Propeller

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• UNIT II PROPELLERS
Propeller theory - operation, construction
assembly and installation - Pitch change
mechanism Propeller axially system- Damage
and repair criteria - General Inspection
procedures - Checks on constant speed
propellers - Pitch setting, Propeller Balancing,
Blade cuffs, Governor/Propeller operating
conditions – Damage and repair criteria.

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Prepared by Mr A.Adhil sharief
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 Forces
• Thrust bending force
• Centrifugal forces
• Centrifugal Twist

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 Propellers Used on General Aviation
Aircraft
• Fixed-Pitch Wooden Propellers
• Metal Fixed-Pitch Propellers
• Constant-Speed Propellers

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Propeller Location
• Tractor Propeller
• Pusher Propellers

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 Propeller Governor
• A governor is an engine rpm-sensing device and
highpressure oil pump.
• In a constant-speed propeller system, the governor
responds to a change in engine rpm by directing oil
under pressure to the propeller hydraulic cylinder or by
releasing oil from the hydraulic cylinder.
• The change in oil volume in the hydraulic cylinder
changes the blade angle and maintains the propeller
system rpm.
• The governor is set for a specific rpm via the cockpit
propeller control, which compresses or releases the
governor speeder spring

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Governor Mechanism
• The engine-driven single-acting propeller governor
(constant-speed control) receives oil from the lubricating
system and boosts its pressure to that required to operate
the pitch-changing mechanism.
• It consists of a gear pump to increase the pressure of the
engine oil, a pilot valve controlled by flyweights in the
governor to control the flow of oil through the governor to
and away from the propeller, and a relief valve system that
regulates the operating oil pressures in the governor.
• A spring called the speeder spring opposes the governor
flyweight’s ability to fly outward when turning.

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 Propeller Auxiliary Systems
• Ice Control Systems
Anti-Icing Systems
Deicing Systems
• Auto feathering System

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 Propeller Inspection and Maintenance
Propellers must be inspected regularly.
• The exact time interval for particular propeller inspections is usually specified by
the propeller manufacturer.
• The regular daily inspection of propellers varies little from one type to another.
• Typically, it is a visual inspection of propeller blades, hubs, controls, and
accessories for security, safety, and general condition.
• Visual inspection of the blades does not mean a careless or casual observation.
• The inspection should be meticulous enough to detect any flaw or defect that
may exist.
• Inspections performed at greater intervals of time (e.g., 25, 50, or 100 hours)
usually include a visual check of:
1. Blades, spinners, and other external surfaces for excessive oil or grease
deposits.
2. Weld and braze sections of blades and hubs for evidence of failure.
3. Blade, spinner, and hubs for nicks, scratches, or other flaws. Use a magnifying
glass if necessary.
4. Spinner or dome shell attaching screws for tightness.
5. 5. The lubricating requirements
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by Mr oil levels,
A.Adhil sharief when applicable
• If a propeller is involved in an accident, and a
possibility exists that internal damage may have
occurred, or if a propeller has had a ground strike or
sudden stoppage, the recommendations of the engine
and propeller need to be adhered to.
• The propeller should be disassembled and inspected.
Whenever a propeller is removed from a shaft, the hub
cone seats, cones, and other contact parts should be
examined to detect undue wear, galling, or corrosion
• It is also vitally important to keep up-to-date
airworthiness directives (ADs) or service bulletins (SBs)
for a propeller

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Wood Propeller Inspection
• Wood propellers should be inspected frequently
to ensure airworthiness.
• Inspect for defects, such as cracks, dents,
warpage, glue failure, delamination defects in the
finish, and charring of the wood between the
propeller and the flange due to loose propeller
mounting bolts.
• Examine the wood close to the metal sleeve of
wood blades for cracks extending outward on the
blade
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Metal Propeller Inspection
• Metal propellers and blades are generally
susceptible to fatigue failure resulting from the
concentration of stresses at the bottoms of sharp
nicks, cuts, and scratches.
• It is necessary, therefore, to frequently and
carefully inspect them for such defects.
• The inspection of steel blades may be
accomplished by either visual, fluorescent
penetrant or magnetic particle inspection
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Aluminum Propeller Inspection
• Carefully inspect aluminum propellers and
blades for cracks and other flaws
• Use dye penetrant or fluorescent dye
penetrant to confirm suspected cracks found
in the propeller. Refer any unusual condition
or appearance revealed by these inspections
to the manufacturer.

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 Composite Propeller Inspection
• Composite blades need to be visually inspected
for nicks, gouges, loose material, erosion, cracks
and debonds, and lightning strike.
• Composite blades are inspected for
delaminations and debonds by tapping the blade
or cuff (if applicable) with a metal coin.
• If an audible change is apparent, sounding hollow
or dead, a debond or delamination is likely.
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Propeller Vibration
• Although vibration can be caused by the propeller,
there are numerous other possible sources of vibration
that can make troubleshooting difficult.
• If a propeller vibrates, whether due to balance, angle,
or track problems, it typically vibrates throughout the
entire rpm range, although the intensity of the
vibration may vary with the rpm
• When propeller vibration is the reason for excessive
vibration, the difficulty is usually caused by propeller
blade imbalance, propeller blades not tracking, or
variation in propeller blade angle settings

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 Blade Tracking
• Blade tracking is the process of determining
the positions of the tips of the propeller
blades relative to each other (blades rotating
in the same plane of rotation). Tracking shows
only the relative position of the blades, not
their actual path

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 The following method for checking
tracking is normally used:
• 1. Chock the aircraft so it cannot be moved.
• 2. Remove one spark plug from each cylinder. This makes the propeller
easier and safer to turn.
• 3. Rotate one of the blades so it is pointing down.
• 4. Place a solid object (e.g., a heavy wooden block that is at least a couple
of inches higher off the ground than the distance between the propeller
tip and the ground) next to the propeller tip so that it just touches or
attaches a pointer/indicator to the cowling itself
• 5. Rotate the propeller slowly to determine if the next blade tracks
through the same point (touches the block/ pointer). Each blade track
should be within 1⁄16 inch (plus or minus) from the opposite blade’s track.
• 6. An out-of-track propeller, may be due to one or more propeller blades
being bent, a bent propeller flange, or propeller mounting bolts that are
either over- or under torqued. An out-of-track propeller causes vibration
and stress to the airframe and engine and may cause premature propeller
failure

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Balancing

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 Propeller Removal and Installation
Removal
• Always use the manufacturer’s information when removing
and installing any propeller.
1. Remove the spinner dome in accordance with the spinner
removal procedures. Cut and remove the safety wire (if
installed) on the propeller mounting studs.
2. Support the propeller assembly with a sling.
3. Unscrew the four mounting bolts from the engine bushings.
4.Unscrew the two mounting nuts and the attached studs
from the engine bushings.
5. If the propeller is removed between overhaul intervals,
mounting studs, nuts, and washers may be reused if they
are not damaged or corroded.

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 Servicing Propellers
• Propeller servicing includes cleaning,
lubricating, and replenishing operating
lubrication supplies.
• Cleaning Propeller Blades Aluminum and steel
propeller blades and hubs are usually cleaned
by washing the blades with a suitable cleaning
solvent, using a brush or cloth
• methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)

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