SDR 2016F00154

Service difficulty report · Cylinder · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
July 21, 2016
Submitted
July 22, 2016
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N59826
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
317652077
Aircraft time
18,656 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540J2BD
Engine time
1,950 hours
Part
Cylinder
Condition
Separated
Location
Engine
Part time
8,165 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
T, R, J
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

DURING FLIGHT AJ100, APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM DESTINATION, THE LEFT ENGINE SHUTTERED BRIEFLY AND ENGINE OIL WAS OBSERVED STREAMING FROM THE COWLING. THE PILOT FEATHERED THE LEFT PROPELLER AND IMMEDIATELY SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL DISCOVERED THAT THE NR 6 CYLINDER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE, THE CAM SHAFT HAD SHATTERED INTO SEVERAL PIECES, A GROOVE WAS GOUGED BY THE CYLINDER'S PISTON CONNECTING ROD INTO THE CASE HALF NR 6 CYLINDER OPENING, AND A LARGE PORTION OF THE CASE HALF HAD BEEN BROKEN OUT AROUND THE SHEARED CYLINDER'S ATTACH BOLTS. THIS ENGINE WILL BE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR A TEAR-DOWN ANALYSIS AND WE WILL ATTACH, THEIR FINDINGS TO THIS REPORT AS RECEIVED.

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