Service difficulty report · Diaphragm · Piper PA28180

Difficulty date
September 14, 2006
Submitted
September 14, 2006
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N7103W
Make and model
Piper PA28180
Aircraft serial
28890
Aircraft time
2,900 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A3A
Engine time
2,900 hours
Part
Diaphragm
Condition
Ruptured
Location
Fuel Pump
Component
Fuel Pump · Ac
Component part number
LW15472
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, B
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

UPON RETURNING FROM A TRAINING FLIGHT, A FAINT SMELL OF GAS WAS NOTED. SINCE THE ELECTRIC PUMP WAS ON, IT WAS TURNED OFF. NO ENGINE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS WERE NOTED AND LANDING WAS NORMAL. UPON LANDING IT WAS NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS DRAINING FROM THE FUEL PUMP VENT LINE. THIS APPEARED TO BE A MIX OF GAS AND OIL. IT IS ESTIMATED 3-4 QUARTS DRAINED FROM THE VENT BEFORE STOPPING. THE OIL PAN WAS DRAINED AND WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN 8-10 QUARTS OF GAS/OIL MIX. THE OIL FILTER WAS OPENED AND NO METAL WAS FOUND. THE OLD PUMP HAS NOT YET BEEN OPENED AND WAS OPERATING SUFFICIENTLY FOR THE ENGINE TO RUN, BUT IT IS PRESUMED THE PUMP DIAPHRAGM HAD RUPTURED CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE CRANKCASE. NO EVIDENCE OF THE PUMP

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