Service difficulty report · Cylinder · Beech A36

Difficulty date
November 25, 2009
Submitted
December 11, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N7206J
Make and model
Beech A36
Aircraft serial
E2183
Engine
Cont IO550B
Propeller
Hartzl PHCC3YF1
Part
Cylinder
Part number
SA52006A23P
Part serial
520F0760256029
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Part time
1,097 hours
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

DURING LANDING PHASE OF AN INSTRUCTION FLIGHT, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD "BANG" AND IMMEDIATE ENG VIBRATION. UPON LANDING THE ACFT SAFELY THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT NOTICED THA THE RPM COULD NOT GBE BROUGHT BACK BELOW 1500 RPM. ONCE PARKED THEY OBSERVED A LARGE OIL STREAK ON LT SIDE OF AIRCRAFT AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTIN BY AN ON-SITE MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND THAT THE NR 4 CYL (SN 6205) HAD SEPARATED AT THE HEAD/BARREL JUNCTION. IT EVENTUALLY CAUSING FAILURE. THE ACFT WAS ONLY 10 HRS OUT OF A 100 HR INSP AT WHICH TIME ALL CYLINDERS COMPRESSION HAD BEEN CHECKED WITHIN THE ACCEPTABLE RANGE, AND NO LEAKS WERE FOUND WITH A SOAP SOLUTION. ANOTHER COMPRESSION TEST WAS PERFORMED ON THE REMAINING CYLINDERS AGAIN WITH SOAP SOLUTION AND DURING THAT CHECK IT WAS FOUND THAT THE NR 6 CYL (SN 6029) WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE CYLINDER HEAD BETWEEN FINS AGAIN ON THE EXHAUST SIDE. SINCE ALL CYLINDERS WERE NEW AT INSTALL AND HAD THE SAME AMOUNT OF ACCUMULATED TIME, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE PREVENTATIVE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO CHANGE ALL 6 CYLINDERS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF CYLINDER FAILURE. ALL 6 CYLINDERS HAVE NOW BEEN CHANGED WITH O/H CLYINDERS.

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