"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"Rich Lemert" wrote in message
link.net...

This morning, while driving past the airport on my way to work, the
thought occured to me that a shear pin could be used to protect airplane
engines (at least partially) from prop strikes.

I have also had shear pins fail for no good reason. Aviation thinks that
designing in another point of failure is a bad thing.
--
Jim in NC


Don't some of the Rotax engines have a shear point to protect the engine? I
believe most vacum pumps have a Shear Wafer to protect the engine WHEN...
not IF the pump fails as well. But have ot agree that I'd rather have to
tear down an engine after a propstrike... than have the pin fail in
flight...