Rich too Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 I haven't flown much this summer, so I made an effort last weekend and took out my WH Edge. I had a few flights and then noticed a strange noise, not unlike a loose exhaust. I couldn't find anything wrong, and then I noticed that the spinner (CF) was crushed against the wooden prop ????? Anyway, I removed the damaged spinner, and found three out of four prop bolts sheared off!!! Lady luck was definitely with me today and I will always check the bolts in future ps I was also trying out some 6" Dubro air wheels/tyres on my rough patch and they were great - a bit expensive though Edited By Rich too on 06/09/2019 09:00:06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Watkins Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Dubro Air wheels Really worthwhile on rough patches Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josip Vrandecic -Mes Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Hi Rich ,uhhhh ... this was near disaster ... but you're a lucky guy....All the best in future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Wasn't there a spate of this happening last year, and wasn't one of the suggestions to check the bolt length and swap them for better quality ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted September 6, 2019 Author Share Posted September 6, 2019 Posted by Denis Watkins on 06/09/2019 09:43:25: Dubro Air wheels Really worthwhile on rough patches Rich Yep, seem to be doing the trick so far Denis I’m going to try and pick up some more at Headcorn on Sunday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted September 6, 2019 Author Share Posted September 6, 2019 Posted by Josip Vrandecic -Mes on 06/09/2019 09:45:46: Hi Rich ,uhhhh ... this was near disaster ... but you're a lucky guy....All the best in future Thanks Josip, certainly could have totalled the plane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted September 6, 2019 Author Share Posted September 6, 2019 Posted by Bob Cotsford on 06/09/2019 10:18:08: Wasn't there a spate of this happening last year, and wasn't one of the suggestions to check the bolt length and swap them for better quality ones? Not sure Bob. I’ve done some research now and the general concensus appears to be use a torque wrench, do not use threadlock, and check regularly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Christy Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Don't feel to bad about it! It happened to someone I knew in a full-size motor-glider! A loud bang and the prop went AWOL! Luckily, he managed to glide back to the airfield, but it was some time before the prop was located - in an apple tree of a little old lady in a country village! -- Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Posted by Bob Cotsford on 06/09/2019 10:18:08: Wasn't there a spate of this happening last year, and wasn't one of the suggestions to check the bolt length and swap them for better quality ones? I recall the incidents and it was decided that some engines had been supplied with soft steel bolts that were not up to the job. Given the bend I can see in Rich's bolts this may well be the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultymate Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Those bolts look like high tensile given the dark colour, I would suspect the prop came loose due to shrinkage of the wood. If using wooden props I would check them regularly when the prop is new and then less frequently as time goes by. A better choice is a carbon prop although I appreciate they're more expensive but their central bosses are much denser and do not compress like the wooden counterparts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Do not rated tensile bolts get their rating stamped on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Bolts certainly do, not sure about cap heads though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted September 7, 2019 Author Share Posted September 7, 2019 Posted by Peter Christy on 06/09/2019 18:26:35: Don't feel to bad about it! It happened to someone I knew in a full-size motor-glider! A loud bang and the prop went AWOL! Luckily, he managed to glide back to the airfield, but it was some time before the prop was located - in an apple tree of a little old lady in a country village! -- Pete Wow! thanks Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted September 7, 2019 Author Share Posted September 7, 2019 Posted by Ultymate on 06/09/2019 19:40:14: Those bolts look like high tensile given the dark colour, I would suspect the prop came loose due to shrinkage of the wood. If using wooden props I would check them regularly when the prop is new and then less frequently as time goes by. A better choice is a carbon prop although I appreciate they're more expensive but their central bosses are much denser and do not compress like the wooden counterparts I agree, I have to admit that I hadn’t checked them for probably a year! Lesson learned. thanks gents Edited By Rich too on 07/09/2019 04:59:44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 It is an interesting thought that all full size aircraft have a regular servicing schedule based on flying hours. In the RAF it used to be Primary, Primary Star, Minor, Minor Star, and Major service with different flying hours between each one and depenging on type. Modellers do not seem to follow anything like this scedule (Me included) but it might be a good idea. We all do, or should do a preflight and after flight but not a regular schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 I’ve never left wooden prop up tight. Changes in temperature and humidity, ( so I’m told ) can cause the wood to move and work loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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