Service difficulty report · Carbon Seal · Boeing 777222

Difficulty date
October 7, 2003
Submitted
November 18, 2003
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N796UA
Make and model
Boeing 777222
Aircraft serial
26931
Aircraft time
25,303 hours, 3,862 cycles
Engine time
16,596 hours, 9,694 cycles
Part
Carbon Seal
Part number
38223642
Condition
Damaged
Location
Apu
Part time
1,476 hours, 1,139 cycles
Stage of operation
DE
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

OIL SMELL IN COCKPIT ON DESCENT. APU WAS REPLACED AND SHOP DISASSEMBLED GEARBOX AND LOAD COMPRESSOR. ENGINEERING FOUND INDICATIONS THAT THE LOAD COMPRESSOR FRONT CARBON SEAL TO BE THE ROOT CAUSE FOR SMELL IN CABIN. THE LOAD COMPRESSOR CARBON SEAL HOUSING WAS FOUND BULGED AND WITH HEAT DAMAGE TO INNER LIP SEAL RESULTING IN COKING ON SEAL ROTOR. CARBON SEAL, SEAL ROTOR, BEARING AND BACK SHROUD REPLACED.