Service difficulty report · Tappet · Piper PA32300

Difficulty date
February 22, 1999
Submitted
July 14, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5481T
Make and model
Piper PA32300
Aircraft serial
327240107
Engine
Lyc IO540K1A5
Part
Tappet
Part number
72877
Condition
Defective
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

ALL POSITIONS EXCEPT REARMOSTFOLLOWING EMERG LANDING, ENG TEARDOWN REVEALED ALL BUT ONE OF THE TAPPET FACES BROKEN. ENG STILL FUNCTIONING, BUT OIL PRESS WAS VERY LOW AT SHUTDOWN SINCE THE COURSE OIL SCREEN WAS 2/3 FULL OF PEA-SIZED AND SMALLER PIECES OF TAPPET BODY FACES WHICH HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF LIKE WEDGES OF A PIE. ENG TIME SMOH: 995 HRS. TT: 4,968 HRS. POSSIBLE CAUSE WAS ONE BROKEN TAPPET BODY FACE WHICH WAS KICKED BY SPINNING CRANK AND WEDGED BEHIND ANOTHER RECEDING TAPPET BODY AND SOON THROUGH THE ENGINE. CASE BROKEN OUTWARD IN 3 PLACES WHERE PRESS WOULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED BY SOMETHING WEDGED BEHIND A TAPPED BODYFACE. MAGNAFLUX INSP OF REWORKED TAPPETS SHOULD PREVENT THIS.

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