In a message dated 4/23/2005 3:00:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
europa-list-digest@matronics.com writes:
> A word of caution to 914 users. The exclusive use of 100LL fuel WILL
> sooner
> or later cause "sticking" of the turbo wastegate butterfly valve. When this
>
> happens, you will not have a flyable airplane.
>
> This happened to a guy who used to fly sailplanes from our field. After he
> sold his last sailplane he owned a 914 powered Katana motorglider for a while.
> On a flight back from Florida he stopped somewhere in South Georgia to
> refuel. Upon departure, at about 1800' agl, the waste gate stuck closed, the
> engine over boosted and snapped the crank. Fortunately, he was able to glide
back
> to the airport. The engine was ruined. He told me he was aware of the
> possibility of the waste gate sticking when using 100LL, but it happened so
> fast
he
> couldn't respond quickly enough to save the engine.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Lawton
> Dunlap, TN
> A-245 (Glass is in, control surfaces filled, just about to cook them for the
> second time)
>
> Left to do: Paint and upholstery, engine and prop.
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