Service difficulty report · Cylinder Head · Mooney M20R

Difficulty date
January 26, 2015
Submitted
February 26, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N1068G
Make and model
Mooney M20R
Aircraft serial
290328
Engine
Cont IO550G
Part
Cylinder Head
Part number
654966
Condition
Cracked
Location
Nr 4 Cylinder
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
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

FOUND CRACK IN CYLINDER HEAD BETWEEN THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND THE INJECTOR HOLE AT ANNUAL INSPECTION AT 1,314.4 HRS. CYLINDER LEAK DOWN WAS 24/80 AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE AIR WAS GOING PAST THE INTAKE VALVE DUE TO CORE SHIFT IN THE CASTING CAUSED BY THE CRACK. CYLINDER WAS REPLACED WITH O/H UNIT PREVIOUSLY FOR THE SAME REASON AND ONLY HAD 371.5 HRS OF OPERATIONAL TIME. IT WAS NOTED THAT AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT AT 942.9 HRS THAT THE LEAD DOWN CHECK NEVER WENT ABOVE 40/80 AT SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL INSPECTIONS. PROBABLE CAUSE IS INSUFFICIENT METAL BETWEEN THE SPARK PLUG AND THE INJECTOR HOLE TO ADEQUATELY DEAL WITH THE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION STRESSES DURING NORMAL OPERATION. PREVENTION WOULD FACILITATE AN ENGINEERING CHANGE IN THE COOLING BAFFLING OR IN THE CASTING CONFIGURATION AT THE MFG LEVEL, RECOMMEND ANY USED OR REMOVED CYLINDERS.

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