Service difficulty report · Silencer · Gulstm GIV

Difficulty date
August 31, 2009
Submitted
August 31, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N451GA
Make and model
Gulstm GIV
Aircraft serial
1221
Aircraft time
7,880 hours, 4,179 cycles
Part
Silencer
Part number
1159AC201131
Condition
Deteriorated
Location
Cabin Air
Part time
7,880 hours, 4,179 cycles
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

THE CREW REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DIFFICULT TO COOL AFTER BEING HEAT SOAKED. TECHNICIANS UPON TROUBLESHOOTING FOUND VERY LOW AIRFLOW FROM THE LEFT AND RIGHT FLOOR DISTRIBUTION DUCTS. USING A BOROSCOPE AND HAND MIRRORS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR HOLES IN THE DISTRIBUTION DUCTS WERE CLOGGED WITH A FOAM MATERIAL. THE DUCTS WERE REMOVED AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF FOAM MATERIAL HAD TO BE REMOVED. THE SOURCE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CABIN AIR SILENCER GAC P/N 1159AC20113-1. INTERNAL BAFFLING FOAM HAD DETERIORATED AND THE FOAM TRAVELED ALONG THE AIR DISTRIBUTION DUCTS IN THE CABIN CLOGGING THE OUTPUT HOLES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS SILENCER. CLEANING THE DUCTS AND REPLACING THE CABIN SILENCER RETURNED THE SYSTEM TO NORMAL.