Service difficulty report · Nut · Cessna 172N

Difficulty date
January 5, 2007
Submitted
February 13, 2007
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5123E
Make and model
Cessna 172N
Aircraft serial
17271722
Engine
Lyc O320*
Part
Nut
Condition
Loose
Location
Arm Retainer
Part time
1,788 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

THE NR 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST ROCKER ARM RETAINING NUT BECAME LOOSE, REDUCING LIFT ON THE EXHAUST VALVE, NOT ALLOWING SUFFICIENT AIR TO EXIT THE CYLINDER. PRESSURE IN THE CYLINDER EXCEDED THE STRENGTH OF THE INTAKE VALVE SYSTEM TO OPEN, CAUSING THE INTAKE PUSHROD TO FALL (BEND). RECOMMEND A SIMPLE LOCKPLATE BE ADDED UNDER THE ROCKER ARM RETAINING NUT WITH A LOCK TAB TO ELIMINATE THIS POSSIBLE FAILURE. (K)

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