SDR 2019F00125

Service difficulty report · Bearing · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
February 18, 2019
Submitted
February 18, 2019
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N257SH
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
318052121
Aircraft time
11,580 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Engine time
180 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCC3YR
Part
Bearing
Condition
Failed
Location
Turbocharger
Part time
4 hours, 1 cycles
Component
Turbocharger
Component part number
4091700001
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
R, C, R
Precautionary procedure
D

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

What was found

NEW TURBOCHARGER INSTALLATION, POST INSTALL GROUND RUN UP NORMAL IN ALL RESPECTS. AIRCRAFT FLEW ONE SHORT FLIGHT WITH MINOR DISCREPANCY REQUIRING READJUSTMENT TO IDLE MIXTURE. SUBJECT GROUND RUN WAS NORMAL. AIRCRAFT WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND PREPPED FOR NEXT MORNING FLIGHT. FLIGHT CREW ARRIVED NEXT MORNING AND PREPARED. AFTER ENGINE START FOR THE DAYS FLIGHT. TAXI WAQS INITIATED BUT WAS TERMINATED DUE TO ENGINE ERRATIC OPERATION. SUSEQUENT TROUBLE SHOOTING REVEALED THAT THE TURBOCHARGER MAIN BARING HAD FAILED ALLOWING TURB/COMPRESSER WHEEL TO FLOAT AND CONTACT THE TURBOCHARGER CASTING. DAMAGE TO ROTATING PARTS RELEASED METAL PARTICLES TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM RENDERING THE ENTIRE POWERPLANT/PROPELLER SYSTEM UNSAFE FOR FURTHER OPERATION.

More about the Piper PA-31-350