The 11-View Borescope Inspection Protocol
A step-by-step guide to capturing a complete cylinder borescope inspection. Based on Savvy Aviation's standardized protocol.
What You Need
- iPad with USB-C or iPhone (iOS/iPadOS 17+)
- WiFi or USB-C borescope (8.5mm+ diameter recommended)
- Access to top spark plug hole on each cylinder
- Ability to rotate the propeller by hand
- Borescope Companion app (download from App Store)
The Protocol
3 Groups, 11 Views
For each cylinder, capture all 11 views in order. The views are grouped by crankshaft position to minimize prop rotation.
Bottom Dead Center — Views 1–7
Position the piston at bottom dead center. Both valves are closed. Capture all 7 views before rotating the prop.
View 1: Cylinder Walls Overview
Pan the borescope slowly to capture a wide view of the cylinder walls. Look for scoring, corrosion, or unusual deposits. This overview gives analysts context for the detail views that follow.
View 2: Exhaust Valve Head
Aim directly at the exhaust valve face. Center the valve in the frame. Look for erosion, pitting, or hot spots. The exhaust valve runs hottest and shows wear first.
View 3: Exhaust Valve Margin
Focus on the edge of the exhaust valve where the face meets the seating surface. Margin thickness is critical — thinning here is a reason for valve replacement.
View 4: Intake Valve Head
Aim at the intake valve face. The intake valve typically shows less wear than exhaust but inspect for corrosion, deposits, or damage from foreign objects.
View 5: Intake Valve Margin
Focus on the intake valve edge. Same technique as the exhaust margin view. Compare margin thickness to the exhaust side.
View 6: Piston Top
Aim straight down at the piston crown. Look for unusual carbon patterns, erosion, or damage. Normal pistons show even carbon deposits. Hot spots or clean patches may indicate detonation.
View 7: Barrel — Exhaust Side
View the cylinder barrel wall on the exhaust side. Look for scoring, rust, or abnormal crosshatch patterns. Healthy barrels show visible crosshatch honing marks.
Exhaust Valve Open — Views 8–9
Rotate the prop to open the exhaust valve fully. You will see the valve lift off the seat.
View 8: Exhaust Valve Open — Stem
With the exhaust valve open, view the valve stem and guide area. Look for carbon buildup on the stem, guide wear, or evidence of oil passage past the guide.
View 9: Exhaust Valve Open — Seat
View the exhaust valve seat with the valve open. Look for pitting, erosion, or uneven contact patterns on the seat surface. A good seat shows a uniform contact band.
Intake Valve Open — Views 10–11
Rotate the prop to open the intake valve fully.
View 10: Intake Valve Open — Stem
With the intake valve open, view the valve stem and guide. The intake side typically shows less carbon than exhaust. Look for guide wear or unusual deposits.
View 11: Intake Valve Open — Seat
View the intake valve seat. Compare condition to the exhaust seat. Intake seats typically show less thermal stress but may have deposits from induction system contaminants.
Repeat this 11-view sequence for each cylinder. A complete 6-cylinder inspection produces 66 images. A 4-cylinder inspection produces 44 images.
Tips for Good Captures
- Hold still for 1–2 seconds before tapping Capture — motion blur is the most common quality issue
- Clean the borescope lens with a microfiber cloth between cylinders
- Use the app's quality scoring — green means sharp, yellow means check it
- Adjust borescope LED brightness for even illumination — too bright washes out detail
- If using WiFi, keep the borescope within 3 feet of the iPad for best signal
- Capture extra views if something looks unusual — more data helps Savvy's analysts
- Work in a shaded area or hangar if possible — direct sunlight makes the iPad screen harder to read
- Insert the borescope slowly and avoid scraping the spark plug threads
Supported Borescopes
Borescope Companion works with WiFi and USB-C borescopes from major manufacturers.
| Borescope | Connection | Compatibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vividia W03 | WiFi | Tested, recommended | Good image quality, reliable WiFi |
| Depstech WF028 | WiFi | Tested, recommended | Lower price point, adequate quality |
| Teslong WiFi models | WiFi | Pre-configured profile | Multiple models supported |
| NIDAGE WiFi | WiFi | Pre-configured profile | — |
| BlueFire WiFi | WiFi | Pre-configured profile | — |
| Any USB-C UVC camera | USB-C | Automatic (iPad only) | Plug and play, no configuration |
iPhone supports WiFi borescopes only. USB-C borescopes require iPad.
Don't see your borescope? The app supports custom WiFi configuration. Contact us if you need help.
Getting Started
New to Borescope Companion? Here's how to go from download to your first complete inspection.
Download Borescope Companion from the App Store.
Create an account — name, email, and your aircraft's tail number.
Verify your aircraft — the app checks your tail number against the FAA registry and auto-fills aircraft details.
Start a new inspection — select your aircraft and confirm the date.
Connect your borescope — plug in USB-C or join the borescope's WiFi network.
Follow the guided capture workflow — the app tells you every step, every cylinder, every view.
Review your images — pinch-to-zoom, retake any view if needed.
Export to Savvy or save a ZIP — all 66 images, correctly named, ready for analysis.