According to my German mechanic, who is a veteran Socata mechanic and knows the aircraft in and out, the TB21 turbo is very reliable. It’s a big turbo and he has not experienced any particular problems in the many years he has serviced Socatas.
Peter, if you really consider installing TKS you should talk to him. If you don’t know him he comes across grumpy but he just knows what he does and is as honest as guy as you could wish for.
Placido
I don’t know anything special about the TB21 turbo (I presume it is some US aftermarket kit, TCd by Socata under their 145 authority) but the engine the TB21 uses is highly unusual and no other plane uses it. It was used in a drone, I believe. No idea why Socata chose it; it ises the single shaft dual mag so would have been about $1k cheaper than a “normal” 250hp TIO-540.
Just out of interest, even if it is the case, why would the turbo on a TB21 create a problem when the same engine on a another airframe would not? Lay out of tubing or something?
Have any of you guys seen this?
http://www.cavendishaviation.net/#!cavendish-socata/f6pbx
I don’t think the TB21 turbo installation has been specially troublesome, but then pilots don’t often talk openly about problems. I do know of one case where a friend of mine was grounded for 6 months while Air Touring were fiddling with the turbo. The adjustment is apparently very sensitive. But feedback from the USA suggests that it works fine if the engineer follows the instructions.
1991 TB21 N828PD here.
I am a very happy owner. The 21 is very powerful and in a different league compared to its siblings.
First post while reading through all the messages (at it for days….very instructive).
N987GT, 2003 TB20GT (s/n 2213) purchased end of 2013 in the US where I reside. Flown to France where I fly in summer and fall, in 2014.
