PA-28 ; small chip on prop

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kenco
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PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by kenco »

Hello,

I was looking at at PA-28 that I was interested in buying and noticed that the prop had a small rasin sized chip about 2" from the tip. Would I need to get this prop fixed or does it need to be replaced totally.

Thanks,
Ken.
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deflux
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Re: PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by deflux »

If its small enough they can file it out. It's very hard to say without seeing the prop...
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Dr. Mcillicuddy
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Re: PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by Dr. Mcillicuddy »

get out the four inch makita grinder, have at it. :smt040 :smt040
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bombardierfixer
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Re: PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by bombardierfixer »

LOL, just make sure you take off the same amount on the other blade. Wrap a bag around the grinding disk and measure the dust after :smt040 :smt040
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Hedley
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Re: PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by Hedley »

I suspect it would be out of spec if you tried to file it out
(keep in mind the 1 in 10 rule of thumb) but hopefully I'm
wrong.

Personally I would take the prop off to a prop shop
to deal with a "raisin"-sized chunk missing from a prop
tip.
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iflyforpie
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Re: PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by iflyforpie »

This is a very critical area that is under the most stress. It is important that you have the damage assessed and repaired correctly. The tip of the prop departing could impart enough force to remove the engine from its mount. :shock:

For negotiating purposes, take a picture of the chip and the model number of the prop and ask around at prop shops for an estimate or whether it is repairable. We had roughly the same damage to our rear Skymaster prop, and it was dressed and returned to service after overhaul.
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Geez did I say that....? Or just think it....?
kenco
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Re: PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by kenco »

Thanks iflyforpie. I'll do just that.

Ken.
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Hedley
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Re: PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by Hedley »

It depends how much meat is still left on the prop.

If it's never been dressed before, you might get
away with it being cut down, and still wide enough
for spec. I would send it to a prop shop and let
a pro fix it.
The tip of the prop departing could impart
enough force to remove the engine from its mount
I was at an airshow a few years ago, and a really
nice guy asked me to fly his new Christen Eagle II
(think homebuilt Pitts S-2A with no dihedral and
a wider cockpit) so I did. Very gently, because it
had the standard 2-blade metal prop - no snap
rolls, no tumbles, no torque rolls, no tailslides,
no aggressive spins.

About a year later, as best as he can figure out,
the prop hub cracked and blade left. The engine
departed the airframe immediately after. The
resulting incredibly aft C of G was not controllable,
so he got out at around 1,000 and parachuted
down.

I would send it to a prop shop.
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iflyforpie
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Re: PA-28 ; small chip on prop

Post by iflyforpie »

When you take the picture, put a steel 6 inch ruler below it so they know the size of the damage.
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