APIS wooden propeller - flypipistrel.com

Operator’s manual

APIS wooden propeller

propeller manual for the APIS (SELF LAUNCHING GLIDER)

Revision 1

(17th November, 2014)

This publication includes the material required to be supplied to the pilot by
ASTM F2745 and other aviation standards.
Propeller conforms ASTM F2506 standard.

Aircraft Registration Number:
Aircraft Serial Number:

WARNING!

This document MUST be present inside the cockpit at all times.
If you are selling this aircraft please make sure this document is given to the new owner.

© Copyright Pipistrel LSA s.r.l., Via Aquileia 75, 34170 Gorizia, Italy, EU

2 APIS propeller manual

Index of revisions

The table below shows the revisions which were made from the original manual release to this date.
Always check with your registration authority, Pipistrel Slovenia, Pipistrel USA (www.pipistrel-usa.com)
or Pipistrel LSA s.r.l (www.pipistrel.eu) that you are familiar with the current release of the operation-
relevant documentation which includes this manual.

Revision Revision Description Issuer
Number Date
Original Release Coates. M, Pipistrel LSA s.r.l.
Revision 1 17th November,
2014

List of valid pages APIS propeller manual 3

This manual contains 15 original and revised pages listed below. State
Original
Cover Pages Original
Page numbering Original
Index of revised pages 2 Original
List of valid pages 3 Original
Table of contents 5 Original
7-9 Original
General 11 - 14 Original
Handling and maintenance 15

Back cover

Caution:

This manual is valid only if it contains all of the original and revised pages listed above.
Each page which is revised must be removed, shredded and replaced with the new, revised page in the

exact same place in the manual.

4 APIS propeller manual

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APIS propeller manual 5

Table of contents

General
Handling and maintenance
Appendix

6 APIS propeller manual

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APIS propeller manual 7
General

General

Introduction
Notes and remarks
Propeller markings
Shipping list
Propeller description
Manufacturing method
Technical data and
operational limitations

8 APIS propeller manual
General

Introduction

This manual contains all information needed for appropriate and safe use of Pipistrel APIS wooden
propeller.
In case of aircraft damage or personal injury resulting form disobeying instructions in the manual
PIPISTREL LSA s.r.l. denies any responsibility.
All text, design, layout and graphics are owned by PIPISTREL LSA s.r.l. Therefore this manual and any
of its contents may not be copied or distributed in any manner (electronic, web or printed) without
the prior consent of PIPISTREL LSA s.r.l.

IT IS MANDATORY TO CAREFULLY STUDY THIS MANUAL PRIOR TO USE
OF THIS PROPELLER

Notes and remarks

Safety definitions used in the manual:

WARNING! Disregarding the following instructions leads to severe deterioration of flight

safety and hazardous situations, including such resulting in injury and loss of life.

CAUTION! Disregarding the following instructions leads to serious deterioration of flight

safety.

APIS propeller manual 9
General

Propeller description

The Pipistrel APIS propeller is fixed-pitch two-blade wooden propeller to be used in tractor configu-
ration on the APIS LSA self launching glider. The propeller sizing and pitch is designed to match the
engine power curve of the Hirth F33 engine.

Manufacturing method

The propeller core is made of laminated wood-composite, then milled, then protected with a
thin layer of fiberglass (70 g/sqm grade) and varnished for surface protection. The varnish can be
transparent or other light color. The propeller is affixed to the flywheel on the motor mast by us-
ing 6 bolts that go through the propeller and equalize the pressure via metal retaining plate.

Technical data and APIS prop
operational limitations 2

Specifications 1620 mm (63’’)
number of blades 15°
propeller diameter
propeller pitch at 3/4 of prop. radius 110 mm (4.3’’)
blade width 2720 RPM
max. safe propeller RPM 50 HP
max. safe engine power (permanent load)
central hole diameter 25.4 mm (1’’)
propeller head (hub) bolts & nuts type M8
mounting holes’ circle diameter
75 mm
propeller bolt torque 18 NM
(13.28 ft/lbs)

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APIS propeller manual 11
Handling and maintenance

Handling and maintenance

Introduction
Assembling the propeller
Mounting the propeller
Detaching the propeller
Propeller pitch
Daily check-up
Overhauls
Repairs
Ground handling

12 APIS propeller manual
Handling and maintenance

Introduction

This chapter provides information on handling and maintenance of Pipistrel APIS propeller.

Assembling the propeller

WARNING! The standard propeller head (hub) is intended to be mounted on APIS top fly-

wheel, mounted on the motor mast. Should you desire to mount this propeller onto another en-
gine’s flange, the manufacturer can provide you with a different propeller head (hub) to suit your
needs. However, bear in mind the manufacturer denies any responsibility for eventual damage, if
the propeller be used on an engine other than APIS.

Upon delivery

On delivery check all parts inside the package for damage which could have occurred during trans-
portation. Included are: propeller (1 pcs), attachments bolts (6 pcs), washers (6 pcs), retaining plate
(1 pcs), nuts (6 pcs).

Mounting the propeller

The set-up procedure must be done on an assembled aircraft.
Slide the propeller onto the top flywheel, then apply the metal retaining plate on the front of the
propeller and insert the attachment bolts with belonging washers. Tighten the bolts gradually and in
a cross-pattern way, jumping from 1 o’clock to 6 o’clock, then 4 o’clock to 10 o’clock, etc.
Use a torque wrench and apply 18 NM (13.28 ft. lbs.) secure the bolts with safety wire.

CAUTION! Verify the torque holding the bolts and nuts every 20 engine hours.

Dismounting the propeller

Apply the above procedure in reverse.

CAUTION! Verify the torque holding the bolts and nuts every 5 flight hours.

APIS propeller manual 13
Handling and maintenance

Daily check-up

Verify the following:

blade surface: clean, no cracks, no varnish and/or edge separations
blade base - no damage, cracks, varnish and/or edge separations
retaining metal plate - no damage, no bends, cracks
bolts & washers - no visible damage
safety wire - in position, undamaged.

WARNING! Should the propeller’s status determined during daily check-up not comply with

the stated above, flying may result in further damage and/or injury, including loss of life.

CAUTION! As part of the daily check-up, verify the positioning of the propeller for retraction

into fuselage with the IBIS II cockpit instrument. Consult Flight manual (POH) on how to do this.

Overhauls / Replacements

Overhauls (inspection and refinish) must be once every 300 hours of engine operation. Replacement
is on condition or at 300 hours of engine operation.

Maximum life span of the propeller

At this time, no service limitations for the Pipistrel APIS propeller life spans are known. Several APIS
propellers have been in operations for hundreds of hours without showing any abnormalities.

14 APIS propeller manual
Handling and maintenance

Repairs

Small damage (cracks) in the varnish layer of the blades may be repaired by the owner him/herself
using dabbing lacquer. Eventual spots can be filled out with cotton-fibre epoxy, but the propeller
must be re-balanced thereafter.
All major repairs must be done by the manufacturer.

WARNING! After every repair job, the propeller must be re-balanced to prevent potentially

lethal vibrations.

WARNING! For all repair jobs conducted by owners themselves, manufacturer denies any

responsibility.

Paint jobs

Should you desire to repaint your propeller, please consult with the manufacturer prior to painting.

Ground handling

Use water and a soft piece of cloth to clean the blades. If you are unable to remove certain spots,
consider using mild detergents. Afterwards, rinse the entire surface thoroughly.
To protect the surfaces from the environmental contaminants, use a good quality car wax.

CAUTION! Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to use rough cloth to remove durable

stains. This results in scratching the surface and by that degrades propulsion performance great-
ly.

Avoiding damage

On ground, keep your propeller intact by storing in the fuselage in the engine down position. Also,
try to keep your propeller out of the sun if possible, for eventual damage caused by UV radiation.
When starting-up the engine, always make sure the space around the propeller is clear.
Be extremely careful when putting the aircraft into or out of the hangar not to damage the blades.
Do not ever attempt to move around your APIS aircraft by pushing or pulling it at the propeller.

| End of Document |

Pipistrel LSA s.r.l.
Via Aquileia 75
34170 Gorizia

Italy, EU
[email protected]
www.pipistrel-usa.com

www.pipistrel.eu