Whether you are the owner of an aircraft or an operator, having basic knowledge of aircraft components and structure is important. May it be the engine, engine exhaust system, or hardware, everything needs proper care and maintenance to work efficiently.
Read More: How Essential Is Inspection For Your Aircraft’s Exhaust System?
Similarly, the engine mount, an integral part of the airframe, is worthy of proper maintenance, inspections, and repairs.
Whether you have the engine open for regular maintenance or an emergency repair, this would serve as the best opportunity to have it (that spider-web-like structure that keeps attached to the firewall after the engine) inspected and repaired.
In this regard, it would be wise to entrust these repairs and replacements to a reputed aviation welding technician.
Why Does An Engine Mount Matter?
An aircraft’s engine mount is the only structure that holds the engine and other power plant components in place. It is an integral part of the airframe attached with only a few bolts to the aircrafts’ body.
Why Inspect An Engine Mount?
Do you want to know a simple recipe for disaster? Let an aircraft owner head into the wild blue yonder with a defected aircraft. Engine mounts go through some of the harshest operational conditions. They are subjected to extreme heat, load-bearing stresses, and corrosive gasses. Owing to all these circumstances, it is easy to understand that the reliability and structural integrity of an engine mount will decrease over time. In turn, the latter makes its maintenance and repairs even more crucial.
To the untrained eye, it is very easy to overlook any hidden defects under the paint and carbon build-ups. Your engine mount is subjected to abuse regularly. Due to harsh working conditions, the engine mount will be subjected to pitting and fatigue due to corrosion on its components, and cracks due to stress on tubbing, cabling, or moving metal parts.
The Inspection Process
The hidden nature of engine mount defects makes inspection a crucial process. The general steps in the engine mount inspection process are as follows;
- The first step is the removal of the engine mount from the aircraft. This is done by removing the bolts at the attachment point of the firewall.
- Before moving on to significant inspection, it is advised to let the engine mount go through the sandblasting process. It will provide two benefits.
- One, it will remove all the paint, chemical, and carbon build-up from the surface, exposing the metal surface and defects.
- Second, it will clear the chramology. So, if repairs are needed clean, good, and strong welds will take place.
- Some other tests recommended by federal airworthiness advisors include; magnet or mag particle inspection.
- Mag inspection helps to uncover the defects in the welded parts and seams.
Inspection For Tabular Structure Points
Now that your engine mount has been sandblasted or undergone magnet and mag inspection, the next step is to inspect tabular structure parts of the engine mount for corrosion and pitting. Tube sections with pitting and voids exceeding 10% of the tube thickness should be replaced. At the same time, weld joints should be inspected for cracks.
Assessing Needed Repairs
Now that the preliminary inspection is completed, it is time to contemplate the needed repairs. The sandblasting has cleared the areas requiring repairs. However, make sure to replace the tube with the same size and design requirements. Never replace the existing tubes with those having greater size as compared to the recommended design and size by the manufacturer.
Weld Repairs
Weld repairs of the aircraft engine mount are done using the TIG welding method. Weldments provide clear and strong joints. TIG welding allows for a beaded seamless welding result. However, TIG Welding for engine mounts requires skill and patience. So, get it done by trusted aviation welding professionals.
About Acorn Welding
Acorn Welding is a globally renowned welding service and aircraft parts provider. We have a team of qualified aviation welding technicians who repair and maintain your aircraft. We are also a Transport Canada Civil Aviation approved manufacturer. Acorn Welding holds ratings for Welding, Components, NDT, and Structures, as well as distribution of aviation parts.
Acorn Welding is an aviation welding company in Edmonton, Canada. We provide aircraft welding, product design, and manufacturing capabilities for different aircraft. If you would like to learn more about our services, contact us here.
