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share bulletins and information and ask each other ‘what are you doing about this issue,’ and ‘what should we do to improve our industry standards for customer support?”
Randy Lammon is a 25-year Air- frame and Powerplant mechanic who has been at Yingling since 2004. He currently serves as the company’s lead propeller specialist.
“From a technical perspective, we don’t want there to be any accidents,” Lammon stated. “The manufacturers put out required inspection guidelines for well-established reasons. Propel- lers are technically a shelf-life item. There are certain things we do to protect the integrity and durability of the products, but the hardest part of maintaining propellers may be to get the customers to pay attention to them. A neglected prop can degrade the performance of the aircraft – and pose a real safety problem if left un- addressed.”
Lammon promotes some basic guidelines a shop technician consid- ers foundational:
• Read and follow the own- er’s manual
• Keep your propeller logbook up to date
• Maintain and properly grease your propeller (and be careful not to ‘over grease’ it or you could throw off the balance)
• Don’t ignore recommended maintenance intervals or ser- vice bulletins
• Midlife inspections and reseals are a good idea
• Refresh paint to protect from corrosion
• Stay up to date on FAA adviso- ry circulars
• Make a visit to your local propel- ler shop occasionally
Of course, there are a lot of owners that do maintain and care for their propellers as prescribed by the OEM, and others who get just as excited about new propeller develop- ments as they do about engine or avionics upgrades. They want the latest technology and improve- ments, including things like better
take-off performance, alloy leading edges for erosion protection, more ground clearance, and less cabin noise. Established propeller shops are where they go to make sure the upgrades are done right.
Yingling has been a leader in pro- peller service for more than 50 years. Like Randy Lammon, Jeff Sawyer, an A&P mechanic, authorized in- spector (IA) and licensed pilot,
actually began working in Yingling’s Service Department in 2000 and moved into the prop shop full time in 2010. He, too, is a protégé of Leroy “Red” Phillips. Phillips launched the firm’s propeller service in the 1950s and spent a half-century working on them until his death in 2006.
“Red knew just about everything and everyone there was in our busi- ness, and he did his best to help us
Rosen
May 2021 / TWIN & TURBINE • 19