ComplaintsforWestern Skyways, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  10/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In June of 2021 I purchased an overhauled cylinder for an aircraft engine from Western Skyways for $1,100.00 and had it installed on my aircraft, after about 85 hours of proper "break in" time the cylinder had very low compression indicating a internal problem. I attempted to contact Western Skyways to ask them to inspect the cylinder and to repair or replace it. After numerous calls and voicemails and three weeks had passed they finally replied back to me. I sent the cylinder to them for inspection and repair with their promise that they would "quick turn" (which they described as a few days) to get it back to me. After another three weeks had passed and they had supposedly repaired the cylinder they refused to send it to me until I paid $490.00 for the repair. I had no other choice but to pay them if I wanted to get my airplane flying again. After receiving the cylinder and having it installed on my airplane, I proceeded to do the the proper break in procedure specified by the manufacture. After 25 hours of use a follow up compression check revealed that the cylinder again had very low compression and was not airworthy. A cylinder that is overhauled properly should provide a minimum of 2000 hours of use, this cylinder was obviously NOT overhauled properly the first time, was sent back for repair and not repaired. I have since attempted to contact Western Skyways over 15 times and have not received a response.

  Business response

  02/08/2023

  I can confirm that Western Skyways sold this individual a part off the shelf in June 2021 that was overhauled by a third party. (much like an ********, or ********** would sell a part off the shelf). That "part" was a cylinder. There is never any express or implied warranty for selling a third party part off the shelf. We performed no services at this time, other than selling a part, by part number from a third party simply because we had what he needed. 

  In aviation, it is always up to the installing mechanic to ensure that part or component is installed properly. It is also up to the Operator, to ensure, in this scenario, that the "cylinder" is properly "run in" to seat the rings. 

  On or around June 2022 this cylinder was returned complaining of "low compression". (unlike automotive, aircraft engines use a differential pressure test, instead of a direct pressure test). When the cylinder was inspected through our engine shop, we found it to have been "broken in" (aka run-in) incorrectly. It was overheated (stretched valves), and the cylinder barrel was "glazed" which are both operationally induced issues - see third party aviation writer article discussing "glazing" ***********************************************************************************************

  Once a cylinder is glazed, from improper break in, the only true remedy is to remove the cylinder, hone the barrel, and start over - as this article describes as well. 

  Western Skyways, did not originally perform any work on this "part" being sold, but as a concession, repaired the cylinder for this individual at a much reduced price. What i can see today, is we performed much of the re-work for free, and charged him for the burned/stretch valve work totaling $490, well under our cost, to repair an issue created by improper operation of the operator. 
  

  This individual asserts that this cylinder should have gone no less than 2000 hours of operation (which alludes to the OEMs Time Between Overhaul documents), however The Original Equipment Manufacturer (******** Engines), states in their "Time Between Overhaul" service instruction 1009BE, page 2,  that;OPERATING HOUR TBOS ARE BASED ON ACCELERATED TESTING AND OVERALL FLEET SERVICE DATA. BECAUSE OF VARIATIONS IN THE MANNER IN WHICH ENGINES ARE OPERATED AND MAINTAINED, ******** CANNOT GIVE ASSURANCE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL OPERATOR WILL ACHIEVE THE OPERATING HOUR TBOS IDENTIFIED HEREIN.

  At the end of the day, this is a scenario, in our opinion, of "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished". We sold a part. The operator induced an issue. We still helped. 

  Please do review the article provided in the link as it educates further what our notes show was found, and speaks to how anyone else in the industry would have handled this issue. 

  I appreciate the opportunity to respond. 

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