Service difficulty report · Bolt · Piper PA34200T

Difficulty date
June 23, 2023
Submitted
November 1, 2023
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N8691E
Make and model
Piper PA34200T
Aircraft serial
347670166
Part
Bolt
Part number
400274
Condition
Broken
Location
Zone 700
Part time
31 hours
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
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

THIS BOLT, PIPER P/N 400 274 (AN7–35), HAD BEEN INSTALLED 20 DAYS AND 31.2 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO FAILING, AS A RESULT OF THE OPERATOR COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF AD 2005-13-16. THE PART DISPLAYED THE INDICATOR PATTERN FOR A REVERSE BENDING FATIGUE FRACTURE. THIS IS THE BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE UPPER DRAG LINK TO THE NOSE GEAR TRUNNION, AND IS NOT CONTAINED WITHIN A HIGHER ASSEMBLY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE PART'S SUPPLIER'S PACKAGING REVEALED THAT THE PACKAGING LACKED LOT OR SERIAL NUMBER INFORMATION, MAKING TRACING THE COMPONENT'S HISTORY IMPOSSIBLE. SUGGEST REQUIRING THE PACKAGING ENTITY, IN THIS CASE, PIPER AIRCRAFT, PROVIDE LOT NUMBERS ON THE COMPONENT PACKAGING, AS THE ITEM EXAMINED WAS INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGED.

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