912 CDI (SMD) Failures

My thanks again Kevin - a comprehensive response to my questions.

I note you have not commented/speculated on Ignitech module durability. Assuming equal to Rotax/Ducati, your 1-5 points are very attractive.

Mark Kyle is still around. He has sold Kyle Communications. Last I heard, he was promoting E-Props

Initial reports of the Ignitech units are favorable but there is still only a relatively small population and they have only been installed for a few years. Time will tell if they turn out to be more reliable or not. Given their much lower cost replacement will be cheaper.

A quick poll on the Eurostar FB forum revealed:

0 failed modules: 60%

1 failed module: 23%

2 failed modules: 10%

3 or more failed modules: 6%

Some owners took advantage of the special pricing on modules a few years ago but most are now fitting the Ignitech modules. Only time will tell how reliable they are but I suspect that they will be good since the manufacturer specialises in ignition units and has been making them for years.

Wow! A 40% failure rate of one or more modules. In the automotive sphere that would be cause for a "recall" / free upgrade.

My faith in Rotax has been shaken by your statistics. I am "gobsmacked" that Rotax appear not to have not taken very strong corrective actions on this matter.

You don't state a time span (an important omission) but whatever the time there are two significant shadow facts; This is an aircraft, component failure is not just an annoying inconvenience, it can be fatal AND the very high cost of OM module replacement.

But you would need to know what caused each failure. Poor cowl design and too much heat. Poor wiring job on home builds, poor maintenance. Without this info the figures don't mean a lot. You wouldn't need a recall if 35% was caused by someone else vs the module mfg.

You need more facts to support a reasonable final conclusion.