Service difficulty report · Bellcrank · Piper PA24260

Difficulty date
December 19, 2003
Submitted
January 6, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N801PC
Make and model
Piper PA24260
Aircraft serial
244256
Engine
Lyc TIO540*
Part
Bellcrank
Part number
2018500
Condition
Cracked
Location
Rudder
Part time
5,500 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION, A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE BELLCRANK BOLT HOLE. ON CLOSER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL FOUR BOLT HOLES HAD CRACKS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PROGRESSION. THE CRACKS BEGIN AT THE END OF THE PART AND PROCEED TOWARDS THE BOLT HOLE, ONLY ONE HAS MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE BOLT HOLE. THE LARGEST CRACK COULD BE SEEN CLEARLY BUT THE REMAINING THREE REQUIRED MAGNIFICATION. A DYE PEN INSPECTION PRODUCED THE MOST CLEAR RESULTS. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER THE INITIAL CLEANING, A CRACK WAS FOUND AT ONE OF THE HOLES FOR THE RUDDER CABLE ATTACHMENT HARDWARE. THIS FIFTH CRACK PROGRESSES ALL THE WAY FROM THE HOLE TO THE OUTER EDGE. THIS AIRCRAFT HAS SPEED MODS AND IS NOT RESTRICTED TO 203 MPH.

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