Service difficulty report · Pump · Piper PA24260

Difficulty date
March 1, 2014
Submitted
April 16, 2014
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N9081P
Make and model
Piper PA24260
Aircraft serial
244551
Aircraft time
6,295 hours
Engine
Lyc IO540D4A5
Engine time
5,299 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCC2YK1
Part
Pump
Part number
414000218
Part serial
1508
Condition
Pressure Loss
Location
Fuel Boost
Part time
5,299 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, J
Precautionary procedure
E, A

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

What was found

PILOT REPORTED DURING FLIGHT, THE ACFT ENGINE SHUTDOWN DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. SWITCHED TO ALTERNATE TANKS BUT COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO RESTART. DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND SAFELY LANDED WITH NO ISSUES. ATTEMPTED A RESTART AND FOUND THAT THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP WAS CAVITATING. COULD GET THE PUMP TO PRIME BY PRESSURIZING ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS WITH NITROGEN TO ACHIEVE A POSITIVE PRESSURE. ONLY THEN WOULD THE PUMP PRIME AND HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO START THE ENGINE. PUMP WAS REMOVED FOR O/H. AFTER O/H THE PUMP WAS REINSTALLED AND TESTED WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTS.

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