Well I had my first failed start on my FTE-500 this morning.

All the controller said was "timed out".

It spooled up and lit the propane, but just kept spooling and never lit the Jet-A.
When it shut down I had fuel dripping out of the front of the turbine.

After setting it on its nose and tail, the next start went normally.

Any ideas what causes that?

Probably not enough propane. In my experience, you need to empty the propane tank after each day of flying. I just unhook the line and leave it off until i go flying again. If it was the first start, that would be my guess. The propane turns from the liquid to gas and makes the engine hard to start on the first flight of the day. Another way around it is just leave the powermax hooked up and after it intially lights the propane and then doesn't seem to start the ramp, just ease on the trigger valve a couple times and you will hear the engine spool up on the propane and then switch to the Jet-A fuel ramp. Hope this helps.

that sounds like that might have been the case, thanks

Most likely your start setting need to be adjusted a little bit. Just as you had to adjust your mixture on Dudcted Fans, Turbines need a little set up adjustments also. I'm sure we can give you a hand next weekend

Dawn

thanks Dawn

what is your start gas setting?

I have RAM 750 auto start...
in cold weather setting 35-40
in warm weather 55
abouve 75 degress 65
Carlos at RTI of the FTE guys should have numbers for your 500

if your powermaster supply is low you may not get enough into your onboard tank
prime but do not flood turbine with "pump" button on data terminal

Skok, the autostart sequences need to be performed in a certain amount of time, or the controller aborts the start. If the propane lights up, but the temp probe doesnt come up to temp (over the preset minimum to go on to the next step, pumping in kero) in a certain amount of time, it will give the "timed out" reading and you need to start over. My GB autostart unit does the same thing, if there isnt enough propane on for the start it takes too long to get up over the minimum temp.

AJC

Im 99% sure the issue was the propane.
Just not enough and the temp never got hot enough to light the fuel, thus the fuel dripping out of the cowl.
Everything went smoothly after that first attempt.

Quick question: before starting you jet, you always have to use propane then switch to Kero/Jet-A or is this a break-in procedure? [sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

turbines uses propane to start and heat up, then the ecu turns on the kero/jet-a and empties the propane cartridge.
All use propane to start except the BMT turbine which starts on kero or jet-a

Most turbines start on either propane or powermax (butane / propane mix) and then transition to Jet-A or Kerosene. BMT is the only manufacturer at this time that sells a full kerosene autostart turbine, although I believe the Sophias and Turbomins started without propane (both of these are out of production).

***Looks like Shok and I were typing at the same time.

But on the field, I don't see guys with propane tanks, yet they have Jetcats, Wrens, etc. I'm just confused as to why they did not use propane.

Onboard tank mounted inside the jet provides the propane.


Jerry

The pressure of propane is too high for our plastic lines with outside temperatures much over 90 F, (inside aircraft).
Darryl Usher