higher than the relief valve cracking pressure elsewhere in the system. Plus there is a bit of hysteresis in the relief valve (all relief valves). This where the valve will hold one pressure when open and flowing, but requires a bit more pressure to unseat (crack).
The rotary oil pressure is controlled by a valve at the end of the system, rather than at the pump as in most engines. So all of the system is at a slightly higher pressure than the cracking pressure all of the time. If you have the stock relief valve in the front cover, it is set at 144 pounds and is there to protect the oil cooler in cold starts. Not a factor here.
The engine being turned by the gear box and the reduction ratio gives the engine a head start on an over rev (A very rapid acceleration)before the RPM is again controlled by the load.
Baring a fire as a result of the loss of oil, the engine can run quite a while with no oil pressure at all. Big bearings lightly loaded. My driver has demonstrated that several times.
Just speculation on my part.
Remember the FAA motto.
We're not happy until you're not happy.
Lynn E. Hanover

 


From: Jeff Whaley
Sent: June 24, 2012 6:52 AM
To: 'Rotary motors in aircraft'
Subject: One rotary down and out

Sorry to post bad news guys but need to share this with you form a safety perspective.

 

Anyway what happened ... engine failure, prop stopped went into a corn field and flipped over.
I have 2 fuel pumps; decided to turn 1 off, when I did the engine quit - pump back on okay - repeated same result.
5 miles from home base I headed back, radioed inbound, 1 minute later I thought I smelled fuel and another 1 minute later the engine quit. Trimmed the airplane, mayday and glided straight ahead. Lots of corn and a few soya bean fields around but didn't want to land in them, saw a gravel road and turned to line up on it, pulled on full flaps for minimum landing speed, when I turned final there was a huge elm tree on the right edge at my expected touch down point, so at 100' I turned left into the field which was corn ... everything was going great until I hit the corn.  Thankfully the seats belts and shoulder harnesses did their job; upside down I released the belts and got out of there fast.

 

Walked out, phoned police and after they arrived authorities wanted the ELT shut off so we walked back to the airplane; when I got there I saw oil all over the bottom of fuselage. Checked engine and found the oil-out line (push-lock connector) hanging loose. I expect what happened is when the engine quit and restarted those 2 times that sent a burst of oil pressure and blew the hose off ... I pushed it back on and it would not pull back off again. I had heard some guys were putting heat shrink or other back-up systems on these connectors; I wish now I had used a simple stainless worm clamp.  Engine and redrive will be toast, airplane is substantially damaged ... I'll salvage what I can.
Jeff

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