About a month ago developed an issue on the start on the Right Engine would not spool up at the speed I generally observe so I thought I would get a hung start so I shut it down. Tried the Left engine it worked. Fired up normally. Then with Gen on the left side turned on got he right engine started but still it seemed a bit slow.
Flipped the battery switch to series and the right engine would start up but seemed a bit slow getting going. Once it got going everything seemed normal. Called Burce and Scott at Byerly in Peoria and flew it over to see if it was the batteries or the battery relay. The batteries on my 690B are new so that was determined not be an issue. According to Ryan at Byerly it was not getting enough fuel on the start.
So first they sent the Fuel Sensor Unit or probe (Not sure if I am using the right terminology) to the Bendix authorized repair center. Apparently there is only one shop that works on Bendix fuel control systems in the US. They have a monopoly and they seem to take full advantage of the fact that they are the only one's that are authorized to work on these.
Ryan sent both the Fuel Sensor units to get bench tested and the right one failed. So that had to be reworked or whatever they do - $ 12,000 spent. It came back was put on the airplane did not fix the problem. Ryan did not want to send the Fuel Control's because he said they always find faults and he wanted to see if this would remedy the issue. Next came the fuel control unit.
They could take mine and work on it but it would be 3 weeks. That would cost $ 36,000 or send me one they had as replacement off the shelf for $ 46,000. I did not want the aircraft down so opted for the $ 46,000 option. (Foolish decision now in hindsight)
It came back was put back on the airplane still it did not fix the issue. According to Byerly it was not rigged right. They kept going back and forth finally got Honeywell Tech's on the line still this company that was paid $ 46,000 would not accept that the fuel control unit was not rigged correctly. They charged Byerly $ 3,000 for whatever adjustment Byerly tech had made during rigging. They had to bench test it again and again re certify it. I guess anytime you put a new fuel control unit on you have to re rig a bunch of stuff. That messes up other setting.
Next the props would not come off the locks. So they went and looked at the prop govner. Ryan offered me the option that one of the Byerly techs could work on it and try to get it to work or they would send to the shop that works on these and have it done there on the bench. I chose the recommended safer route of paying to get it done by the shop that work on these. Atleast this shop tuned the prop govner around in 2 days.
Finally after a month and a half $ 71,000 spent just brought it back today. Seems to fly better and the yaw that I was getting when I pulled the power back is reduced. It seems that this company abuses everyone across the board and gave Byerly Aviation a very hard time and would not accept any responsibility. From what I have been told this is not the first time and these folks are not the most pleasant people to deal with. I don't know their name. I would imagine Bruce would know exactly who this company.
I bought my 690B on July 1, 2021 and since then I have put 120 hours on it. Apparently with Bendix fuel control Unit this issue can happen if you don't fly a lot. I have been working out some of the things that have come up because I just don't want to kick the can down the road. Prior to my purchasing the airplane may be it sat and did not fly a lot in the past couple of years.
So far if I was to count I have spent about $ 110,000 since July 2021. One was the AC that went after I started flying. Got the compressor replaced, fuel hose leak so had to get that done and all the carpet in the baggage area. And some other but relatively minor stuff. Before I bought it the previous owner had to fix about $ 160,000 in discrepancies.
Bruce felt it was a good -10 with updated avionics and low hours on the engines. I am happy with the purchase still just some of these issues are frustrating. The AC, Fuel hose or this Fuel Control Unit issue not really something that would come up in a pre buy because from what I can tell all the issue were addressed before the purchase.
I had a similar thing with a Malibu I owned. It had not flown much by the previous owner and the first year of ownership it was just one thing after another until I got all the issue workout. Then besides oil change and some minor squawks it was trouble free.
While they were at it I wanted the right engine again scoped just for my piece of mind. I never had a hung start but I may to be a fault am cautious. Everything was good on the borescope inspection.
Happy the airplane is back but sometimes with these just throwing money at these problems does not necessarily fix things right away. Not sure if it's just me but the first year of airplane ownership is frustrating at best. Not sure if anyone else has experienced this fuel control problem. I am hoping this takes care of the issue.
