Service difficulty report · Drive Gear · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
April 10, 2001
Submitted
May 31, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N4144C
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496020
Part
Drive Gear
Part number
D4718
Condition
Cracked
Location
Prop Governor
Part time
1,034 hours
Component
Governor · Hartzl
Component part number
U315L
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

GOVERNOR WAS SUBMITTED FOR INSPECTION DUE TO AN ENGINE FIRE ON THE GROUND. DURING INSPECTION, THE DRIVE GEAR PN D 4718 WAS FOUND CRACKED IN THE DRIVE GEAR SPLINES THAT ENGAGE THE GOVERNOR DRIVE ON THE ENGINE. THE GEAR CONTAINS TWO CRACKS, ALMOST 180 DEGREES APART AND OVER .5000 INCH LONG. HAD THE ENGINE NOT CAUGHT FIRE, THIS GEAR MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE FAILED IN SERVICE.

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