Service difficulty report · Carbon Seal · Boeing 777222

Difficulty date
November 23, 2002
Submitted
February 12, 2003
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N221UA
Make and model
Boeing 777222
Aircraft serial
30552
Aircraft time
5,621 hours, 813 cycles
Engine
Pwa PW4090
Engine time
5,623 hours, 814 cycles
Part
Carbon Seal
Part number
515B186
Part serial
UA00325778
Condition
Coked
Location
Nr 1 Engine
Part time
5,623 hours, 814 cycles
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, B
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

SMOKE IN CABIN PER CREW. STRONG ODOR AND THIN SMOKE IN COCKPIT. NUMBER 1 ENGINE PRODUCING OIL SMELL IN CABIN. FOUND OIL IN THE SPINNER. CLEANED SPINNER AND DISK. RAN ENGINE AT HIGH POWER FOR 30 MINUTES. FOUND MORE OIL IN THE SPINNER. REPLACED ENGINE. ENGINE TEARDOWN FINDINGS: NR 1 BEARING CARBON SEAL SURFACE CONTAINED DEPOSITS OF BLACK OIL/COKE THAT AFFECTED PROPER CONTACT WITH THE SEAL SEAT. THE SEAL SEAT SHOWED SIGNS OF UNEVEN CONTACT WITH THE CARBON ELEMENT. THIS ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK INTO THE GAS PATH UPSTREAM OF THE LOW PRESSURE COMPRESSOR.