Continental 0-200 engine

[pdurdey]

Hi
I have a Luscombe with a Continental 0-200 engine that I have imported from the US.
It has to go on a CAA CoA. The engine has done about 1100 hours since installation and has been annually approved in the US. The CAA inspector who initially saw the engine earlier this year considered it would be fine to continue, but has now emailed to say that as the engine is over 12 years old it will have to undergo a complete overhaul. My engineer is querying this as he considers the engine to be perfectly OK and understands that the calendar life applies only to Lycoming engines not Continentals
Can anyone help clarify
Thanks

Paul

[John Dean]

Does this Service Bulletin help at all.

It seems to indicate a time before overhaul for the O-200 as 1800hrs (or 2000hrs) or 12 years whichever comes first.

[Beagle100boy]

Hello Paul/John,

The SB that John is reffering to is correct at 2000 Hrs or 12 Years from the date of "installation", I would check the log books to see what the first date of use was. If your engine is 12 years plus then it will need overhauling as to maintain the C of A you must maintain the aircraft/engine/equipment in accordance with the manufacturers published data.

Do you have an approved maintenance programme for your aircraft?

Regards

Paul

[pdurdey]

Hi
That is extremely helpful. I will get the engine overhauled.
I have not yet set up an appproved maintenance programme, it is currently with Tiger Airways in Gloucester who have been very good and are quite close

Regards

paul

[ian herdis]

Can you not run a Continental "on condition" as with a Lycoming which would have an annual cylinder pressure test.

Ian

[Beagle100boy]

Good afternoon Ian,

I think what you are reffering to was under the auspices of Airwortiness Notice 35, this enabled owner/operators of private cat aircraft to operate beyond the recomended overhaul periods. It was always more than just a cylinder pressure test and if a mandatory SB was issued for the engine (whilst on extension) then it was to overhaul straight away. AWN have now been withdrawn and you are left with the manufacturers maintenance data which has already been covered.
Having worked with the 0-200 then I would not want to operate beyond the 12 years despite approximatel only half of the overhaul hours bieng used, its a 2 way thing used regularly and completing the 2000 hours in 12 years then it is a fine little engine. Irregular and small operating times are not good for any internal combustion engines and its what's inside the engine that you can't see which gives cause for concern.

I'm no expert but I have seen worn out camshafts at 1,000 hours and 10 years old, prop strike engine at 1400 hours and 8 years old which the owner had to pay for beacause the crankshaft was out of limits and the insurance company wouldn't pay because it was not caused by the prop strike, 1600 hours and 10 years old severly corroded engine internals requiring an expensive overhaul to name but a few.

Regards

Paul

[Harry Hopkins]

Paul,

If your a/c is with Tiger Airways and they're close to where you live, may I invite you to pay a visit to The Gloster Strut. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and the next meeting may well start at Tiger's hangar but has yet to be confirmed. If you're interested please email me at:

[email protected]

Best wishes,

Harry