Service difficulty report · Shaft

Difficulty date
August 25, 2000
Submitted
August 25, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5788
Aircraft time
4,775 hours
Engine
Lyc IO540D4A5
Engine time
2,945 hours
Part
Shaft
Condition
Sheared
Location
Fuel Pump
Component
Fuel Pump · Dukes
Component part number
414000218
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
C
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

THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WOULD RUN, BUT WOULD NOT PUMP FUEL. DURING DISASSEMBLY, FOUND ONE OF THE FOUR VANES MISSING, THE VANE HOUSING TO SHAFT RETAINING PIN HAD COME OUT, AND THE SHAFT HAD SHEARED. THE CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS NO FILTER OR SCREEN BETWEEN THE ELECTRIC PUMP AND THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP TO STOP THE DEBRIS FROM THE FAILED ELECTRIC PUMP CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP. SUBMITTER RECOMMENDED THAT CLOSE ATTENTION BE PAID TO THE PRESSURE OUT OF THE ELECTRIC PUMP AND NOT TRUSTING SOLELY IN THE SOUND OF THE PUMP. ALSO, SOME TYPE OF SAFETY SHOULD BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT ELECTRIC PUMP DEBRIS FROM MIGRATING TO THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP. (X)