Craymer's Counsel

The FAA has issued an emergency Advisory Directive (AD). They are following the lead of Transport Canada and EASA (Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2024-05). Pratt and Whitney Canada have also issued a corresponding category 1 service bulletin (A14574). To highlight what this means regarding importance, Pratt & Whitney Canada has...

One of the PT6 maintenance items you always hear about is the hot section inspection. The hot section inspection is a mid-TBO inspection where we split the engine. At the same time, hot section inspection time requirements may differ by engine model because TBO on engine models may vary. Performance...

I had a fantastic time at the NAAA Convention in Palm Springs, CA. I saw and spoke with many of you while I was there. I also had some fantastic food and maybe a little fun. If you visit there, the tram to the top of the mountain is pretty...

Clear communication can sometimes be challenging. What a person feels, senses, or perceives can challenge beliefs and reality. I am not trying to get philosophical; I am only trying to point out that perspective can significantly influence communication. I have had discussions about engines that have "shut down" in flight....

I knew you had trouble when you walked in. Sorry, I couldn't help that; it's a little Taylor Swift dad joke. I thought my daughters could appreciate that. When it comes to trouble, I usually don't have any issues finding it, but when it comes to troubleshooting, I try to...

Many things in life come with a warranty, but you can be disappointed and infuriated if you don't read the terms and conditions or understand them. Hopefully, the Ag engine warranty that Pratt and Whitney Canada provide is clear to you. Let's ensure that you are getting the most out...

As I began thinking about this topic, I realized several of us might not know what the acronym means. FOD can stand for two different but associated things. The first acronym meaning is Foreign Object Debris. When people say FOD damage, they are using this meaning. The second meaning is...

Some things rob your engine of performance. Dirty air, dirty fuel, and air leaks can all limit your engine’s potential. Not all the enemies of the engine are performance robbers. Sometimes the target is the engine parts themselves. Internal and external parts can be adversely affected by corrosion. In the...

The modular design of the PT6 has been documented and discussed in previous articles. We have talked about the rear module and the gas generator. Now let's turn our attention to the front of the engine, called the power section. The power section does precisely that; it turns the air...

There are certain accessories on the PT6 engine that people are familiar with for both good and bad reasons. The fuel control unit, or FCU, is probably number one. We have adjusted them, repaired them, and overhauled them. Almost everyone that has owned or operated a PT6 has had to...