Grounded a Caravan tonight???

[FN FAL]

Was doing a walk around prior to departing and found 5 narrow drips of what appeared to be a grape juice or wine colored dye on the nose bowl, by the prop spinner. I had landed the same aircraft an hour before and this liquid was not apparent on the post flight.

Futher inspection showed none of the dye like material on the spinner or inside the spinner. With the cowling on, I was unable to pinpoint where this liquid was coming from. Inside the engine compartment itself, there was no dye or colored liquid puddled up inside.

Company cancelled the flight and rampies transfered the freight on to another aircraft.

Could this be a dye indicating a blown seal in one of the governors?

 

[Kaman]

Hello,

Sounds like you did the right thing to me. The purple colored fluid leaking is oil and sounds like it was a prop seal that had a static leak, but better to default on the side of caution.

Regards,

ex-Navy rotorhead

 

[FN FAL]

Hello,

Sounds like you did the right thing to me. The purple colored fluid leaking is oil and sounds like it was a prop seal that had a static leak, but better to default on the side of caution.

Regards,

ex-Navy rotorhead

Thanks. The leak had a definite dye look to it...and there was no way I was risking my employer, the company that owns the plane, myself or others, by flying it. Fortunately, I work at a place where schedule goes out the window when safety issues arrise.

As soon as I saw it, I told the guy getting ready to marshall me out that it was going to be a few minutes while I make the phone call. My DO's first words out of his mouth when I described it was..."That plane is grounded!"

I can't wait to hear what the mechanics find out.

 

[Goose Egg]

Yeah, let us know what it was.

-Goose

 

[EatSleepFly]

Yeah, I remember from ground school that one (or more perhaps) of the seals has dye in it, so if it leaks, the oil will be purple and will be immediatly recognizable. I can't remember which one and the POH makes no mention of it that I can find, but I remember one of my instructors saying the same as your DO, very specifically, "if you see purple oil, DON'T GO!"

 

[TurboS7]

More than a leaking seal it could be a sign off a cracked hub, cracked hubs are know for throwing blades. Once a blade is thrown the engine comes off the airplane. When the airplane looses the engine it falls down like a falling leaf. Neat ride down but those that have experienced it have not lived to tell about it. The cargo falls a little faster than the airplane if it is ejected from the airplane. Both meet mother earth a an impact of greater than 100 MPH.

 

[RideTheWind]

Is Biscayne going to be hiring 73 guys anytime soon?

 

[400A]

More than a leaking seal it could be a sign off a cracked hub, cracked hubs are know for throwing blades. Once a blade is thrown the engine comes off the airplane. When the airplane looses the engine it falls down like a falling leaf. Neat ride down but those that have experienced it have not lived to tell about it. The cargo falls a little faster than the airplane if it is ejected from the airplane. Both meet mother earth a an impact of greater than 100 MPH.

There is always someone with a helpful remark.

FN, good decision. Nice to hear your DO supported you. Many freight haulers would not have.

 

[414Flyer]

I know of a C-172 that lost everything firewall forward, and barely made it, but they actually did get it down without injury.

Its a hell of a story.

 

[TurboS7]

If we could find 3 737-800's at a good price we would start hiring right now. We have the business but not the airplanes. Right now we will not be hiring until late summer early fall. They have 8 to 10 slots they will need to fill at that time. Of course if more than 4 guys bail in the next couple of months they will be hiring to replace them.

 

[bocefus]

FN FAL, can you confirm that this was a Mac prop and not a Hartz?

 

[FN FAL]

It's the McCauley aluminum prop.

In fact, when the mechs looked at it, it appeared to be coming from one of the prop seals.

 

[bocefus]

Rog, Thanks

 

[FN FAL]

There is always someone with a helpful remark.

FN, good decision. Nice to hear your DO supported you. Many freight haulers would not have.

Yes, I definitely enjoy the safety attitude at my place of employment. It's one of the reasons I stay put. It is not the glamorous career some have, but it has its up sides.

 

[HowlinMadMurdoc]

My DO's first words out of his mouth when I described it was..."That plane is grounded!

On Tuesday, I bet your DO didn't say that after learning about the 208 with the small "dent" in the left wing...

Caused by either a run-away can or ramper's stupidity...

HMM