Immediate NSI Prop AD

FYI,

From: Gary Wolf
To:
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 3:13 PM
Subject: Immediate NSI Prop AD

RAA Canada Members,

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
propellor.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