AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 88

FRUGALFLIER
Images are displayed on a high-definition
monitor that shows failure-prone internal
engine components in vivid detail. When
combined with oil analysis and other
diagnostic tools, the medical technology
can provide a clear picture of engine health.
I recently watched Eichhorn “scope”
the Lycoming O-320 engine on my RV–3,
and the process was revealing, to say
the least.
After removing the top spark plugs,
Eichhorn rolled up a cart that held a
Telicam oral endoscope, a Stryker HD
surgical endoscope, a digital video processor,
and a 37-inch TV screen. He’d
insert an endoscope into each spark
plug hole and maneuver the camera
inside the cylinder. All the while, he’d
watch the TV screen and note what he
saw, just as a radiologist would review
X-rays or CAT scans. Whenever he saw
something particularly noteworthy, he’d
AOPA PILOT • 88 • JUNE 2011
hit a button that snapped an on-screen
picture and save it to a computer file for
future reference.
“That circular burn pattern on the top
of the exhaust valve is just what you’d
hope to see,” he said. “It shows the valve
is rotating properly, and that heat is
being dissipated evenly.”
The internal walls of the steel cylin-
ders were bright and shiny and showed
the patterns from being properly honed
about 350 flight hours ago. Rotating the
propeller by hand, Eichhorn brought
the top of each piston into view and
watched how closely the intake and
exhaust valves seated.
The surfaces of the intake valves were
clean, and the exhaust valves were more
colorful—mostly orange and brown,
with a few black rings—the remnants
of unburned fuel. On the oversized TV
screen, the exhaust valves resembled
slightly overcooked pizzas.
Eichhorn has performed detailed
endoscope examinations on more than
80 single- and multiengine airplanes, and
he’s noticed a progression of changing
colors on damaged exhaust valves.
First, the edges turn the color of cocoa,
and the normally circular burn patterns
become irregular as guides become
worn and valves stop rotating normally.
Then portions of the valves turn red. And
finally, when they turn green, Eichhorn
said, failure is imminent. He’s spotted
severely damaged valves on several cylinders
with good compressions and no
outward signs of impending trouble.
Other cylinder maladies such as rust
or internal cracks are obvious through the
endoscope.
“Those things just jump out at you,”
Eichhorn said. “They’re almost impossible
not to see.”
Eichhorn said the borescopes
mechanics have traditionally used for

AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011

AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011
Contents
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Rally GA: So You Want to Have a Fly-In?
AOPA State of the Association Together We Can Rally GA
One Strong Identity
Piper Mirage: Pressurization Points
Prime Time for the Jabiru
Cessna L–19 Bird Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend
AOPA Aviation Summit 2011: A New England Charmer
Frugal Flier: Will Medicare Cover This?
Technique: AOA for GA
Crossover Classic: Beauty That’s Skin Deep
Never Again
Fly Outs
Fly by wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Rally GA: So You Want to Have a Fly-In?
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA State of the Association Together We Can Rally GA
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - One Strong Identity
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Piper Mirage: Pressurization Points
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Prime Time for the Jabiru
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Cessna L–19 Bird Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA Aviation Summit 2011: A New England Charmer
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Frugal Flier: Will Medicare Cover This?
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Technique: AOA for GA
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Crossover Classic: Beauty That’s Skin Deep
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Fly Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Fly by wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Cover4
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