Service difficulty report · Actuator · Cessna 550

Difficulty date
April 3, 2007
Submitted
April 3, 2007
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5314J
Make and model
Cessna 550
Aircraft serial
5500663
Aircraft time
5,592 hours, 4,640 cycles
Engine
Pwa JT15D4
Part
Actuator
Part number
65651412
Condition
Binding
Location
Elevator Trim
Part time
5,592 hours, 4,640 cycles
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
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

AFTER A PHASE 1-4 INSPECTION THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS FOUND TO BE BINDING. INSPECTION OF THIS SYSTEM FOUND THAT THE WILKIE BUTTON IN THE BACK OF THE ACTUATOR TRIM JACK SCREWS HAD COME OUT AND WAS BINDING THE TRIM CHAIN AND SPROCKETS. WHEN THE ACTUATORS ARE LUBED THE WILKIE BUTTONS HAVE A TENDENCY TO POP OUT OF THERE PLACE IF YOU DONT LOOK CLOSELY AFTER LUBING THESE ACTUATORS THE GREASE PUSHES THESE PLUGS OUT AND THEY STICK TO THE INTERCONNECT CHAIN CAUSING A BINDING CONDITION. THIS COULD ALSO HAPPEN IN FLIGHT CAUSING A LIKE CONDITION WITH MORE DIRE PROBLEMS. I THINK MFG SHOULD REMOVE THIS PLUG OR MORE SECURELY FIX THIS PLUG IN PLACE.

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