New DA-62 AD

[TimS]

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guida ... enDocument

Timing Chain replacement/inspection due to windmilling restarts

[rdrobson]

I hope it's not standard procedure to do a windmilling restart during factory release testing.

--Ron

[jb642DA]

I hope it's not standard procedure to do a windmilling restart during factory release testing.

--Ron

I was wondering the same thing! Since accepting plane, we haven't done any windmill restarts.
Good question for DAI Canada!

[CFIDave]

Windmilling engine restarts *used* to be my preferred way to restart a shut-down engine in my DA42-VI. It's easier than using the starter and doesn't run the risk of stripping starter gears if the prop is moving when engaging the starter. Of course I did this long before Diamond published documents stating that this might stretch the engine's timing chain (requiring early replacement).

With my DA62, I've been careful to only ever use the starter for engine restart in flight. My plane is used extensively for demos -- where it's fun to show potential customers a feathered prop and the plane's climb rate on one engine. (Many are Cirrus owners who of course have never flown with an engine purposely shut-down in flight.) The key is to pitch up to around 90 knots IAS before turning the Engine Master back ON to unfeather the prop, and to only push the START button with the blades completely stopped.

[jb642DA]

Hi Dave -

Do you know if the DAI test pilots do "windmilling" or "starter" starts when they are checking the feathering accumulator during their pre-delivery checks? I'm planning to call London Monday to find out - it would be a bummer if the timing chain needs to be replaced because of a "pre-delivery" check??!!

Thanks

[jb642DA]

Hi Dave -

Do you know if the DAI test pilots do "windmilling" or "starter" starts when they are checking the feathering accumulator during their pre-delivery checks? I'm planning to call London Monday to find out - it would be a bummer if the timing chain needs to be replaced because of a "pre-delivery" check??!!

Thanks

OOPS!!!!......I meant UNfeathering accumulator!

[CFIDave]

Do you know if the DAI test pilots do "windmilling" or "starter" starts when they are checking the feathering accumulator during their pre-delivery checks? I'm planning to call London Monday to find out - it would be a bummer if the timing chain needs to be replaced because of a "pre-delivery" check??!!

Diamond's test pilots obviously read SBs and ADs, and thus are fully aware of the prohibition against engine starts using windmilling. So I'm sure that when they test prop operation after in-flight engine shutdown that they use the starter for engine restart.