Sell her, or install a new donk!

Talk about airplanes! At last count, there are 39 (and growing) FAA certificated S-LSA (special light sport aircraft). These are factory-built ready to fly airplanes. If you can't afford a factory-built LSA, consider buying an E-LSA kit (experimental LSA - up to 99% complete).

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jfleming
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Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by jfleming »

Hey all,

So my Sportstar will come to it's age of 15 years in about 3 years, and the Rotax 912 ULS has a TBO of 15 years. So it raises the question - To sell, or to install a new motor.

The entire aircraft has only done 250 hours (had 160 on it when I picked her up) so the airframe is in very good condition.

This is my first aircraft - I would love to hear your thoughts?

Cheers
John
TimTaylor
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by TimTaylor »

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it for 2+ years. Lots can happen in that amount of time.
Retired from flying.
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MrMorden
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by MrMorden »

jfleming wrote:Hey all,

So my Sportstar will come to it's age of 15 years in about 3 years, and the Rotax 912 ULS has a TBO of 15 years. So it raises the question - To sell, or to install a new motor.
Do neither. Continue running the current engine "on condition". It's perfectly safe and legal to do so. The 15 year time limit is an engine manufacturer recommendation, and is not regulatory. Only the *aircraft* manufacturer can set maintenance intervals, not individual component manufacturers (in this case Rotax).
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
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drseti
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by drseti »

As it happens, I am scheduled to present an EAA webinar next week on this very subject. Title is "What TBO Really Means (or, why I bought a whole new airplane)". Wed 14 March, 20:00 hours Eastern Daylight time. FAA WINGS and AMT Award credit offered. You can sign up online at http://EAA.org/webinars.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
jfleming
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by jfleming »

Thanks guys,

@drseti - I won't be able to make that Webinar sadly. Are you able to elaborate a little?

Cheers
John
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drseti
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by drseti »

John, my webinars are all recorded, and videos posted online. The day after the presentation, it will be available linked from the archives at http://eaa.org/webinars.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
3Dreaming
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by 3Dreaming »

MrMorden wrote:
jfleming wrote:Hey all,

So my Sportstar will come to it's age of 15 years in about 3 years, and the Rotax 912 ULS has a TBO of 15 years. So it raises the question - To sell, or to install a new motor.
Do neither. Continue running the current engine "on condition". It's perfectly safe and legal to do so. The 15 year time limit is an engine manufacturer recommendation, and is not regulatory. Only the *aircraft* manufacturer can set maintenance intervals, not individual component manufacturers (in this case Rotax).

Andy, I think he is from the land down under. The rules may be different down there.
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MrMorden
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by MrMorden »

3Dreaming wrote: Andy, I think he is from the land down under. The rules may be different down there.
Ah. That's sad if they force pilots to toss perfectly good engines just because of some arbitrary time limit. I'd suggest an overhaul, but on a Rotax 912 that is rarely economical compared to new engine cost. Is there an option for "disassembly and inspect/replace parts as needed", rather than "the engine must be scrapped"?

Sometimes I think our energy and pollution problems would be far less severe if we'd just stop discarding perfectly usable items, especially ones with such huge energy requirements to produce like engines...
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
jfleming
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by jfleming »

I will be my engineer in a week or two to do the annual, and I will ask what options I have.

Cheers
John.
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MrMorden
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by MrMorden »

jfleming wrote:I will be my engineer in a week or two to do the annual, and I will ask what options I have.

Cheers
John.
Good luck, I hope you have options you like!
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
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drdehave
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by drdehave »

drseti wrote:As it happens, I am scheduled to present an EAA webinar next week on this very subject. Title is "What TBO Really Means (or, why I bought a whole new airplane)". Wed 14 March, 20:00 hours Eastern Daylight time. FAA WINGS and AMT Award credit offered. You can sign up online at http://EAA.org/webinars.
I just concluded your seminar, Paul. Kudos to you, sir, you are the man! And thanks too, for answering the question I submitted about my 2300+ hour engine. I was thrilled to learn I'm pretty much doing everything I should be doing, in my pursuit of an "on condition" life past 2,000 hours.--Rich
Sting Flight (Flying the Sting LSA)
http://www.youtube.com/user/9162069934/featured
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drseti
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by drseti »

Thanks for tuning in, Rich - glad you found it useful. It's a good thing I didn't know it was you asking that question, or I might have given a different answer. ;)
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Wm.Ince
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Re: Sell her, or install a new donk!

Post by Wm.Ince »

drseti wrote:Thanks for tuning in, Rich - glad you found it useful. It's a good thing I didn't know it was you asking that question, or I might have given a different answer. ;)
Good stuff, Paul! I attended also. :D
Thanks for your contribution to our flying community. Looking forward to the next one.
Bill Ince
LSRI
Retired Heavy Equipment Operator
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