Service difficulty report · Cylinder Head · Cessna 414A

Difficulty date
June 5, 2009
Submitted
August 21, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N441TP
Make and model
Cessna 414A
Aircraft serial
414A0057
Engine
Cont TSIO520NB
Part
Cylinder Head
Part number
AEC631397
Part serial
2552622
Condition
Cracked
Location
Engine
Part time
1,019 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, J
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

CYLINDER HEAD FAILED IN FLIGHT AND BLEW OUT A SECTION OF THE HEAD AND FINS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A .5 INCH HOLE DEVELOPED FROM A CRACK THAT PROGRESSED FROM THE EXHAUST VALVE SEAT TO UPPER SPARK PLUG HOLE. ADDITIONAL CRACK WAS FOUND ON THIS CYLINDER FROM THE UPPER SPARK PLUG HOLE TO THE INJECTOR BOSS. AFTER INSPECTION OF ALL CYLINDERS ON BOTH ENGINES 5 OTHER OF THE ORIGINAL CYLINDERS INSTALLED AT OVERHAUL WERE FOUND CRACKED. ALL CRACKS WERE EITHER FROM THE INJECTOR BOSS TO THE UPPER PLUG HOLE OR EXHAUST VALVE TO UPPER PLUG HOLE. BOTH ENGINES WERE O/H AT THE SAME TIME AND THE CYLINDERS HAD THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME ON THEM. NO METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED AND NO CAUSE COULD BE DETERMINED. ALL CYLINDERS WERE SENT BACK TO THE MFG. (K)

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