SDR 2004F00241

Service difficulty report · Seal · Piagio P180

Difficulty date
June 15, 2004
Submitted
August 24, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N106SL
Make and model
Piagio P180
Aircraft serial
1070
Engine
Pwa PT6A6
Part
Seal
Part number
80161101
Condition
Separated
Location
Emergency Exit
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

AC CLIMBED THRU 25,000 FT, VERY LOUD HOWL, EMANATING FROM EMERG EXIT BEHIND COPILOT SEAT. COMMUNICATION IN AC WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND AC WAS FORCED TO RETURN TO BASE. AT 15,000 FT NOISE SUBSIDED AND AC RETURNED TO DEPARTURE. UPON EXAM OF EMERGENCY EXIT, DOOR SEAL, PN 80-161101, WAS FOUND TO BE SEPARATED AT SPLICE, WHICH IS HELD TOGETHER BY SILICONE ADHESIVE IN BUTT END SPLICE FASHION. WHEN EMERG EXIT IS REMOVED AND INSTALLED DURING PERIODIC INSP, SEAL SPLICE IS FORCED OVER LOCK PIN PAD ON LWR WINDOW FRAME, IS DEFORMED AS IT PASSES OVER PAD. THIS TENDS TO LOOSEN SPLICE CAUSING A PRESSURIZATION LEAK THAT CAN BE VERY AUDIBLE. INSTALL SEAL WITH SPLICE AT TOP OF DOOR, ELIMINATING ABUSE OF DOOR SEAL SPLICE.