SonexBuilders.net

Hi all!,
Have u seen the latest posting on www.avweb.com about a high rate of engine failures in australia and the responding action taken by by CASA on jabiriu powered aircraft? So far no similar action here in the USA by the FAA. Jabiriu spokesperson disagrees with the proposed action. Basically day VFR flights no passengers and fly over non-populated areas, and no student pilots flying solo. Our waiex has a jab 3300. Installing the rotec tbi. Article claims 40 engine failures in the last year. No specifics mentioned, just a heads up to everyone and let's keep in touch and fly safe!!


Michael RADTKE
Waiex TD
Jab 3300
Rotec tbi

WaiexN143NM wrote:Have u seen the latest posting on http://www.avweb.com about a high rate of engine failures in australia and the responding action taken by by CASA on jabiriu powered aircraft?

Hi Michael,

I posted about this the other day but perhaps I should have used a better topic headline:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1547

Dale
N319WF

Hi dale,
Thanks also to posts from John and mark. CASA is proposing this action due to several failure modes, but no specifics. There is a link to casa to reply to their proposed action. Not sure if they are looking for comments from jabiriu users worldwide or from mainland Australia. Lets keep an eye on this, this could filter over to other countries and their aviation regulatory agencies.

For those with Jabiru engines, or thinking of purchasing same, there is a great deal more to be found on this on the Jabiru Yahoo forum.
>>>> https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/jabiruengines/info <<<<

For the person thinking of purchasing a Sonex with a Jabiru 3300, checking out the engine should be right after checking general workmanship of this aircraft. Jabiru 3300s make Sonex great fun to fly, but like Forest Gumps box of chocolates, some are good, and some are not.

Mine landed in the not so good column and has been replaced by a 3300 Camit Aero Engine(CAE) which is doing great. More info on the Camit engine on the Jabiru forum can be found in the discussion under the heading of "What are the differences between a Kamit (miss-spelled) and Jabiru engine ?"

David A.

Seems to me the only analysis that CASA did was compare the hours flown to the number of engine failures.

Reported data for 2014 year to date (January through October) (from the Recreational Aviation Australia (RA-Aus) )
Hours flown
Jabiru 41834
Rotax 71626
All (includes other engine types) 131227
Landings
Jabiru 92735
Rotax 145638
All (includes other engine types) 260383
Engine failures (full or partial)
Jabiru 28
Rotax 16
All (includes other engine types) 51

The number of failures compared to Rotax is alarming. But the nature of the failures is pretty important too. How many were owner induced failures due to modifications? Is the Rotax used more in certified aircraft in Australia than Jabiru thus tighter controls on owner mods? I don't know of many experimental Rotax owners here in the US who modify their installations like we do the Jabiru. Do the Rotax numbers include the 2 stroke engines? I've heard the saying that its not if you will have an engine failure with a 2 stroke, its when.

I've flown behind a Rotax ULS 912 and its a very smooth and refined engine. Probably the gold standard in LSA engines and a good benchmark for reliability.

I have a feeling this entire episode was Jabiru was presented with the above numbers and asked what they were going to do about it. They gave CASA a response they didn't like. CASA came down hard on them. But it looks like it got the result they were looking for. Jabiru is now responding appropriately.

My only real concern with the engine is the ability to get insurance here in the US. I don't think the FAA will restrict any use of the engine in E/AB aircraft.

Yup, its a poo storm down here for sure!

The proprietor of Jabiru has a reputation for stubbornness, I guess you have to be stubborn to design an aircraft and an engine from scratch to suit it!
Last July he was advocating anyone that has fitted a non-Jabiru part to their engine should send the serial tag back as its not a bona-fide Jabiru engine anymore.
So mine fitted with an aerocarb I am a pariah lol.

..but you know what? I did 3 flights yesterday and guess what happened to my Jab 2200...?

nothing

Just a great afternoon buzzing around the local area for 2 hours, but I did keep an eye out for potential landing areas as we all should

Cheers
Tony

From the article;

More than 45 Jabiru engine failures or in-flight engine incidents have been reported in 2014 ...

http://casa.gov.au/Scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_102352

Dale
N319WF

After reading that, and thinking of purchasing a Jabiru engine, might want to check out; >>>>> Camitaeroengies.net <<<< Note the header bar that takes you to the new engines page is light blue type on a dark blue field, and hard to see. CAMit engines are not restricted by the CASA notice.

These are standard with CAMit's external belt driven 40 amp alternator. Some recent discussion has shown that to offer further damping of torsional vibrations for more protection for those flywheel bolts (now larger and doweled) and contribute to even smoother operation. There is a special mounting arrangement for that alternator specifically for Sonex. I did not need more electrical power so did not put that on my CAMit engine, but now looking to retro fit it -- soon.

David A.

Is Camit taking advantage of some loophole to produce knock off Jabirus? In the US, I doubt that would be tolerated.

It is my understanding that Ian Bent was in at the early development of the Jabiru engine and shares ownership of the design. Jabiru has not been shy about objecting to the use of non Jabiru parts on their engines, but I have not seen anything from them challenging CAMit's right to make and sell parts or entire engines.

There was recently a post on the Jabiru engine forum with an article by Arthur Marcell for a local Australian magazine that has much more background info on both CAMit, and their new engine. The article is a bit long to post here, but can be found on the Jabiru Yahoo forum under the heading --- The Camit Aero engine (Arthur Marcel).

The following is the link to that on the Jabiru forum. Worth a look. If you cannot access that, e-mail me.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/jab ... g2MjQ2MzQ-

David A.