flyrotary@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

BUMMER, Bill! Sorry that it happened to you but glad that it happened on the ground.

If there's anything you need that requires another set of hands, please email me or call (630-244-6344) and I'll run over, being so close. I've always intended to look at your plane and was looking for a good excuse. Let me know if I can be of assistance, either in repair or in getting the plane ready for test flight.

Barry Gardner

Wheaton, IL

----- Original Message -----

From: Bill Schertz

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 5:30 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] NEW failure mode for 13B

Well, I haven't heard of this happening before -- I was ground running my engine to tune it with the EM-2 and EC-2. Ran for almost an hour, at various rpm's to change the manifold pressure and tweak the settings. Cooling working well, I had the top cowling off to allow good exit area since I was tied down. Coolant pressure about 14 psi as reported on the EM-2.

Engine was running good, took it up to ~6000 rpm swinging a 76x76 Catto prop, when suddenly there was steam and fluid on my windshield. Shut it down by killing power to the EC-2. Coolant everywhere.

Got out and looked to diagnose the problem -- NOT my plumbing. A FREEZE PLUG in the iron housing had blown out. Rapid coolant dump.

Secondary effect -- Since I shut down suddenly from full tilt, either the proximity of the cowl to the exhaust, or possibly some of the coolant on the exhaust started a small fire on my cowl. Put it out with extinguisher, but corner is charred.

Bill Schertz
KIS Cruiser #4045
N343BS

Now in repair mode.