My Cessna Birddog, O-470, had a chip detector. Maybe it was a US Army requirement. That's one light you never want to see come on .

I've always heard that you can't put a chip detector in a reciprocating engine. Too much metal.

Did it have a burn off function?

--paul

The Skinny Dipper developed by Rit Keiter Airborne Electronics (think electric prop governor) was exactly this. Not sure what happened to it.

BH

I sent a message to Aircraft Spruce to see if this oil level sensor is approved for use in certified aircraft. You'd think it would be prominently displayed in their marketing material it it were.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... kkey=66181

https://aircraftextras.com/oilquantitysensor.htm

My IO520 S35 has had a chip detector in it for 30 years, I’ve never found ferrous metal on the probe and it’s never lit up. BTW, it’s tested and works.


Greg

Lycoming and Continental are wet sump engines.

Answer: This does not come with an FAA/PMA approval or have and STC. This is made for experimental/homebuilt aircraft.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please let us know. We are happy to help.

Blue skies,

Aircraft Spruce Product Support

Forgot to mention another dipstick adventure. When the 172 came out with the O-320H, it was possible to get the dipstick inserted wrong such that it would make contact with moving parts and break off. I did that on a cold dark morning preflight, discovered it on my first stop in Mineral Wells, Texas, and ended up stuck for a few days waiting on a new disptick and oil pan gasket.

If I remember it correctly, it was just a couple of contacts at the drain plug.

Not sure what you mean by "burn off function".

Dave

Some chip detectors can apply a voltage to those two contacts when you press the "burn off" button. The sensor runs a current melt the conductive "fuzz" that might have triggered the alarm. Bigger chips are unaffected and will still show the alert.

I seem to remember this described in some military helicopter transmission sensors.

--paul

The Burnoff was used several time on the Nosecase of at least one Osprey that crashed.
Chip detectors come in a variety of styles for different applications.
We’ve had one on the oil sump on the T-6 R-1340 for 30 years or so. I’ve had it light up once due to a large chunk of a cotter pin. The detector has a magnetic center conductor that is isolated. If a ferrous chunk is picked up and lays across the center magnet and also touches the outer edge of the screw in plug, which is grounded, the light goes off. In this case the cotter pin was from the retaining nut on the starter dog that extends from the starter to engage on the engine.
Light fuzz can build up over time but the light can by faintly glowing then.
The Hinze Filter used on some P-51s have them as well. On those you can get fuzz built up easily.

Answer: This does not come with an FAA/PMA approval or have and STC. This is made for experimental/homebuilt aircraft.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please let us know. We are happy to help.

Blue skies,

Aircraft Spruce Product Support

Not always. My Continental E-225 is a dry sump engine. I'm sure there are other Continental models (perhaps not common ones) that are dry sump. I don't know about Lycomings.

Not always. My Continental E-225 is a dry sump engine. I'm sure there are other Continental models (perhaps not common ones) that are dry sump. I don't know about Lycomings.