DA20 with MT Prop STC - Low RPM?

[thefoxx]

Hello,
As a disclaimer, please forgive me - I'm still learning the technical aspects of aviation and performance.

I have owned my 2001 DA-20 for just under a year now - it came with the MT Prop that the previous owner had installed. For me, the actual performance of the aircraft seems normal (takeoff, climb, cruise, etc) but my question is about the RPM's that I should be reading upon take-off, etc. I don't have anything else to compare it to.

On take-off with full power, I can only seem to get a max of about 2100-2200RPM (has been this way since I received it). I'm just wondering what the experience of other DA20 owners who have the MT prop might be getting for RPM Performance upon takeoff or if mine is an anomaly?

[Pascal]

I will give a call to my flight school tomorrow morning. They are operating a 1999 DA20-C1 with an MT propeller. I'll get back to you. Also, did you have someone check your tach? It is not unheard of to have the rpm reading 100-150 rpm lower than the actual propeller speed.

[thefoxx]

I will give a call to my flight school tomorrow morning. They are operating a 1999 DA20-C1 with an MT propeller. I'll get back to you. Also, did you have someone check your tach? It is not unheard of to have the rpm reading 100-150 rpm lower than the actual propeller speed.

Thanks for the reply! That is the next check is to see if it is an adjustment in the tach, or fault tach possibly? I just wanted to see if any other operators had similar readings.

I appreciate your help!

[Pascal]

Enrik confirmed this morning that the 2200 RPM you are seeing is perfectly normal with an MT prop, which is a cruise prop. He also says that as the airplane levels off and speeds up, the RPM eventally rises higher than that.

[Charles]

@pascal: Greetings to a fellow CYHU-based Diamond owner! Where on the airport is your plane located?

@thefoxx: are you seeing take off distances in line with the AFM numbers?

I learned to fly on a DA20-C1 and remember 2400-2500rpm during the take-off roll. Not sure what prop it had though.

[Pascal]

@pascal: Greetings to a fellow CYHU-based Diamond owner! Where on the airport is your plane located?

Not there yet. If all goes well I will be purchasing a DA20-C1 in April. The plane is currently parked on a grass strip which is covered with snow. So the plan is to visit the plane as soon as the grass strip is useable, have its annual done at the same time as a prepurchase inspection, and if there arenèt any major bugs with the airplane, I purchase it.

[keithPTC]

2000-2200 static takeoff rpm is normal with the MT Propeller installed. See the attached MT Propeller STC limitations page.

[thefoxx]

Great. Thank you all for your help. I think I've determined that everything is pretty normal from what I've experienced! Hope this information might help people in the future as well.

[RMarkSampson]

Same here, my DA-20 has the MT prop and my mighty IO-240B gets about 2200'ish on initial roll. I'm also not too far from Deland Florida where MT-prop USA is located. I went over there a few months ago to get new stickers so I could sand and repaint my entire prop. I discussed overhauls with them (which are done "on condition"). Bottom line - my prop was looking fine and so long as it gets a little TLC it will not need an overhaul any time soon. They do have loaners if you needed to keep your bird flying while they overhaul (about 6 weeks downtime).