PA28R-201 SYSTEMS

PROPELLER SYSTEM
FIT Aviation, LLC

Flight Instructor Standardization

Eric Kohlman, Doug McElroy, & Brenda Wilmot

Propeller System

McCauley Constant Speed Hydraulically Actuated Blade Angle 12.5 to 27.5 degrees Advantages: Improved climb cruise performance Low pitch for climb high pitch for cruise Reduced noise Reduced engine wear

Propeller System
Propeller Overview

Prop Control
Threaded Shaft Speeder Spring Flyweights Oil Sump Pilot Valve Oil Pressure Piston

Shaft Rotates with Prop

Propeller System
Onspeed

Propeller is at same RPM as set by the pilot Centrifugal reaction of flyweights is equal to force of speeder spring keeping pilot valve neutral

Propeller System
Underspeed

Shaft rotation slows Flyweights move in Pilot valve drops Oil flows from hub to sump Piston moves forward Prop pitch gets finer Prop speeds up Shaft speeds up Flyweights move out to neutral

Propeller System
Overspeed

Shaft rotation increases Flyweights move out Pilot valve rises Oil flows to hub Piston moves back Prop pitch coarsens Prop slows down Shaft slows down Flyweights move in to neutral

Propeller System
Increase RPM

Prop control tightens threaded shaft Speeder spring compresses Flyweights move in Pilot valve drops Oil flows from hub to sump Piston moves forward Prop pitch gets finer Prop speeds up

Propeller System
Decrease RPM

Prop control loosens threaded shaft Speeder spring expands Flyweights move out Pilot valve rises Oil flows to hub Piston moves back Prop pitch coarsens Prop slows down

Propeller System
Off the Governor

This occurs any time when throttle changes RPM During mag check, prop RPM decreases due to prop being off the governor Prop control is set full forward (2700 RPM) However, engine is only producing enough power to turn 2000 RPM Engine is trying to get 2700, so flyweights are in, but there is no oil left in hub to make prop finer Prop now acts as a fixed pitch, so when power is reduced (operating on one mag), prop cant get finer as it would when on the governor, hence RPM decreases

Propeller System
Disadvantages

Initial purchase cost $$ Cost of maintenance to repair and inspect (100 hrsannuals) Weight, due to more moving parts and complexity

Propeller System
Review

On what type of fluid does the propeller system work? Engine oil
What the is maximum RPM the propeller will turn? 2700 RPM How does the propeller governor know how to automatically change pitch? Fly-weights

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