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912 ULS Blew up!

in 912 / 914 Technical Questions 10 years ago
While taxiing on idle yesterday, we heard a loud bang. It felt like we hit something. The engine kept running, we immediately shut the engine down, went down to inspect the plane.

We were shocked to see engine oil all over the tail and a huge crack in the drive and crank case of my 912 ULS. There are no signs that there was a prop strike of any kind. There are no damage signs anywhere on the prop!

This is a well maintained and card for 912 ULS with 135 hours on it only!

The engine is coming off to be sent to a Rotax service centre.

We were so lucky this did not happen on takeoff! This engine scares me now, what could cause it to explode like this leaving a crack more than 1/16 of an inch wide running through the top of the drive right through the crank case?

Needless to say I am very upset about this and now regret ever buying a 912 ULS!!





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  • Re: 912 ULS Blew up!

    by » 10 years ago

    wow~, that's hard to believe engine explosion of a rotax 912 while it actually happened, feel terrible to hear that.
    :(
    hope someone could find the reason.
      
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  • Re: 912 ULS Blew up!

    by » 10 years ago

    Any work done on the engine since new , besides line maintenance manual type maintenance ?
      
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  • Re: 912 ULS Blew up!

    by » 10 years ago

    I did not own the engine since new. But according to the logbook no work was done on the engine besides normal maintenance.
      
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  • Re: 912 ULS Blew up!

    by » 10 years ago

    Hi Claude,

    Sorry for your problem. This is extremely unusual.


    Something to look at.
    What year engine is it? If this a pretty new engine I would be really shocked. Even if it is out of warranty Rotax may help you so wait until all the info is in. This is where good records help to is when you need help from Rotax. Poor records or good ones can make a difference.
    Back between 2004 - 2012 there are some gearbox SB's that may apply to you. Check the SB's from back then and see if your engine falls into any of these.Check to see if they have ever done any gearbox miant. Call the last owner. Here is where good records can really help even if they write in the logbook the SB and say it doesn't apply.

    Unless this is a fairly new engine regardless of hours maybe the past owner didn't check these?


    p.s.
    Don't just rip the gearbox apart. Have a Rotax tech do it because he should know what he is looking for and you want to look for the cause and not just at broken parts.

    Roger Lee
    LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC
    Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN)
    520-349-7056 Cell

      
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  • Re: 912 ULS Blew up!

    by » 10 years ago

    Hi Roger,

    The engine is a 2002, to the best of my knowledge all the applicable SBs were applied.

    I am sending it to Rotech Research in BC, would they be able to tell if the engine has major work done on it. The logbook does not reflect that.

    Regards,
    Claude
      
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