The original PWC34910-109 inspection kit as listed in the Pratt & Whitney Service letter S.I.L NO. GEN- PT6-029 specifically referred to a fiberscope kit. However, with the advances in technology videoscopes entered the scene and are now the leading visual inspection device used for these Pratt & Whitney engine inspections.
What is important is that the videoscope being used meets or exceed the requirements as listed in the Pratt & Whitney service letter. Maximum diameter of 4.3 mm and minimum probe length are easily achieved with the PWKit 2 and the PWKit 4. Of course, at the time of the Pratt & Whitney service letter S.I.L NO. GEN- PT6-029 two-way articulation was the most widely used when it came to borescope products. Again, with the advances in technology and features four way and joystick articulation are the most popular. Picture taking and video recording of the turbine inspection are perfumed with the touch of a button. Conversely, image capture and video recording with the older fiberscopes required external cameras and light sources. This was a very cumbersome process especially if you were on an elevated platform.
This borescope kit has been found especially useful for the inspection of Pratt & Whitney PT6 engines, highlighting the unit’s small diameter, short distal ends in order to easily navigate through the PWC34910-200, PWC34910-400, PWC34910-600 guide tubes, as well as many others.
Machida borescopes for many years was a leader in the Pratt & Whitney approved borescopes and unfortunately, they ceased operation many years ago. These Pratt & Whitney approved borescopes meet the requirements as outlined in the Pratt & Whitney Service letter and these borescopes meet or exceed these requirements.
In addition, there are other Pratt & Whitney approved borescopes listed that have similar or slightly different specifications. P&WC EMM also refers to the borescope kits:
PWC90236 Borescope
PWC34910-101 Borescope
PWC34910-106 Borescope
PWC34910-107 Borescope
This videoscope kit meets the requirements to perform an HSI borescope inspection as described in the applicable EMM and P&WC SIL PT6A-116.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 Engine is a turboprop aircraft engine produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada. Its design was started in 1958, it first ran in February 1960, first flew on 30 May 1961, entered service in 1964 and has been continuously updated since. It consists of two basic sections: a gas generator with accessory gearbox and a free power turbine with reduction gearbox, and is often seemingly mounted backwards in an aircraft in so far as the intake is at the rear and the exhaust at the front. Many variants of the PT6 have been produced, not only as turboprops but also for helicopters, land vehicles, hovercraft, boats, as auxiliary power units and for industrial uses. By November 2015, 51,000 had been produced, had logged 400 million flight hours from 1963 to 2016. It is known for its reliability with an in-flight shutdown rate of 1 per 651,126 hours in 2016. The PT6A covers the power range between 580 and 1,940 shp (430 and 1,450 kW) while the PT6B/C are turboshaft variants for helicopters.
By the 40th anniversary of its maiden flight in 2001, over 36,000 PT6As had been delivered, not including the other versions. Up to October 2003, 31,606 delivered engines have flown more than 252 million hours. Till November 2015, 51,000 have been produced. The family logged 400 million flight hours from 1963 to 2016.
The PT6 family is known for its reliability with an in-flight shutdown rate of 1 per 333,333 hours up to October 2003, 1 per 127,560 hours in 2005 in Canada, 1 per 333000 hours from 1963 to 2016, 1 per 651,126 hours over 12 months in 2016. Time between overhauls is between 3600 and 9000 hours and hot-section inspections between 1800 and 2000 hrs.
While lacking a FADEC, auto throttle can be installed as an aftermarket upgrade with an actuator, initially in single-engine aircraft like a PC-12 and possibly in twin-turboprop aircraft.
