Twin Commander

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: kent4142 on January 25, 2023, 08:26:27 pm

Title: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: kent4142 on January 25, 2023, 08:26:27 pm
Hi All,

With the 5 year calendar items, landing gear, props, generator etc. , not for commercial use.  What say the group on overhaul and time frame?  More than 5 years based on condition?  Or stick to the recommendations.

Thanks.

Kent
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: donv on January 26, 2023, 02:19:54 pm
If you are talking about a turbine, I don't believe those are optional. I do gear, props, etc per the manufacturer's schedule. Actually, props I believe are not mandatory (not sure), but gear I think is.

I have noticed that my Hartzells start to leak by the time 5 years are up, so it makes sense to do them anyway.
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: kent4142 on January 26, 2023, 06:01:04 pm
Thanks Don,

Do you have any pictures of your panel?

Thanks,

Kent
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: donv on January 27, 2023, 12:54:59 am
Sure. Here is one. I don't have any good pictures showing the entire panel-- I might take one on my next trip.

Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: kent4142 on January 27, 2023, 07:54:28 pm
Thanks!  And yes please, more pictures.  I love seeing other airplanes, and the panels and interiors.

So you were the test bed for the Genesys?  I am scheduled for a 3100 install this summer with my 150 hour.

K
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: JimC on January 28, 2023, 01:36:58 pm
Thread hijack - Don, do you generally cruise climb? I was snooping into your past flights and it seems you're loafing up into the FLs with climbs starting at 2500 ft/min or less and declining - but your groundpseeds seem fast.
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: donv on January 28, 2023, 10:14:49 pm
I don't know how you define "cruise climb"-- I tend to climb at about 170 knots, and accept the climb rate that gives me. Down low it is above 2000 fpm and up high obviously it tails off.

I don't reduce power much after takeoff, though. I keep it at 100% RPM until I level off and accelerate. I am very conservative on the EGTs though, and generally try to just run about 630 in the climb, once I hit the temp limits.
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: donv on January 29, 2023, 12:05:19 am
Jim, how fast do you climb the King Air 200?
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: JimC on January 29, 2023, 03:55:45 pm
I follow the B200 Vy profile. 160 kts to 10,000, then 140 to 20,000, then 130 to 30,000, then 120 to my final if I'm RVSM. Sometimes I'll sacrifice trip speeds when I'm going into headwinds but the fuel savings are significant.

Temp limits come in around 14-15k, depending on the day, and I run 40-50 degrees below redline.

I get 2800 fpm to start (and I'm starting at 6500'.)
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: donv on January 29, 2023, 10:44:21 pm
That seems really slow to me, but then the 980 AFM recommends 130, decreasing all the way to 118 at FL250. I can't imagine climbing that slow in the real world, though.
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: JimC on January 30, 2023, 04:17:57 pm
You'll probably find less overall fuel burn if you switch to the steeper profile. On the B200, it also helps me go faster - the plane is faster at FL240 than 12,000, so getting high as fast as I can is faster. It doesn't really start to slow significantly until after FL310 (I have winglets - the stock B200s aren't quite as good up high.)
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: appleseed on January 30, 2023, 07:43:00 pm
Great discussion Gents,

I think it would be great if someone with web skills could lift this part of thread into a more appropriate category (for future searchers).

Are your climb profiles altered by winds aloft? What about for pax in aft facing seats?

And then of course the discussion leads to descent profiles?
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: donv on January 30, 2023, 10:58:12 pm
Good idea. I will create a new thread on that topic.
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: Bruce Byerly on February 02, 2023, 01:05:19 am
The most efficient profile is the steep climb, in general. But I get that 150 knots or better is more comfortable.  I’m back to 97% at about 500’ until the outer marker.  Helmuth said that was best practice and gave the science to back it up. Running around at 100% subjects the blades to a lot more wear and tear but, of course, there’s no limit on running there.

Kent - no, you don’t have to do 5 year items but at the age of these components, I don’t think you save  anything by skipping them.  I think it’s prudent to do things on time. Some shops won’t sign it off and they are free to choose their processes but it’s not legally required by the letter of the law. The worst corrosion I’ve seen in prop hubs was on a set that lived in Texas and had about 300 hours on them. Same with the gear, we see these gear that appear to have been pencil whipped or had shoddy QC and, next thing you know, it’s $100k to fix it. This wouldn’t apply to your plane of course.
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: kent4142 on February 02, 2023, 07:45:41 pm
Thanks Bruce! 

I have never heard of going to 97% soon after takeoff, and then leaving it there until close to landing.  That is new information.  I was pulling back after reaching cruise altitude.

Also, I appreciate the info about calendar items.  I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish.  And on the other hand there are tricks of the trade that save people thousands - those are things that are tribal knowledge.  I can only get that here.

K

Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: donv on February 02, 2023, 08:18:47 pm
Kent--

That is what I do as well. There is a new thread on that topic somewhere here.
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: Bruce Byerly on February 02, 2023, 08:46:03 pm
Kent - don’t get me wrong, there’s no hurry and you should do whatever you feel comfortable doing.
Title: Re: 5 Year Calendar Items
Post by: donv on June 28, 2023, 04:48:48 pm
I just finished getting the gear overhauled... after two overhauls where they did nothing other than the consumables (seals, etc) this time I had a few things which had to be replaced. Probably not a surprise, given that the gear has had at least 1000 landings since it had significant work done to it-- over the course of 15 years.