Difficult Choice

After over 20 years of ownership, it might be time for new engines in our Cessna 340.

Frank Bowlin

Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 08:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A Cessna 340 owner faces crucial engine replacement decisions as one engine is "making metal" and both are past their Time Between Overhauls (TBO).
The immediate plan is to diagnose the source of the metal (internal engine or accessory) to determine the necessary repair or replacement strategy.
If one engine is condemned, the owner intends to replace both due to their identical operating times and concerns about the other's impending failure, despite the cost exceeding the aircraft's original purchase price.
Engine replacement is a significant financial burden and requires a lengthy lead time (over six months) for overhauled units, resulting in extended aircraft grounding.

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After over 20 years of ownership, it might be time for new engines in our Cessna 340. One engine is making metal, but we don’t know if it’s from inside the engine or from an accessory.

The engines have identical SMOH time and are past TBO. They both run fine. Before my time with the airplane, these engines both had a prop-strike inspection, meaning new bearings and such on the bottom end about 1000 hours ago. I put on new cylinders about 600 hours ago. So, my feel-good conclusion is that while overall the engine is past TBO, the attention it has received should make that okay.