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 Post subject: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 14 May 2021, 17:22 
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Joined: 07/22/14
Posts: 145
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Company: State of WI Government
Aircraft: B300, PC12, B55,C172
I am a regular over on the Beech turbine forum and decided to make a couple posts about PC12s.
I have flown and maintained 3 PC12/45s since we bought them new in 2001.
We do all the maintenance in house and have the tools and data as a fleet operator.

For those who keep their aircraft past warranty find out quickly about the Pilatus parts hierarchy where in you can only buy from your regional parts distributor (think Amway).

Besides the fact that limits the ability to shop for parts between dealers, the was no aftermarket parts available due to the (normally 20 year) proprietary agreements Pilatus made with their vendors for parts not made in Switzerland. Except for Pratt & Whitney parts which is a different story.
So when you pull out a leaky fuel drain, and see it's made by the Ohio Valve company and has a mfr part number you google the phone and ask if they have any FV123s. yes we have those but we cannot sell to anyone except Pilatus. What looks like a $50 quick drain turns into a $300.00 quick drain.

I am going to post some money saving tips here if anyone is interested and here is the first:

Pilatus PC12 pitch trim actuator info:

The airworthiness limitations section (chap. 4) of the PC12 requires the pitch trim actuator be replaced every 5000 hours or 5 years whichever comes first.
Should you reach the 5 year mark but not 5000 hours, there is an inspection that allows another year or up to 4200 hours since overhaul.
This actuator cannot be overhauled beyond 20,000 hours or 27,000 cycles and must be retired.

The actuator is manufactured by the Electromech company in Germany.

Until recently Pilatus sold the replacements as overhauled exchange for around $18K and could only be procured through Pilatus.

The Electromech company realized that the market for new units was limited to new aircraft or actuators that reached the life limit.
To keep production going recently, they made a deal with Pilatus to sell brand new units at a reduced price.
Now if you call Pilatus for a replacement actuator, all that is available are new units for around $25K.
The limitations section still allows overhauled units to be installed.
There is only one company in America who was authorized to overhaul these for Pilatus. There was a 20 year proprietary agreement between Pilatus and this company that has expired and they can overhaul these actuators for anyone now.

They are a repair station with approval for many Electromech components and are still approved to do these Pilatus Pitch Trim Actuators.
We had all three of ours done in the last couple years for an average of $13K with about 2 weeks of downtime. Coincided with annual inspections.

As part of their relationship with Electromech, this company has agreed to not advertise this capability. But would be very happy to overhaul them for anyone who asks.

The company is Derco Repair Services in Milwaukee WI.
The contact for this service on Pilatus Pitch Trim Actuators is:

Lori Kimmel
Account Manager - Asia, North America
Derco, A Lockheed Martin Company
8000 W Tower Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53223
Office 414-214-2072 Cell 414-217-3508
Email: lori.b.kimmel@lmco.com


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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 14 May 2021, 17:43 
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Joined: 12/30/09
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Just a thought, and maybe it’s not a big deal, but you may not want to post full name, address, email, and phone number for someone on a public forum.

I see most here are cautious about posting their own data, let alone someone else’s.

I know that the intent is good, and I am sure that it is appreciated by the PC-12 owners, but maybe an alternative may be considered.

Brad.


Last edited on 14 May 2021, 18:43, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 14 May 2021, 18:13 
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Joined: 01/16/11
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Location: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Aircraft: PC12NG, G3Tat
I for one am appreciative. Dem pitch trim actuators are hella expensive. Just had mine overhauled. OUCH!!!

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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 14 May 2021, 21:09 
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Joined: 07/23/09
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Location: KSJT
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Thanks Daniel.

The pitch trim actuator is, as I understand it, now on a 7-year schedule (unless you run up a crazy number of hours within the old 5-year interval)


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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 15 May 2021, 19:08 
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Location: New Braunfels, TX
Aircraft: Conquest
I was told recently that you’re money ahead maintaining a 1998 King Air B200 versus a 1998 Pilatus.

Basically, at 250 to 300 hours per year, the fuel savings a Pilatus over a B200 only offset the extra maintenance costs. Meaning, the cost of flying and maintaining a Pilatus and a B200 are very similar - plus or minus.

True?

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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 15 May 2021, 19:29 
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Joined: 06/28/09
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Location: Walnut Creek, CA (KCCR)
Aircraft: 1962 Twin Bonanza
Great tip! I wish I had got it 5 months ago... :sad:

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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 15 May 2021, 19:56 
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Joined: 01/23/13
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Company: Kokotele Guitar Works
Location: Albany, NY
Aircraft: C-182RG, C-172, PA28
Username Protected wrote:
Just a thought, and maybe it’s not a big deal, but you may not want to post full name, address, email, and phone number for someone on a public forum.


That's not the address of a someone. That's the address for a subsidiary of Lockheed. Pretty sure they aren't worried about someone posting their business contract information anywhere, particularly since it's on their own website :peace:


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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 17 May 2021, 15:35 
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Username Protected wrote:
I was told recently that you’re money ahead maintaining a 1998 King Air B200 versus a 1998 Pilatus.

Basically, at 250 to 300 hours per year, the fuel savings a Pilatus over a B200 only offset the extra maintenance costs. Meaning, the cost of flying and maintaining a Pilatus and a B200 are very similar - plus or minus.

True?


John,
Before we purchased the PC-12, we were looking at a KA 200. I think in general terms that is probably true. Doing 300+ hours per year, you should see savings with the PC-12. Adding up all my costs over the past 7 years of ownership, I'm right at $1000/hour 'all in.' We fly 300-400 hours/year. I believe your real savings will come when you sell. The Legacy's hold their values very well as do the NGs. It's common for many of the legacy owners to sell for more than they purchased it for.


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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 17 May 2021, 18:06 
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Joined: 07/10/10
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Location: New Braunfels, TX
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My Conquest has the -112 PT6 engines that are very small compared to the monster -67 engine on a PC-12.

I'm running my engines over TBO and just doing hot-section-inspections. I've been told by a Pratt rep this is absolutely fine.

Is this advisable with a "big-block" PT6?

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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 17 May 2021, 22:15 
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Joined: 07/23/09
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Location: KSJT
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Username Protected wrote:
My Conquest has the -112 PT6 engines that are very small compared to the monster -67 engine on a PC-12.

I'm running my engines over TBO and just doing hot-section-inspections. I've been told by a Pratt rep this is absolutely fine.

Is this advisable with a "big-block" PT6?


We are near overhaul and are evaluating that decision. My line of thought is if you will keep the plane for a while, then just do the hot section. Pilatus service centers are required by Pilatus to perform tasks in Section 5 of the maintenance manual or they cannot sign off an annual. I’m not sure how that or if it impacts a the engine overhaul.


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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 18 May 2021, 00:28 
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Joined: 07/22/14
Posts: 145
Post Likes: +101
Company: State of WI Government
Aircraft: B300, PC12, B55,C172
Username Protected wrote:
Just a thought, and maybe it’s not a big deal, but you may not want to post full name, address, email, and phone number for someone on a public forum.

I see most here are cautious about posting their own data, let alone someone else’s.

I know that the intent is good, and I am sure that it is appreciated by the PC-12 owners, but maybe an alternative may be considered.

Brad.

Brad, I know some of the folks at Derco, I cleared this with Lori before posting.
Good mention of privacy though. As a government employee it’s all public info in my world. :D


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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 18 May 2021, 00:45 
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Joined: 07/22/14
Posts: 145
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Company: State of WI Government
Aircraft: B300, PC12, B55,C172
Username Protected wrote:
Thanks Daniel.

The pitch trim actuator is, as I understand it, now on a 7-year schedule (unless you run up a crazy number of hours within the old 5-year interval)

Yep that’s right Brent, it has a sort of graduated limit in years vs hours.
Pilatus has many items like this which does provide some relief for the low hours per year guys.
Wait till you hear about the acrylic cockpit side window requirement in Chapter 5.
Plastic single pane costs as much as a Multi pane glass PPG windshield for a King Air!


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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 18 May 2021, 05:14 
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Joined: 12/30/09
Posts: 866
Post Likes: +636
Username Protected wrote:
Just a thought, and maybe it’s not a big deal, but you may not want to post full name, address, email, and phone number for someone on a public forum.

I see most here are cautious about posting their own data, let alone someone else’s.

I know that the intent is good, and I am sure that it is appreciated by the PC-12 owners, but maybe an alternative may be considered.

Brad.

Brad, I know some of the folks at Derco, I cleared this with Lori before posting.
Good mention of privacy though. As a government employee it’s all public info in my world. :D


:thumbup:

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 Post subject: Re: Pilatus PC12 money saving tip
PostPosted: 25 May 2021, 14:20 
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Joined: 07/22/14
Posts: 145
Post Likes: +101
Company: State of WI Government
Aircraft: B300, PC12, B55,C172
I have to make a small correction to my post.
I have been informed the agreement between Pilatus and Derco was not a 20 year proprietary agreement. It was something else.
Small change but completely accurate now.
Dan


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