Service difficulty report · Rotor · Piper PA18

Difficulty date
September 29, 2006
Submitted
October 6, 2006
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N7472D
Make and model
Piper PA18
Aircraft serial
185807
Engine
Cont C90*
Part
Rotor
Part number
M3548
Condition
Inoperative
Location
Rt Magneto
Part time
400 hours
Component
Magneto · Slick
Component part number
4370
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

PILOT NOTICED LACK OF POWER AND ROUGHNESS AFTER TAKEOFF. RETURNED TO FIELD, DISCOVERED INOPERATIVE RT MAGNETO. DISASSEMBLY OF RT MAGNETO REVEALED ROTOR SHAFT HAD SHEARED FLUSH WITH BOTTOM OF CAM CUTOUT. THE REMAINING ROTOR AND DISTRIBUTOR BOTH ROTATED FREELY. NO EVIDENCE OF PROBLEMS WITH EITHER GEAR. PROBABLE CAUSE IS A DEFECT IN MFG (POSSIBLY BAD METAL OR STRESS CRACK FROM MACHINING CAM SLOT. (K)

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