Dual Mount Installation

We just did an engine change on 5Y-SIL (that will be a future post) and as part of that engine change, we did the dual forward isolator mount kit installation.  Normally, the engine is mounted to the airframe on four engine mounts, two in the front and two in the rear.  This kit effectively takes out the two single mounts in the front and installs two double mounts, making for a total of four mounting points in the front of the engine.  It is a kit put out by Atlantic Aero under the STC# SA00796AT.  We have installed this kit in all of our 206s and the 210, and SIL was the last aircraft to get the installation.  Hope you enjoy the pictures below. 

The engine compartment in SIL is painted white, so the first thing we did in preparation was to paint the new mounts white to match.  On the left is Marko, doing a great job painting while I am looking on.  Please notice that, in a pinch, when you can't find your respirator, ear plugs work well enough for a quick look at the job.  :D

The old single mounts.

And...they're gone. 

Pretty grungy looking, huh?

Fitting the new mounts.  It's a pretty simple installation...but perhaps I'm a little biased since I've done like five of them. 

Close up of the new RH mount.  Notice the silver flange at the bottom left of the mount.  I fabricated new doublers down in that area to help distribute the load more evenly. 

This was the newly fabricated doubler on the inside of the nose tunnel.  The mounts attach on those vertical rows of rivets.  The fabricated doublers on the inside and outside were to help distribute the load more evenly.  The old doublers were a lot smaller, because the old mounts were half the size. 

The newly installed doublers (the gold things) inside the nose tunnel. 

And the newly installed dual forward isolator mounts. 

Stanley on the left and me on the right.  Stanley is an intern here at AIM AIR and helped me with the installation.  He did a great job and the job went pretty smoothly.  I'm happy with it!