Given who I'm writing to, I realize this may generate some heated
discussion. Nonetheless, I really am looking for helpful input.
I've been considering buying an Ercoupe for over a year. What has kept
me from doing it? Frankly, what appears to be poor engine reliability.
Many of the planes for sale have had major overhauls or top overhauls
long before the TBO. In some cases, top overhauls have been required
after a few hundred hours.
Then, there are the in-flight problems and outright failures. According
to the NTSB investigation database, there have been 76 Ercoupe accidents
in the last decade accounting for 16 fatalities. Of those, accidents, 58
were engine related and accounted for 14 of the 16 fatalities. That
means that, on average, there are almost 8 Ercoupe accidents a year, 6
of which can be attributed to engine issues that result in more than 1
death. In addition, we know there are engine problems that don't result
in accidents, such as the guy who reported that his prop fell off
(broken crankshaft) but he was close enough to his destination airport
to land safely.
So, why are these engines having problems? Are they being over-driven?
Is the oil not being changed often enough? Is it the lack of factory-new
parts, i.e. used parts that are beyond their safe life?
I really want to understand what's going on 1) so that if I buy an
Ercoupe, I can be reasonably sure the engine won't, given proper care,
quit on me, and 2) so I know what kind of use and care the engine needs
to keep it reliable? Or, are these C-75 and C-85 engines just not
reliable no matter what you do, due to design or age or whatever?
Regards,
Jim Hart
- [ercoupe-tech] how to minimize engine problems? Jim
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