Service difficulty report · Bolt · Piper PA32300

Difficulty date
September 22, 2014
Submitted
September 24, 2014
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N33411
Make and model
Piper PA32300
Aircraft serial
327540098
Aircraft time
2,695 hours
Engine
Lyc IO540K1A5
Engine time
2,695 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCC3YR
Part
Bolt
Part number
STD2209ORFAAPMA
Condition
Broken
Location
Crankshaft Gear
Part time
178 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
Y
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. ACFT MADE AN OFF FIELD LANDING WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. DURING MX, NOTED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP COUPLING WAS NOT SPINNING EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT SHEARED. THE RT MAGNETO WAS REMOVED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT NOTHING IN THE ACCESSORY CASE WAS SPINNING WITH THE CRANKSHAFT. THROUGH THE RT MAGNETO MOUNT HOLE, A BORESCOPE CAMERA REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD NOT ROTATED LOOSE BECAUSE THE LOCK TAB WAS STILL TIGHT AGAINST THE FLAT ON THE BOLT HEAD. THE BOLT HAD SHIFTED AFT ABOUT .3750" ALLOWING THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR TO ALSO MOVE AFT .3750" WHICH IN TURN ALLOWED THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR TO DISENGAGE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT DOWEL. IT WAS APPARENT IN THE VIDEO THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS TURNING BACK AND FORTH WHILE THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR REMAINED STATIONARY. THE FIELD O/H OF THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETED ON 2-24-2004 AND STATED THAT A NEW CRANKSHAFT GEAR BOLT HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE FOLLOWING MONTH AD 2004-05-24 WAS ISSUED. THIS AD ADDRESSES POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT GEAR RETAINING BOLTS THAT MAY HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN INSTALLED INTO THIS MODEL ENGINE. NO COMPLIANCE WITH THIS AD WAS NOTED FROM THE TIME OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE SUBJECT BOLT TO THE MOST CURRENT LOG ENTRY.

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