There’s another shiny option available for the Piper M600. A new carbon composite Hartzell five-bladed propeller—designed specifically for the M600—has received FAA approval for use on the aircraft. The design includes a stainless steel shank, nickel-cobalt leading edge, and mesh erosion screen for FOD protection.
Piper claims the new prop will cut down the already low in-flight vibration in the M600, as well boost performance, although Piper hasn’t yet specified those performance increases. A Piper competitor, Daher Aircraft, introduced a five-blade Hartzell composite propeller option for new and existing TBM 900 turboprops three years ago with much success.
Hartzell says the advanced design of the carbon composite propeller blades allows for an unlimited life certification and makes them up to 10 times stronger than similar wood-core blades. The propeller is now being offered as a Piper factory option on new M600 aircraft. No word on if it might be available at some point for the relatively small fleet of existing M600s asan aftermarket upgrade.
Learn more at Piper and Hartzell.
