New -10 Service Bulletin

[donv]

I see there is a new (well, recently updated) service bulletin from Honeywell requiring replacement of the combustion chamber (burner can, I think?) by March of 2021. Also a similar one on the 1st stage turbine wheel, although that one is good until August 2022.

Anyone have any insights into these? Old news? I'm looking at hot sections pretty soon anyway, so maybe that will just be rolled in?

[Steve binnette]

Since  these are SB they are not mandatory.   Unless you operate as a 135. They could become ADs.

It affect a lot of engines.  With not much time to comply.

No mention of the cost to comply.

[donv]

Frequently, it seems like these service bulletins seem all scary, and then you find out that they are mandating some part that they started making in the early 1990s and if you've had a hot section since then, you are fine.

But I just don't know in this case. I've reached out to Aero Air and asked them to reach out to National, but I was hoping Bruce or someone would come on here and be able to provide some clarity.

[Steve binnette]

One of them has an original date of 2014 the other is 2017.  This revision dated 2020 just includes some additional engines.

I asked Naples jet center and they seemed to think it was nothing new. “ If a part is found defective during inspection replace it with the new one”.

My engines were overhauled in 2015 so I hope the plenum one does not apply. 

I guess a looks at the part numbers from engine logs might shed some light on these SBs.

[donv]

I'm pretty sure your engines are fine, given that overhaul date. Since I'm going to do hot sections pretty soon (probably this summer), it's of real interest to me.

[Bruce Byerly]

I think it’s up to the operator.  It’s a shame that the bulletin isn’t published with the background as sometimes it helps determine if there is value vs. panic over a few parts that failed after 40,000 cycles.  There is always a story behind the bulletins.  I do not know of many replacing low time 1st stage wheels with new.

[donv]

So it turns out that both of my engines need 1st stage wheels and the combustion chambers. Obviously I don't HAVE to do it, since my airplane is 91 (for now, anyway), and they are just service bulletins. There is some chance that they become ADs, in which case I will need to do them.

The total is about $70k/side for those service bulletins.

It doesn't seem reasonable to do a hot section and not do them, so I am probably going to go ahead.

I would like to know how many airplanes this applies to, though.

[SKYFLYER]

The price of becoming a star with the stec stc.

I think your serial number is the only one listed.

Actually I think you are correct doing it at the "hots" that is what I would do. But is does add a chunk to the cost for the inspection.

[Adam Frisch]

Don, can you share the quoted prices for the 1st stage wheel on the -10's? If I recall correctly, it's somewhere in the $20K region, right?

[donv]

First stage wheel is $50k, sadly.

[Adam Frisch]

Holy smokes.

[Bruce Byerly]

So it turns out that both of my engines need 1st stage wheels and the combustion chambers. Obviously I don't HAVE to do it, since my airplane is 91 (for now, anyway), and they are just service bulletins. There is some chance that they become ADs, in which case I will need to do them.

The total is about $70k/side for those service bulletins.

It doesn't seem reasonable to do a hot section and not do them, so I am probably going to go ahead.

I would like to know how many airplanes this applies to, though.

I don’t see it becoming an AD from everything I’ve heard.

[donv]

Bruce, if you were doing hot sections would you not do those bulletins?

I believe that will foreclose any possibility of the airplane being used 135, and maybe in other applications-- do you think that will have an impact on the value of the airplane?

[Bruce Byerly]

Bruce, if you were doing hot sections would you not do those bulletins?

I believe that will foreclose any possibility of the airplane being used 135, and maybe in other applications-- do you think that will have an impact on the value of the airplane?

I would absolutely not do the wheels as it stands today Don.  Honeywell is trying to sell parts as well as address an issue in a market segment that doesn’t include you. I get it.  Other than forestry, the plane’s 135 utility is extremely limited - if - and do mean if - it mattered. That  is not totally settled either.  Not an issue imho for a low time corporate/personal Commander. Keep your money. There are plenty of other things to spend it on.  What I would do is what makes sense and that would include the work that restores efficiency. Those shiny new and expensive wheels are going to get you exactly zero speed. But the smart money does those things that can get you 10 knots!   

[donv]

Would you do the combustion chamber?