Similar to most other human endeavours, aviation also has its share of widely held truths that scientific evidence does not support. They are known as aviation myths. Why do people continue to believe them? Well we are all busy with our everyday activities, so it would be tedious and time-consuming to sift through heaps of information to confirm what’s true.
There are many misconceptions about aircraft engines in the aviation sector, even though some of them are more like differences of opinion than actual myths. Being professional aviation welding specialists, we consider it our responsibility to debunk these myths. So let's look at some of the myths that surround the aircraft engine.
High Rpm Increases Wear
This one appears to be accurate and in a way, it is, but let's take a closer look. Metal components in an engine must be kept apart by a thin coating of oil or they won't run very long. Metal-to-metal contact will cause catastrophic failure in a matter of seconds.
Therefore, where does this increased wear originate from, and should we be worried about it? Does oil corrode metal? Yes, perhaps over a thousand years. Before considering whether high rpm produces abnormally high engine wear, there were many more operational considerations to be concerned about.
This effect is at least third-order, so there doesn't appear to be a good reason to lower the rpm in response to that worry.
Engine Failure Always Leads To A Disastrous Accident
Small aircraft typically only have one engine, but commercial and big aircraft often have two or four, enabling them to go farther and transport more people.
Did you know that all airplanes, irrespective of their size, are built with a variety of backups and fail-safes? As a result, multi-engine aircraft have enough power for one engine to fly well. And even if all the engines stop working, they can still glide for a long time, giving the pilots time to make an emergency landing. In actuality, comprehensive training on how to fly a multi-engine plane in the case of total engine failure has been provided to all qualified pilots for such aircraft.
Lightning Strikes Cause Engine Failure
Aircraft components differ from those used in other modes of transportation. You may not be aware that every 1,000 hours of flying, or around once a year, lightning strikes are predicted to strike every aircraft. Fortunately, its outside structure acts as a superb electrical conductor, allowing electricity to travel through the aircraft without damaging the cabin or engine.
In summary, aircraft are safer than any other form of transportation. According to research, the likelihood of dying in a commercial jet disaster is one in 3.37 billion, compared to one in 107 in a vehicle accident, which makes it quite safe.
Turbo Cools Down
Nobody appears to be certain of the origin of the notion that a turbocharger, especially one hidden behind a tight cowl, cools off after a flight when left idle for any period. Contrarily, there is strong evidence to suggest that a turbo's coolest moment is after a low-power approach, which occurs right before the plane lands and turns off the runway. Nobody has shown any evidence to the contrary thus far.
Before this was ever known, turbocharged aircraft were operated for many years without experiencing any negative consequences from pulling off the runway, making a direct taxi to a nearby hangar, and then shutting down. No evidence indicates that turbo problems were a bigger issue.
Do Not Ever Lean Above 75%
When starting from scratch with an engine design, one of the first decisions made by the designer is what cylinder pressures can be anticipated for long-term durability. Following the establishment of red lines and operational parameters, these pressure limitations are controlled.
Leaning the engine from its full-rich takeoff power mixture produces more power than the engine is rated for as well as greater internal cylinder pressure than intended. The universal advice not to lean over 75% power is not a bad one.
An engine at a lower power level, below 75% and lean, will have a higher chance of staying in one piece. According to data collected through measurements, an engine operating at 85% power with proper LOP experiences much less internal cylinder pressure tension than one running at 75% power at 50 degrees.
About Us
Acorn Welding provides professional welding and aviation welding services to ensure that delicate procedures are handled properly. Acorn Welding is committed to ensuring total customer satisfaction by serving as a trustworthy supplier of components with unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and airworthiness.
If you want to make your engine flawless, contact us now, and we’ll make sure you enjoy the best of your aircraft engine.
