For all of the talk about engine failures, they really are quite rare. For all of the talk about how outdated our TCM and Lycoming engines are, they're actually quite robust, reliable and efficient. That doesn't mean they can't or don't fail, and when they do, the result can ruin your day. But let's be up front-our GA piston engines are very reliable. According to Bill Cunningham of Pow-ermaster Aircraft Engines (www.power tnasterengines.com), "Most overhauls are done for time; prop strikes are a close second. Catastrophic failures are pretty rare." We want the engines to be light, and yet ask them to provide us with high power output for the vast majority of their lives.
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