SDR 2003FA0000959

Service difficulty report · Cylinder · Piper PA34200

Difficulty date: September 23, 2003
Submitted: September 23, 2003
Operation: General aviation
Aircraft: N439CT
Make and model: Piper PA34200
Aircraft serial: 347250177
Aircraft time: 5,265 hours
Engine: Lyc IO360C1E6
Engine time: 4,920 hours
Propeller: Hartzl HCC2YK2
System (JASC): 8530 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section
Part: Cylinder
Condition: Separated
Location: Lt Engine
Stage of operation: DE
How discovered: O
Nature of condition: O
Precautionary procedure: E

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

What was found

THE AIRCRAFT WAS PREPARING FOR LANDING AT ARB, PILOT REDUCED POWER. WITHOUT WARNING, LEFT ENGINE FWD OUTBOARD CYLINDER SEPARATED FROM ENGINE, WAS HELD ON BY FUEL LINES AND IGNITION HARNESS. OUTBOARD UPPER ENGINE COWLING, PISTON AND ROD DEPARTED AIRCRAFT. LT WING LEADING EDGE AND FUEL TANK WERE PUNCTURED, CAUSING LOSS OF FUEL. LT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER LEADING EDGE WAS DAMAGED, POSSIBLY FROM DEPARTING COWLING. PILOT SECURED ENGINE, MADE EMERGENCY LANDING. NO INJURIES.

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