Service difficulty report · Baffle · Diamon DA40

Difficulty date
December 7, 2015
Submitted
December 7, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N697CT
Make and model
Diamon DA40
Aircraft serial
40N181
Aircraft time
917 hours, 3,670 cycles
Engine
Austro E4
Engine time
917 hours, 3,670 cycles
Propeller
Mtprop MTV6R
Part
Baffle
Part number
E4A51000401
Condition
Cracked
Location
Oil Sump
Part time
917 hours, 3,670 cycles
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

IT WAS FOUND THAT THIS AIRCRAFT’S ENGINE OIL SUMP BAFFLE IS CRACKED DURING A BORESCOPE INSPECTION THROUGH THE OIL DIPSTICK/SERVICE LOCATION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONCE THE OIL SUMP BAFFLE IS ACCESSED AND PICTURES TAKEN. ATT: 917.4 ETT: 917.4 ESTIMATED CYCLES ON ENGINE: 3669.6. THE REPAIR STATION PERFORMED THIS INSPECTION BECAUSE AN IDENTICAL ACFT IN THE FLEET EXPERIENCED LOW OIL PRESSURE DUE TO THE OIL SUMP BAFFLE CRACKING INTO PIECES. 1 OF THE SMALLER PIECES GOT LODGED IN THE OIL PICK UP TUBE CAUSING LOW OIL PRESSURE WITH A WARNING AND RESULTING ECU FAIL CODE BEING ACTIVATED. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME. OIL SUMP BAFFLE REPLACED WITH ENGINE MFG LATEST PART REVISION.

More about the Diamon DA 40