Is this the end of microlighting in S.A. ?

[Leprachaun]

Hi Guys , just had a word with Neil at aeroclub, Braam at CAA and things are really cooking.
Monday I managed to pass a 503 with 354 hours on the clock - not without a fight though , Things are cooking now Mike and lawers, and Neil from aeroclub paid CAA a visit and it seems as if there is light in the tunnel - a week or so and we can breathe again ,
But what about the Verner - yes a good engine from Europe at 80 hp and trouble free flying - Pity previous agent wasnt into marketing or we would all be flying Verners.
I am in the process or ordering a new trike with a non Rotax substitute , but need help in getting the Verner in and fitted
Pictures of previous fitment bfore Mr Verner RSA decided to kill it
Wander who has thatVerner ???
Is it available as I would like to buy and try for commercial / training
Leprachaun

[ACE]

...Monday I managed to pass a 503 with 354 hours on the clock - not without a fight though , Things are cooking now Mike and lawers, and Neil from aeroclub paid CAA a visit and it seems as if there is light in the tunnel - a week or so and we can breathe again ,

Hey this is welcome news - so far !!

Bloody good on yer Leprachaun

[rainier]

Hi Guys , just had a word with Neil at aeroclub, Braam at CAA and things are really cooking.

Awsome !
I really, really hope this is going to get sorted out. I can't take any more of it.

Rainier

[Leprachaun]

Things to look at when submitting you ATF is
correct log entries filters, plugs , fan and gearbox oil changes as an example
The AP needs to state aircraft - ZU- DGB inspected in accordance with CAA and Manufactures specifications and Passed - sighn and stamp
That means that the AP has checked services according to manufactures spec s>>>>
If the engine is over the 300 hrs , specify what you have checked and replaced .
Gudgeon pins , circlips , rings , gaskets ,fanbelt / fan bearings , crank bearings and seals - nowhere, and I have confirmednowhere is it stated that the crankmust be replaced on a 503 at 300 hrs??? Check the clearences and needle rollers ???
/ Dont forget the gearbox bearings and seals as per MR Cathro , and you should be OK
The manual states if any part has worn 80% , replace so use your discretion and measure . The manual gives the wear limits .
Enjoy reading your manuals this weekend
Leprachaun

[skybound®]

That should do it Lep. Just the cost of doing all those items is still pretty expensive though and may hurt if not accustomed to it.

According to the manual I have it is 60% wear. Do you have a later copy saying that 80% is ok?

[rainier]

That should do it Lep. Just the cost of doing all those items is still pretty expensive though and may hurt if not accustomed to it.

According to the manual I have it is 60% wear. Do you have a later copy saying that 80% is ok?

60% wear sounds right if I remember correctly.

Rainier

[John Young]

In the Rotax Maintenance Manual for 503 & 582 there is no mention of replacing the crank.

See pages 10.2 "maintenance schedule"
&
11.32 Inspect crankshaft and replace outer seals".

There is only INSPECTION mentioned.

Now why is there a big issue?

[rainier]

In the Rotax Maintenance Manual for 503 & 582 there is no mention of replacing the crank.

See pages 10.2 "maintenance schedule"
&
11.32 Inspect crankshaft and replace outer seals".

There is only INSPECTION mentioned.

Now why is there a big issue?

You are correct (for the "new" manual introduced with the 582 model 99 which includes 503 and 447).
There is an older manual for the 582 floating around that mentions crank replacement. One can assume this does not apply for the model 99 as the crank in the later versions of the engine has been considerably improved. It is certainly true that first issues of the 582 and the 532 that was the forerunner of the 582 had some genuine issues with the crank.

Niren - if you are reading this - can you perhaps give an indication when the new cranks got into these things ? I know there have been several crank versions - some with only minor updates as well. Would be useful to have a list of serial numbers stating when what chages have ben done (could be really useful for an AP).

It is clear that there has been some confusion as to the whole crank repacement issue. Oh well, I was going to use mine as a paper weight - have to think of something else now.

Rainier

[lamercyfly]

So perhaps the knowledgable Mr Cathro would like to inform us whether he is going to be like the rest of the gang at CAA and just enforce this as per his personal flavour of the day, or perhaps he is going to actually study the operators manual and enforce it as a whole. Because if he is ging to only enforce sections of it, then he and the entire section at CAA can go to h**l.

If he chooses the legally correct option, then he had better make sure that we all use 'approved' fuel containers, that we first put just a little fuel into the container, then we add the oil, then we agitate the fuel/oil mix, then we add the balance of the fuel (through a metal strainer I might add), then we agitate again, and then we pour into the tank through a funnel with a metal strainer, and don't forget further down it mentions through a chamois cloth as well so that any 'naughty' water may be prevented from entering the fuel tank.

Now, I might add once again, that if 'safety was their paramount concern', that a national campaign to educate and elighten us on the correct procedures of refueling, would most probably lead to a 50% reduction in engine failure related incidents/accidents. NOT waste everybody ruddy time chasing the friggin' crank and other stupid overkill requirements!!

Maybe he will also ground all local manufactured trikes as well because the distance between the fuel tank and the engine exceeds the maximum height........forget the fact that over 1000 of them have accumulated 10's of thousands of hours just fine the way they are

And I go on and on and on........

Scrap the crap, stop trying to comply with bulls**t. Stand your ground guys.

Lep, so what did you achieve? Nothing unreasonable. Your application met with their interpretation of the required laws. This still requires a total strip down at 300 hours, WHICH IS STILL RUDDY BOLLOCKS!!!

Lets see what comes of the meeting later this month.........

[Pumba]

This is in response to Leprechaun asking about the Verner. I have it, and it is fitted onto my Safari. See attached pictures.

I fitted it in May, did a number of test runs on it and got a proving ATF for 20 hrs in July. I have since flown the required 20 hrs, and there is nothing to report. It runs beautifully. Incredible torque, and ultra low fuel burn. Cruises at 4000 rpm, straight and level.

Initially I had some cooling problems on the one cylinder (high CHT) and high oil temperatures.

These have been solved by fitting a scoop over the left cylinder to channel airfow over, and onto the rear of the cylinder, and repositioning the oil cooler.

If anyone wishes to fit one of these engines, please contact me; I've learnt a lot in the process, and I believe this knowledge would apply to fitting a HKS or BMW motorcycle engine too.

TBO? 1000hrs! And the manual does not require a crank replacement when the 1000 hrs are over

Leprechaun, I still have the Aquila engine mount used to fit this engine to your trike available if you are interested.

Guys, don't loose heart here. I spent 2 years in the USA, and arrived there just as they were implementing new legislation. Most UL pilots there were flying illegally under their FAA Rule 103, and when the authorities clamped down on them, it was chaos. I saw this settling down from absolute mayhem to stability where the new rules were understood and implemented.

In our case, this Part 24 is maybe illogical, but like any other legislation it can be challenged and changed with enough, and properly applied pressure. Stand together, and work these issues as a united front. Rainier' idea and the database Jay is putting together is the right approach.
Fly safe,
Barry

[John Boucher]

David

Ditto on all.... I can however live with a total strip down at 300 hours but not with a total rebuild at 300 hours. To be quite honest IMHO if the 150 hour replaced the 300 hour then things would seem or sound better. By this I mean, get rid of the 150 hour and do it at 300 hours - but then only strip and inspect. To hell with the replace crank issue.

I have previously stated that CXO flew 750 hours trouble free hours without all this rigmarole only to have it replaced with a unnecessary short block which seems to deliver different power to the one it replaced. Maybe all in the mind? I can live with an odd R 15000 every 300 hours but not with R 15 000 at 150 hours and R 37 000 at 300 hours!

[Mike Cordeiro]

In the Rotax Maintenance Manual for 503 & 582 there is no mention of replacing the crank.

See pages 10.2 "maintenance schedule"
&
11.32 Inspect crankshaft and replace outer seals".

There is only INSPECTION mentioned.

Now why is there a big issue?

You reading the Rotax manual that came with your 582 "99".
You must refer to the "Rotax heavy maintenance manual" that you get when you do a Rotax course. That`s the manual that you must read when you overhaull your engine @ 300Hrs and yes it does state that the crank must be replaced @ that amount of hours.

[John Boucher]

A BMW GS1200 engine with fuel injection could really do the trick?

I don't think the fitting would be much different to the Verner? Zulu1 can sort out the fuel injection?

Gets one thinking....

[John Boucher]

Different manual for NTCA - should there not be 1 for each type or is this similar to Eskom?

Sorry old chap you must sleep at 20h00 at night.... The doctor says you're getting toooo much shut eye..... Eskom says I never said 20h00.... Ooops guys get generators to solve the problem.... No says PetroSA, you going to make your problem our problem - And all we want to do is FLY?

[Mike Cordeiro]

Different manual for NTCA - should there not be 1 for each type or is this similar to Eskom?

Sorry old chap you must sleep at 20h00 at night.... The doctor says you're getting toooo much shut eye..... Eskom says I never said 20h00.... Ooops guys get generators to solve the problem.... No says PetroSA, you going to make your problem our problem - And all we want to do is FLY?

NO, when you buy a new car, the manual also doesn`t tell you how to overhaull the engine? or does it? You need to revert to a heavy maintenance manual.