Rotax engines- LSA's hope, or curse?

"Jim Logajan" wrote in message
.. .
"Morgans" wrote:
I see that two LSA aircrafts that had already been certified, crashed
on their way to SnF, when their engines failed on takeoff.

I couldn't find any info on the Highlander crash that mentioned engine
problems. What sources are you using as supporting material?

You are totally within you rights to question whether it was engine
problems.

The report I saw said he had problems on takeoff.

With a LSA, there is not much to cause problems on takeoff, other than the
engine. No controllable prop. No landing gear to retract. I suppose he
could have failed to remove gust locks, but I doubt it.

He could have taken off over gross, on too short of a runway. I doubt it.

So, yes, it is my assumption that the engine failed to make full power. We
will see, upon further facts being published.

Once again, I am pleased that both pilots will be able to give a more
complete account of the problems they experienced.
--
Jim in NC

Buy me a beer, if I am right? g
--
Jim in NC

On 2006-04-11, Morgans wrote:
With a LSA, there is not much to cause problems on takeoff, other than the
engine.

There's a lot that can stop an engine other than the engine itself being
broken:
- fuel system blockage
- fuel contamination
- too much air in the fuel (i.e. ran out of fuel)
- fuel getting unported due to tank/fuel system design
- fuel selector in the wrong position
- fuel pump failure (if applicable)
- spark plug failure
- magneto failure (even with dual mags, some types of failure on one mag
can cause rough running and power loss)
- carburettor icing
- air filter blockage/failure
- improperly fitted oil filters/screens/drain plugs

And that's not the limit to what peripheral systems can cause the engine
they serve to quit.

If it was a two stroke, well, just due to the nature of two stroke
engines, generally they have incredibly short TBOs and are horribly
unreliable regardless of who makes them (and you have to operate
aviation two strokes very carefully or they have a nasty tendency to
seize).

As for Rotax 4 strokes, nothing really leads me to believe they are any
less reliable than any other aviation 4 stroke - other than in the US,
mechanics not being all that familiar with them (it's a different story
here - the Rotax 4 strokes are quite popular in light homebuilts - I've
flown behind the turbocharged 912S and it seems to be a pretty capable
engine in use).

--
Dylan Smith, Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
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