Service difficulty report · Pump · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
September 9, 2002
Submitted
September 9, 2002
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N316GC
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
8152015
Aircraft time
4,247 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Engine time
1,200 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCC4YR2
Part
Pump
Condition
Failed
Location
Hyd System
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

THE RIGHT ENGINE HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED SOON AFTER TAKE OFF. THE LANDING GEAR FAILED TO RETRACT FULLY. THE PILOT TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR, AND FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THEM ALL IN A SAFE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION, TO MAKE A LANDING. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HYDRAULIC PUMP DRIVE SHAFT SEAL WAS BROKEN. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A VALVE INSIDE THE PUMP THAT WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, AND ALLOWED THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO BE PUMPED OVERBOARD. PUMP MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CORRECTLY TESTED BY THE OVERHAULER.

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