Service difficulty report · Carbon Seal · Boeing 757222

Difficulty date
August 28, 2002
Submitted
October 1, 2002
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N578UA
Make and model
Boeing 757222
Aircraft serial
26694
Aircraft time
32,831 hours, 11,292 cycles
Engine
Pwa PW2037
Engine time
29,800 hours, 9,870 cycles
Part
Carbon Seal
Part number
1A5839
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, B, J
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

AFT LAV SMOKE DETECTOR ALARM ON AND A BLUISH SMOKE IN CABIN WITH SMELL OF OIL. CABIN WAS CLEARED BUT SMOKE RETURNED. FOLLOWING LINE TROUBLE SHOOTING TO ELIMINATE THE APU AS THE OIL SOURCE THE SUBJECT ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND SENT TO THE ENGINE SHOP FOR REPAIR. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT OIL FROM THE NR 3 AFT CARBON SEAL HAD ENTERED THE GAS PATH THROUGH THE 10TH OR 14TH STAGE BLEED DUCT. THE ROOT CAUSE IS A FAILED 2/3 CARBON SEAL CAUSING HIGH GEARBOX BREATHER PRESSURE AND THE LEAKAGE PAST THE NR 3 AFT CARBON SEAL.