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ORIGINAL: jetjockey

Ed,

Remember the slow ramping problem I was experiencing earlier? I found that I could get the engine to quickly ramp to Jet A by tapping the pump on start up after the lights were correct. I've been flying the engine while waiting for a new pump, but now it's down -- evidently it suffered a rear bearing failure. I pushed my Rookie with the 3000 in it pretty hard all weekend at our T-38 Jet rally here in Lubbock, but suffered a rear bearing failure in flight late Saturday afternoon. I'm thinking the slow ramping pump might have allowed the engine to damage the bearings when it was spinning on propane without fuel trying to ramp without lubrication - what do you think? Anyway, I'll give you a call as soon as I get a chance. I want to send the engine in for overhaul and also want a new replacement pump. The tail cone has a hole in it about the size of a pencil eraser at one of the inner cone mounting bolts, and the cone looks distorted, like it really got hot - probably during the last flight when the rotor seized. The rotor is free now, and can be spun up with air, but the rear bearing is definitly gone - lots of vibration when it spins. I checked the ECU and the total time is just over 15 hours of operation and has 118 starts.

What parts do you want me to send back? The turbine, the ECU and the fuel pump for sure - do you need any other parts to go with those basic ones? Let me know before I mail it off.

If possible, I'd like a potential repair time frame (and an estimate of cost when the factory has a chance to evaluate the damage, of course). I'm sure it will have to go to Denmark for the repairs, and I'll try to get it in the mail tomorrow to your address. Has anything changed about your address, and do I still need to mark the outside of the box "Repair Engine Parts" as before? Please let me know asap, and I'll get it in the mail to you.

BTW, everyone was impressed with the way the 3000 pushed the Rookie around, at least until it cratered. Anyway, we had a good time and I had the only Simjet there among many JetCats, Amts, etc.

Hope to hear from you soon. Phone (806) 239-4340

Thanks, Les