Ed Dartford
Well-Known Member
Many new planes today come with a plastic prop. In over fifty years of flying I have never had a problem with a prop: wood or metal two or three blades. My son (the airline pilot) had bought a new Rans S21./ He usually flies a B737, so I suggested that he get a low tech Cub. But he decided on the S21, which is a very nice all metal taildragger, OK, but he has equipped it with all the avionic gadgets he has in the B737.
Rans was performing pre-delivery flight testing when severe vibration occurred The pilot shut down the engine and,, good news, made an uneventful off field landing. Upon inspection one blade of the 3-bl;ade CS prop had delamination for about five inches near the tip. The entire prop, including the hub will be replaced.
Minor damage to a plastic prop is not hard to repair. Hartzell has a good video on the internet showing how to do it. (But they don't talk about delamination, I bet that it is not repairable.
Anyone else have some experience with plastic props?
Rans was performing pre-delivery flight testing when severe vibration occurred The pilot shut down the engine and,, good news, made an uneventful off field landing. Upon inspection one blade of the 3-bl;ade CS prop had delamination for about five inches near the tip. The entire prop, including the hub will be replaced.
Minor damage to a plastic prop is not hard to repair. Hartzell has a good video on the internet showing how to do it. (But they don't talk about delamination, I bet that it is not repairable.
Anyone else have some experience with plastic props?
