Why Overhaul Is So Important
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Now a days our expensive aircraft engines, the trusty metal hearts that pull (or push) us airborne and transport us over the mountains, rivers, and weather to our destinations, don't like to be ignored, and also remember engine is the beating heart of the aircraft. They like a lot of action. They like to fly. They're most likely to provide efficient service if you fly them every day.
One engine manufacturer uses 40 hours a month for extended warranty coverage adjustment. When engines are operated at this frequency the engine life-shortening problems attributed to inactivity become a nonissue. Those engine life-shortening factors are acids, water, and lack of lubrication.
In a perfect world, piston engines wouldn't need overhauls. And if they did, their TBO periods would be far longer than 2000 hours.
But, aircraft engines function in a real world where the environment is far from friendly. In fact, "The environmental conditions that an engine is operated in play a major role in causing wear-and-tear, be it corrosive salt water air; a dry, dusty environment, or one where the climatic changes are dramatic."In such conditions, the result can be excessive internal corrosion."
Short-term use is also no favor to piston engines. The reason: "Short term use results in increased moisture condensation within the engine," said Sloan. In other words, unless a piston engine is run for reasonable periods of time (an average of 40 hours/month is recommended) it will experience corrosion due to condensation that doesn't get evaporated off its parts due to heat.Besides the external environment, piston engines experience a great deal of expansion and contraction due to the heat of internal combustion, and the cool-down after landing. The more metal is expanded and contracted, the more prone it is to wear and degradation. Add the metal-against-metal friction caused every time a piston engine fires up -- a problem that can be minimized by proper lubrication, but not eliminated -- and wear-and-tear is inevitable.
In this real world of heat, moisture, and dirt, piston engine components take a beating. "The most common parts that need replacement are cylinders, "Connecting rod bolts are another one of those items that need to be replaced." This is why regular overhauls are so important; not just to maximize engine life, but to ensure enough power for the safe and reliable operation of the aircraft in all flying conditions.
Once we summarized this whole story in to a one paragraph we can say, both maintenance and overhaul operations are performed on aircraft engines at specific intervals. This interval is usually governed by the number of hours the engine has been in operation. Test and experience have shown in operation beyond this period of time will be inefficient and even dangerous because certain parts will be worn beyond their safe limits. For an overhauled engine to be as a new one, worn parts as well as damage parts must be detected and replaced during overhaul.
_________________________________________________________
Now a days our expensive aircraft engines, the trusty metal hearts that pull (or push) us airborne and transport us over the mountains, rivers, and weather to our destinations, don't like to be ignored, and also remember engine is the beating heart of the aircraft. They like a lot of action. They like to fly. They're most likely to provide efficient service if you fly them every day.
One engine manufacturer uses 40 hours a month for extended warranty coverage adjustment. When engines are operated at this frequency the engine life-shortening problems attributed to inactivity become a nonissue. Those engine life-shortening factors are acids, water, and lack of lubrication.
In a perfect world, piston engines wouldn't need overhauls. And if they did, their TBO periods would be far longer than 2000 hours.
But, aircraft engines function in a real world where the environment is far from friendly. In fact, "The environmental conditions that an engine is operated in play a major role in causing wear-and-tear, be it corrosive salt water air; a dry, dusty environment, or one where the climatic changes are dramatic."In such conditions, the result can be excessive internal corrosion."
Short-term use is also no favor to piston engines. The reason: "Short term use results in increased moisture condensation within the engine," said Sloan. In other words, unless a piston engine is run for reasonable periods of time (an average of 40 hours/month is recommended) it will experience corrosion due to condensation that doesn't get evaporated off its parts due to heat.Besides the external environment, piston engines experience a great deal of expansion and contraction due to the heat of internal combustion, and the cool-down after landing. The more metal is expanded and contracted, the more prone it is to wear and degradation. Add the metal-against-metal friction caused every time a piston engine fires up -- a problem that can be minimized by proper lubrication, but not eliminated -- and wear-and-tear is inevitable.
In this real world of heat, moisture, and dirt, piston engine components take a beating. "The most common parts that need replacement are cylinders, "Connecting rod bolts are another one of those items that need to be replaced." This is why regular overhauls are so important; not just to maximize engine life, but to ensure enough power for the safe and reliable operation of the aircraft in all flying conditions.
Once we summarized this whole story in to a one paragraph we can say, both maintenance and overhaul operations are performed on aircraft engines at specific intervals. This interval is usually governed by the number of hours the engine has been in operation. Test and experience have shown in operation beyond this period of time will be inefficient and even dangerous because certain parts will be worn beyond their safe limits. For an overhauled engine to be as a new one, worn parts as well as damage parts must be detected and replaced during overhaul.
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