Service difficulty report · Torque Tube · Piper PA34200T

Difficulty date
March 4, 2005
Submitted
March 21, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N39655
Make and model
Piper PA34200T
Aircraft serial
347870403
Engine
Cont TSIO360*
Part
Torque Tube
Part number
96319802
Condition
Elongated
Location
Rudder
Part time
6,496 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 INSPECTION, TECH DISCOVERED PLAY IN RUDDER TORQUE TUBE FITTING. TECH INSTALLED SERVICE KIT 764-100V. AD AND SB ADDRESSES INSP AN REPLACEMENT OF THE STEEL TORQUE TUBE FITTING WITH A STEEL REPLACEMENT PART. THIS AC HAD THE STEEL TORQUE TUBE FITTING INSTALLED PREVIOUSLY. WITH THE STEEL TORQUE TUBE FITTINGS, SEEING THE HOLES ELONGATED. IT IS DIFFICULT TO NOTICE HOLES ARE ELONGATED DURING INSP SINCE THE RUDDER IS NOT REMOVED FROM THE TORQUE TUBE FITTING DURING TYPICAL SCOPE OF INSP. IF TECH MOVES RUDDER TO THE FULL STOP IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN SLOWLY MOVES TO OPPOSITE STOP AND GENTLY PUSHES ON THE RUDDER YOU CAN NOTICE SLIP OF TORQUE TUBE WITHIN FITTING.

More about the Piper PA-34-200T