Service difficulty report · Bolt · Mooney M20J

Difficulty date
July 14, 2015
Submitted
July 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N121A
Make and model
Mooney M20J
Aircraft serial
241079
Aircraft time
4,910 hours
Engine
Lyc IO360A3B6D
Engine time
1,139 hours
Part
Bolt
Part number
SL75060SL12186
Condition
Bent
Location
Engine
Part time
175 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
T
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

AIRCRAFT MADE AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING ON A ROAD DUE TO LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOST POWER. A LARGE HOLE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE CRANKCASE ABOVE THE NR 4 CYLINDER. INSPECTION OF ENGINE COMPONENTS ON THE LIMITED TEARDOWN BY THE FACILITY THAT RECEIVED THE CORE ENGINE INDICATED THAT THE NR 4 CONNECTING ROD BOLTS/NUTS MAY HAVE LOOSENED AND BENT ALLOWING THE NR 4 CONNECTING ROD TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CRANK PIN. THE ENGINE HAD 1138 HOURS SINCE O/H. ALL OF THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS, NUTS AND BOLTS HAD BEEN DOCUMENTED AS REPLACED WITH NEW APPROXIMATELY 175 HOURS AGO DUE TO CRANKCASE REPLACEMENT.

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