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Old April 17th 09, 02:14 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe
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Posts: 790
Default "Lippsing" a Q-tip propeller

"MP" wrote in message
...
Thought I'd ask for comments before doing something stupid and
irreparable
to our propeller.

...
It's a homebuilt, so I'm deep into "experimental" mode on this one.
Anyone
want to warn me about how I might kill myself doing this? Has anyone done
this before?


Sure, I'd be happy to warn you.

Has anyone killed themselves after cutting down a prop?

Yup.

Cut down props were popular on the early T-18's - at least until the first
few fatal accidents. When the blade broke due to resonance / fatigue the
engine would part company with the aircraft and the result was typically a
dead pilot / passenger.

Changing the length of the prop changes the resonant frequencies with
unpredictable results.

http://www.t18.net/technical_info.htm#Cutdown

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
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