Problem area:
Driveshaft coupler, propeller clutch assembly
.Incident report ;
Several pilots have reported loss of propulsion in their craft, several on initial take-
off. Upon closer inspection it was found that on the Quicksilver MX, powered by the Cuyuna
engine, the coupler connecting the engine to the driveshaft had severed, or broken in
half.
On the Rotec, Skyseeker, and Tierra aircraft the clutch retaining bolts had backed off in
flight allowing the flywheel to spin, or had developed cracks in the clutch housing, on
some model Tierra's using electric start the flywheel had completely severed from the
output shaft.
The problem on the Cuyuna powered Quicksilver's occurred in all cases , with over 100 hours
on the engine. On the Skyseeker and Tierra models the problem has occurred from from first
few hours to over a hundred hours.
Suggestions:
On the Eipper MX models the solution was to go a new style of coupler which was nearly
twice as thick as the original, (note that most Rotax powered MX's had the new coupler).
On the Skyseeker and Tierra models the solution was to check the retaining screws for
tightness, and or Loctite the retaining screws. In some cases the owners have switched to
Rotax gear drives and completely redesigned the propulsion system.
Clutch drive
housing has failed.
Coupler on the
left has been updated
to coupler on the right.
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