Service difficulty report · Retainer · Piper PA18

Difficulty date
April 30, 2011
Submitted
May 1, 2011
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N18SY
Make and model
Piper PA18
Aircraft serial
18387
Aircraft time
3,750 hours
Engine
Lyc O320B2B
Engine time
2,752 hours
Part
Retainer
Part number
LW14995
Condition
Broken
Location
Engine
Part time
37 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

37 HOURS SINCE THE ENGINE WAS LAST REASSEMBLED, THE VALVE COVERS WERE REMOVED. BROKEN PUSH ROD RETAINER SPRINGS WERE FOUND IN 3 OUT OF 4 CYLINDERS. 1 BROKEN STEEL SPRING PIECE HAD BEEN BENT BY THE ROCKET ARM AND HAD SIGNIFICANTLY DENTED THE VALVE COVER NEARLY PENETRATING THE COVER. THE BROKEN LW14995 SPRINGS WERE ALL .030 IN. THICK AND BRIGHTLY PLATED. THE SPRINGS ARE .040 IN. THICK AND NOT PLATED. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN IN THE GA COMMUNITY.

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