How an Aviation Borescope Can Deter Common, Yet Avoidable Aircraft Turbine Problems
An aviation borescope is an invaluable piece of inspection equipment that any professional aircraft owner and mechanic need to have in their toolbox. Using one of these high-tech inspection tools can help you put eyes on problems that are hidden beneath body panels, and other mechanical parts. Missing issues can be an extremely expensive situation. Using an articulating aviation borescope during your regular inspection intervals can help you detect common, and typically completely avoidable, aircraft turbine maintenance issues. Understanding the importance of regular maintenance and inspection can help you reduce the cost of repairs and downtime on down the line.
Why Aircraft Turbine Failure Happens
The modern turbine that powers an aircraft is extremely reliable. They are made to operate for many hours of use, with many having thousands of hours of life expectancy. They aren’t, however, completely indestructible and malfunctions and failures can occur. Aircraft turbine engine failure when there is a malfunction of some kind that causes the turbine to stop working entirely, or perform at lower than acceptable thresholds.
Different aircraft turbine engines have different problems, as well as different maintenance needs. It requires a knowledgeable mechanic to perform inspections to catch any avoidable issues. The most common causes of aircraft turbine engine failure include:
Contamination
Contamination is a serious issue when it comes to a turbine with tight tolerances that allow it to operate so efficiently and reliably. This usually occurs in the oiling system and can come from a number of sources. Wherever there is an opening, there is a way for dirt or water to get into the lubrication system, and cause the efficiency of the fluids to degrade. When this happens, disaster is looming ahead. By using an articulating borescope to inspect the liberation system for signs of contamination, you can address these issues right away.
Wear on Internal Parts
Most of the internal parts of a turbine engine are made to last a very long time, as long as the life of the unit itself. However, time can cause premature wear and damage to internal components because of harsh conditions, high heat, and improper lubrication. Once it gets to the point where the individual components are worn, it’s vital to replace these parts before they damage nearby parts, or cause total system failure. Using an aviation borescope will help you reach these parts without teardown.
Worn Turbine Fan Blades
An aircraft turbine engine is regularly exposed to extreme weather conditions, harsh heat, debris, dirt, sand, and so on. All of these elements can add up to premature failure and deterioration of the blades. Many aircraft owners face unnecessary cost of fan blade replacement because of a lack of upkeep and service when it was needed. Keeping the fan blades in good condition through regular aviation borescope inspection can help you avoid issues with worn fan blades. In addition to regular inspection, lubrication should also be performed to ensure long-term operation.
If you notice a dip in performance of your aircraft turbine engine, it’s time for an inspection. Even when your aircraft turbine engine is operating as it should, inspections should be performed to ensure proper lubrication, cooling, and identify worn internal parts, and external accessories.
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