What is always emphasized in the first place when it comes to flying is aircraft safety. The rigorous procedures that aircraft are subjected to, above all should guarantee the safety of all passengers and crew. For this reason, TBO (Time Between Overhauls) is defined by the manufacturer of the engine. It is proposed to suggest the service life between overhauls when flown at a minimum interval. Aircraft engine manufacturers give each of their products a recommended time between overhauls. An overhaul is a special maintenance function that must be managed, and the records created to register clearly that an overhaul has been performed.
Term overhaul should not be confused with much broader term maintenance. An overhaul is as much about the examination of the engine parts as it is about repair or replacement and this cannot be done during any other time of aircraft maintenance. Overhaul plays an important role in the determination of a problem before it produces failure. Inspection is the most accurate and valuable part of an overhaul and cannot be accomplished in a careless way.
Think of safety and reduce costs
The new engine is always a choice, but it’s the most expensive alternative by far. The engine’s reliability may undergo if it’s operated past TBO. The manufacturer verified your engine’s TBO to guarantee the safety and to provide reusable major components at overhaul time.
It’s not just frequent and prolonged use reason for the overhaul of engines. If engines are used less frequently than recommended intervals, they will become inclined to moisture build-up and corrosives in the oil, reducing the service life of the motor when not brought to operating temperature on a regular basis.
Two types of overhaul
There are two types of overhaul: major and top overhaul.
In a major overhaul, the engine is completely disassembled. Every part of the engine is thoroughly inspected, any malfunctions repaired, reassembled, tested and certified for return to service.
The top overhaul implies repairs outside of the crankcase. It can be performed without completely dismantling the engine. It demands the removal of all the cylinders and pistons for the individual purpose of inspection.
Only overhauling experts should be employed for this job. If it is improperly overhauled, it becomes too risky to fly and might guide to the loss of lives and properties.
The TBO is not a matter of choice
The engine’s TBO is established to assure reliability and to afford reusable major parts at overhaul time. Engine parts are exposed to constant consumption and extreme temperature changes. Neglect of TBO may cost you more than what you saved by not overhauling the engine.
An overhaul is to prevent malfunction of the aircraft and guarantee the safety of the lives and properties of the passengers on board. Neglect of TBO can lead to serious and expensive legal considerations. Even when the engine is running properly, and it goes through all the inspections neatly, but the recommended time for TBO come, be sure that running the engine beyond TBO may be a false saving from several aspects.
Poente Technical was created with the desire to provide you with the ultimate in service of maintaining your aircraft safe and ready for service. Our team of highly skilled and experienced engineers and aviation professionals will provide you with the best service. Don’t leave things to chance, contact us today.
