More details of the installation
A few more details of the work done at the Pilatus service center (SC).
The engine shock mounts are highlighted below...
Overhauling the shock mounts (and that means replacement, in practice) is a Chapter 5 item along with overhauling the oil cooler and low pressure fuel pump.
So, technically you don't have to do these items on a single-engine turbo-prop under FAA rules since they are Chapter 5 air aircraft maintenance manual (not airworthiness) items and not Chapter 4 (airworthiness) items. But Pilatus makes it difficult to not do Chapter 5 items. If you want a Pilatus service center to sign-off on anything, they have to complete all Chapter 5 items along with Chapter 4 items at the risk of losing their SC designation. Pilatus dislikes the idea that there is any lower standard of maintenance for this plane than a twin turboprop (like a King Air) or a jet. I would do all the Chapter 5 items anyway, but it drives folks crazy that have a "do everything on-condition" philosophy of maintenance. That's just not the way Pilatus works on a lot of items and it seems to work in terms of low AOG events if not low cost.
Overhauling the shock mounts (and that means replacement, in practice) is a Chapter 5 item along with overhauling the oil cooler and low pressure fuel pump.
So, technically you don't have to do these items on a single-engine turbo-prop under FAA rules since they are Chapter 5 air aircraft maintenance manual (not airworthiness) items and not Chapter 4 (airworthiness) items. But Pilatus makes it difficult to not do Chapter 5 items. If you want a Pilatus service center to sign-off on anything, they have to complete all Chapter 5 items along with Chapter 4 items at the risk of losing their SC designation. Pilatus dislikes the idea that there is any lower standard of maintenance for this plane than a twin turboprop (like a King Air) or a jet. I would do all the Chapter 5 items anyway, but it drives folks crazy that have a "do everything on-condition" philosophy of maintenance. That's just not the way Pilatus works on a lot of items and it seems to work in terms of low AOG events if not low cost.
There is pretty significant expense associated with the overhaul that takes place at the SC and is not part of the quote from the overhaul shop. In my case:
- Remove and re-install engine
- Replace engine shock mounts
- Overhaul oil cooler
- Overhaul low pressure fuel pump
- Replace ECS ducting insulation blankets as needed (replaced 3 of 4 blankets)
- Replace engine shock mounts
- Overhaul oil cooler
- Overhaul low pressure fuel pump
- Replace ECS ducting insulation blankets as needed (replaced 3 of 4 blankets)
A total of about $36,000 related to the overhaul at the SC rather than the overhaul shop. I also had a prop overhaul due (just coincidence - not tied to the engine overhaul) and they did an annual while it was down to overlap those two periods of down-time. So, the wire transfers from my account headed to Canada this week are changing the trade balance a bit!