Jabiru Engine Failure

[HeliPE]

I operate an aircraft with a Jabiru engine in a LSA flight school which I have been fairly happy with until a month ago, when the engine failed whilst a pilot was on finals to land-fortunately he landed without incident. The crankshaft broke! I had the engine overhauled about 3 years prior due to slight engine tightness after performing service bulletins. I know many are happy with their Jabi engines, and I know of many who aren't. In order to enhance safety for Jabiru engines can anyone who isn't happy with them support me, or comment.

[buffet]

Can you give us more detail on what the factory's analysis is on why the crack broke?
And hours since the overhaul?
Type of fuel you are running and was all the services done on time?
Did the engine at any time overheated or ran at high temps?

[Helicopter Charter]

The factory said the 50 hr oil change wasn’t done.
It’s was done except that wood Aviation didn’t write it in the logbook, it was done and written in my flight folio. Factory said wrong oil was used- they’re trying their luck, I used w100! They said oil filter was blocked and had no oil, untrue, the old filter was removed to be checked for metal- no metal found, replaced with a new one., which the factory saw- no valid reason for crank to break except for poor Jabiru quality. Factory always gives a quote the ends up costing double at the end of the day. I’m much happier with my Rotax, less surprises, cost and letdowns. Jh

[Helicopter Charter]

Jabi engine -95 hrs done since last overhaul/shockload, engine has 770 hrs, been head overhauled 3 times, shockloaded once when wooden de Necker prop broke. Maintained by an Amo & used in a school.

[lessersg]

ea

We have had 2 total destructions . Last total rebuild we still have issues after 10 min flight . Will update once I have all the information . Engineering issues not from Jabiru but a reworked cylinder head . Anyway can only laugh

[lessersg]

So now our one cylinder head dropped a seat on the exhaust side been told it was over heated . New engine 10 min in the sky EGT went cold on cylinder 3 had to land ... So we are too blame temps were normal blow by from the factory on that cylinder head was 68

[Helicopter Charter]

ea Hi Lessersg,john here, could you give me your cell # to discuss my jabi engine failure, mine is 0836534294

We have had 2 total destructions . Last total rebuild we still have issues after 10 min flight . Will update once I have all the information . Engineering issues not from Jabiru but a reworked cylinder head . Anyway can only laugh

[Flooi]

So sad for an otherwise nice aircraft... perhaps its now time to seriously consider alternative
powerplants...... ???

[BigglesSA]

So sad for an otherwise nice aircraft... perhaps its now time to seriously consider alternative
powerplants...... ???

Why?

[lessersg]

Because it's proven itself to be un-reliable.

[scsirob]

But... but... Gen 4 is going to be perfect! Right?!?

[Flooi]

But... but... Gen 4 is going to be perfect! Right?!?

http://www.jabiruownersgroup.org/viewtopic.php?t=869

looks promising.....

[Steve]

You chaps seem to forget how often Continentals & Lycomings have failed over the years.....
Something to be said about Jabirus is that certainly in my region they fly a lot more than other aircraft - possibly because they are so much more cost effective....

[BigglesSA]

You chaps seem to forget how often Continentals & Lycomings have failed over the years.....
Something to be said about Jabirus is that certainly in my region they fly a lot more than other aircraft - possibly because they are so much more cost effective....

I agree Steve!

I have over a 1000 Jabi hours. Never had a failure, but a couple of issues though. To be brutally honest, a lot of those was caused by my own fiddling. Once I stopped fiddling no more issues!!!! Some of the "maintenance" work performed on these engines is frightening to say the least, and sometimes by owners that should not attempt that kind of work.

Spoke to an owner the other day that replaced his flywheel bolts himself the previous day. He was about to go "test fly" it. I asked him if he has cleaned the threads in the crank of the old lock-tight. "How do I do that?" Job was redone by an AMO, checked, recorded and signed off as it should have been in the first place.

I bought a brand new IO-540 for my RV that I am building. I received a SB BEFORE the engine arrived in SA. I was lucky, my serial number fell just outside of the affected range. If however it was affected, it would have meant that the engine would have to be stripped and the connecting rods to be replaced BEFORE first startup. Ouch, those poor guys with affected engines. There is a company called Edge Performance that "modify" brand new Rattletex engines to make them "better". Do yourself a favor, go visit Andre Martens at Petit. He only work on Rotax and is very knowledgeable about them. All engine have their quirks. Speak to our Camit orphans, also good engine but not without issues.

Maintain an engine properly, keep it standard and keep it cool and it will serve you well.

SB632 Connecting Rod Identification and Removal_0.pdf

[scsirob]

But... but... Gen 4 is going to be perfect! Right?!?

http://www.jabiruownersgroup.org/viewtopic.php?t=869

looks promising.....

Promising yes. But sample of just one. There's plenty gen 1, 2, and 3 Jabiru engines reaching 1250 hours. I'd be more interested in the results of that first batch of 25 engines that went out, especially if they end up in flight school and non-Jabiru experimental installations.