Service difficulty report · Gear · Piper PA18

Difficulty date
August 28, 2000
Submitted
September 11, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N3357A
Make and model
Piper PA18
Aircraft serial
183004
Aircraft time
3,636 hours
Engine
Cont C908F
Engine time
3,418 hours
Part
Gear
Part number
35016
Condition
Fractured
Location
Crank Shaft
Part time
3,418 hours
Component
Crankshaft · Teledynecntl
Component part number
530182
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
Y, Z
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

AIRCRAFT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING FOLLOWING SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR HAD 5 OR 6 TEETH MISSING AND THE REMAINING TEETH WERE ROUNDED AND EXHIBITED GALLING-LIKE DAMAGE SIMILAR TO THAT FOUND ON THE MAGNETO DRIVE GEARS. ALSO THERE WAS SOME GOUGING IN THE REAR HOUSING AREA, ADJACENT TO THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR. AN ENGINE OVERHAUL WAS COMPLETED DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 2/5/2000, AND SINCE HAD ACCUMULATED ONLY 25.3 HOURS. (X)

More about the Piper PA-18