That's a valid point. Let's say we have a couple of early versions break
crankshafts. The cranks are changed, or maybe the balance is changed and
all appears to be well. The article is submitted with test results for
certification. It is certified. A couple dozen are placed into service.
Crankshafts start breaking.

Think the FAA will have any problems getting those pre-presentation test
results? Not if that manufacturer ever wants to sell anything as certified
again, they won't.

Certified Manufacturers are that way and charge what they do for a reason.
That reason IS the certification. If it was easy to be certified, their
SeaBee conversion would be certified, but it's not an easy thing to do or
maintain.

John Stricker

"Kevin Horton" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 20:02:59 -0600, John Stricker wrote:

Dave,

Can we? I don't know if FOI covers that, but the FAA certification
division sure can. And they have the failure reports on file. That's
the
point, though. These conversions AREN'T certified. In effect WE are
the
certifying entity and as such the responsibility falls on us and we
can't
make that decision with glossed over reports of "trouble-free" service.

John Stricker

If the failures happen during development, and they make design changes to
address the failure before they present the engine to the FAA for type
certification, then the FAA may very well not have anything on file. The
FAA makes a very big point about not getting out the microscope until they
are presented a test article that conforms to the type design. The
definition of the type design evolves during the development process as
problems are found and fixed.


"Dave Hyde" wrote in message
...
John Stricker wrote:

If I'm going to by into something like an auto conversion, I want to
know
how it's failed in the past JUST LIKE I KNOW HOW THE LYCOMINGS AND
CONTINENTALS HAVE FAILED BECAUSE IT'S PUBLIC RECORD FOR THE LAST 50
YEARS.

I hope I didn't scare you with my shouting. 8-)

Not me, anyway, but I have an honest question: Do major GA engine
manufacturers make data on failures *in development* available to the
public? Can we see test-to-failure data on the new engines Lycoming,
Superior, Mattituck, etc. are putting out for homebuilts? Where?

Seems to me what an auto conversion needs is a 'sugar daddy' to put up
big $$$ to fund develompent and testing testing testing. I'm not
holding
my breath.

Dave 'enquiring mind' Hyde


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Kevin Horton RV-8 (finishing kit)
Ottawa, Canada
http://go.phpwebhosting.com/~khorton/rv8/
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