Posted for Bill Hogarty <billhogarty@direcway.com>:

For Scott Keighan:

After my Las Vegas accident which folded all 3 gear, I replaced the engine
mount and it was only  when I had my head up into the nose wheel well that I
noticed a tiny crack in the horizontal reinforcing bracket located above the
lower engine mount bolt on the rear of the firewall.   This tiny crack was
overlooked during my initial inspection of the damage or maybe it was just
that it became apparent when the original engine mount was removed.  My
point is that this bracket evidently shared a considerable load during the
ground impact of the aircraft and without it, the damage might have been
considerably worse.  I recommend that you discuss this with the factory
before you consider omiting these reinforcing brackets.  Regards, Bill
Hogarty