PA31 With Bent Prop Tips mod,,Why???
 

I have seen pics of a PA31 with winglets and the tips of the props best at 90'.

There doesn't seem to be a clearence issue from the ground and this plane seems to have no expence spared, I presume it would help performance, if so, how and why isn't it a common mod, particularly with composite, ease of molding props and higher performing turbo props??:)

Probably Hartzell "Q-tips" .. run a search on the Panther conversion.

Did you hear the one about the FAA inspector who spotted the fancy bent prop tips on a brand-new bird and immediately wrote it up & grounded it? :eek:

It cost the poor owner $$ to have his mechanic write up an explanation that they wuz made that way. :*

This is not a joke.

If an FAA inspector noticed the 'strange propellors' and 'grounded it' he would have issued a condition notice, and either handed it to the pilot (if he was around) or afixed it to the airplane.

The pilot (or the aircraft owner) is then responsible to note in the comments section of said condition notice that the aircraft is airworthy (and why) and return this notice to the FAA field office from which the inspector came.
Occasionally, a mechanics signature is required, IF work was needed to bring the aircraft into compliance.

A very straight forward procedure.

Apparently the owner didn't think so.