This summer an RAA member suffered the loss of a prop blade on his =
amphibious 912S Kitfox, that was equipped with a NSI CAP 140 =
propeller.The engine immediately broke from its mount, but fortunately =
was retained by the hoses and cables. The pilot was able to make a =
successful emergency landing with the departed blade stuck into his =
float.

The NSI CAP 140 prop is in-flight adjustable and has three Warp Drive =
blades that are modified by the addition of an aluminum cuff that fits =
into the NSI hub. There have so far been two versions of this cuff, with =
a third version about to be released. Some applications will have their =
effective lives limited by this AD, and others are grounded immediately. =
New version 3 parts are not yet ready, so some planes will be grounded =
until parts are available near the end of this year.

Effective immediately, all 912S Rotax engines with either the version =
1 or version 2 cuff are grounded. These parts may not be used any =
longer. Ship your blades to NSI for installation of the version 3 cuff. =
Lance Wheeler has told me this morning that the cost will be under $500 =
US.

Effective immediately, all 912 engines with the version 1 cuff are =
limited to 500 hours. All 912 engines with the version 2 cuff are =
limited to 1000 hours. Blades must then be shipped to NSI for =
installation of the version 3 cuff.

Effective immediately, all 914 engines with the version 1 cuff are =
limited to 700 hours. All 914 engines with the version 2 cuff are =
limited to 1000 hours. Blades must then be shipped to NSI for =
installation of the version 3 cuff.

In Lance Wheeler's estimate, blades fitted with the version 3 cuff =
will have an effective life of 2000 hours.This estimate has been =
calculated by Finite Element Analysis. The full story on this will be =
printed in the next issue of the Recreational Flyer.


Gary Wolf
President, RAA Canada

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For Sale:=20
Parachute, used once, never opened, small Stain