"My Cessna 182Q's prop sustained foreign-object damage that didn't cause engine stoppage, or even loss of RPM, though it took several sizable gouges of aluminum off both blades. Definitely one and maybe both blades will need to be replaced, though most of the damage is on the back and trailing edge. If the replacement cost creeps up toward a new prop cost, that's not a hard decision, but the engine is another story altogether."My IA says that since the engine didn't actually stop or lose RPM, and since the damage doesn't indicate any force applied against the prop rotation, he doesn't see the need to open the engine or the governor. I have read the non-mandatory TCM service bulletin that says any damage leading to prop removal dictates a teardown. The insurance company says it's up to me, but if I decide not to do a teardown inspection, any future claims traced back to damage from this incident would be disallowed. They are allowing for a teardown at my discretion."My dilemma is that I really don't want a teardown on the logs, and it seems a real waste to open up an engine (IO-470-F) with 1,250 SMOH on the way to 1,500 TBO without doing an overhaul. But the TCM cylinders are only about 350 hours since new from a recent top overhaul, and all mags and accessories have been replaced or overhauled in the last two years, so it seems like a complete waste to jump the gun on a major overhaul three to five years early, with a perfectly fine-running engine that may go past TBO due to the recent work."One compromise would be to get the overhaul done with my own cylinders reworked and the accessories IRAN'd, but I am told that this type of overhaul is not looked on favorably at resale time, regardless of the shop doing it."Then there's the safety issue. I guess it will be in the back of my mind (and I assume the mind of a potential buyer) that the prop was replaced or overhauled and the engine wasn't inspected, even with the IA's opinion."I am really at a loss! Any guidance or points to consider would be greatly appreciated."
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/ownership/the-savvy-aviator-35-teardown-dilemma