Service difficulty report · Bolt · Cessna 172S

Difficulty date
January 13, 2017
Submitted
January 24, 2017
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N66046
Make and model
Cessna 172S
Aircraft serial
172S9786
Aircraft time
8,298 hours
Part
Bolt
Condition
Broken
Location
Starter
Part time
1,112 hours
Component
Starter Motor
Component part number
149NLEC
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

STARTER MOTOR WAS SPLIT IN HALF AT MID SECTION. THERE ARE ONLY TWO BOLTS HOLDING THE FRONT AND THE BACK SECTIONS. VISUAL INSPECTION OF FAILED MOTOR FOUND ONE BOLT HAD BEEN BROKEN, THE BOLT HEAD IS MISSING. IT IS PRESUMED ONE BOLT WAS HOLDING THE TWO SECTION FOR SOME TIME THAT THE REMNANT OF BOLT HAS SURFACE RUST. IT IS PRESUMED THAT ONE BOLT WHICH WAS HOLDING THE MOTOR TOGETHER HAD BEEN PULLED OUT UPON AN ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE. IT CRANKED ONCE AND THE CRANKING STOPPED, REPORTED BY A PILOT. PULLED BOLT WAS FOUND SITTING ON TOP OF MUFFLER.

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