Service difficulty report · Gearbox · Piper PA46500TP

Difficulty date
September 29, 2020
Submitted
September 29, 2020
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N334ST
Make and model
Piper PA46500TP
Aircraft serial
4697334
Aircraft time
2,277 hours, 1,633 cycles
Engine
Pwc PT6A42A
Engine time
2,276 hours, 1,556 cycles
Part
Gearbox
Condition
Corroded
Location
Reduction
Part time
2,276 hours, 1,566 cycles
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

WHILE PERFORMING POST MAINTENANCE ENGINE RUNS, THE CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. INSPECTION OF OIL AND FOUND IT TO BE CLOUDY. REMOVED OIL FILTER AND FOUND EVIDENCE OF WATER AND VERY FINE GRIT MATERIAL. REMOVED REDUCTION GEARBOX CHIP DETECTOR, NO CHIPS NOTED. OIL DRAINED FROM RGB EXHIBITED SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS THE OIL FILTER. REMOVED EXHAUST CASE DRAIN AND NOTED OIL DRAINING FROM CASE. INSPECTED RGB WITH A BORESCOPE AND FOUND THAT RGB CASE HAD CORRODED THRU ALLLOWING OIL INTO EXHAUST CASE. SUSPECT THAT ENGINE/AIRCRAFT WAS UNUSED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN ITS LIFE AND PLANE WAS LOCATED IN COASTAL AREA DURING THAT TIME.

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