Long-EZ engine mount cracks

[vdecoster]

My EZ was in for it's condition inspection and we found two cracks in the engine mount, actually the tube on one wasn't just cracked but broken. Both were hard to see, obscured by baffling. My EZ has 1400 TTSN and is babied by me, no aerobatics and has a Lycoming 0-320. Luckily, my CI is being done by the Robert & Valerie Harris (EZ Jet fame) and they're repairing the mount to better than new condition.

What may have caused this?

I pride myself on closely inspecting the engine during oil changes between CI but evidently not close enough!

[EZRider]

Do you have pictures showing the location?

[vdecoster]

I'll post a few pics shortly, when I figure out how to insert them.

[vdecoster]

Photos...
https://picasaweb.google.com/107179851548262217024/DropBox?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMGti6LK7fHJzwE&feat=directlink

[EZPILOT742X]

This is the Ken Brock O-235 mount. It needs to have a couple of supplemental tubes welded to it in order to account for the extra weight of the O-320. If you hang an O-320 on an O-235 mount with no reinforcements done, it's only a matter of time until cracks develop. The reinforcing tubes go from the top of each upper isolator ring, to the horizontal tube that the AN4 bolts go through to attach the mount to the engine mount extrusions that penetrate the firewall.

Here are a couple of pics showing a modified mount:

[vdecoster]

Fantastic! Thanks for the info!