Service difficulty report · Baffle · Columb LC42550FG350

Difficulty date
May 5, 2009
Submitted
May 5, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N2502Q
Make and model
Columb LC42550FG350
Aircraft serial
42076
Aircraft time
437 hours
Engine
Cont IO550N
Engine time
437 hours
Propeller
Hartzl PHCJ3YF1
Part
Baffle
Part number
643358
Condition
Chafed
Location
Engine Case
Part time
437 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

ENGINE OIL FILLER / BREATHER ASSY PN 649404-2 WAS CHAFED BEYOND MFG LIMIT OF .010 INCH. OIL FILLER TUBE IS BEING CHAFED BY THE CYLINDER BAFFLE ASSY THAT FITS BETWEEN CYLINDER NR 2 AND CYLINDER NR 4. THE RELIEF CUT-OUT IN THE BAFFLE IS TOO NARROW WHICH CAUSES THE BAFFLE TO START CHAFING THROUGH THE OIL FILLER / BREATHER TUBE ASSY. THIS IS THE FIFTH ACFT THAT WE HAVE DETECTED THIS PROBLEM ON. THIS ISSUE IS OCCURRING ON ALL MODELS OF THE MFG AIRCRAFT WITH INSTALLED ENGINE MODELS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE MFG KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SHOULD THE OIL FILLER TUBE CHAFE COMPLETELY THROUGH DURING FLIGHT, A SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK CAN OCCUR BASED ON CASE PRESSURE FORCING OIL OUT THE DAMAGE AREA. OIL LEAKS RESULTING FROM A CHAFED OIL FILLER TUBE CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON THE ENGINES DUE TO THE HOT TURBOCHARGERS LOCATED ON THE LOWER ENGINE AREA. THIS SITUATION CAN BE FIXED EASILY BY MFG AUTHORIZING A LARGER RELIEF OPENING IN THE BAFFLE TO PREVENT CHAFING WITH THE OIL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY.