Service difficulty report · Valve · Piper PA46500TP

Difficulty date
January 8, 2024
Submitted
January 17, 2024
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N911TC
Make and model
Piper PA46500TP
Aircraft serial
4697238
Aircraft time
2,664 hours, 2,162 cycles
Engine
Pwc PT6A42A
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4N3
Part
Valve
Part number
101758802
Part serial
0281
Condition
Unknown
Location
Zone 100
Part time
150 hours
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

MALIBU AEROSPACE IS A SHOP THAT WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON THE PA46 AIRCRAFT. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY OF REPLACEMENT AND AND EXTREMELY SHORT LIFE OF THE LANDING GEAR EMERGENCY RELEASE VALVES (PN: 101758-802). THE FAILURE HAS BEEN WITH THE REPLACEMENT VALVES. WE INSTALLED A VALVE IN N911TC ON 12/17/2021. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE EMERGENCY RELEASE VALVE WHILE IN CRUISE. THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT MAINTAIN PRESSURE WHEN THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED, OR WOULD NOT HOLD THE GEAR UP/RETRACTED DURING FLIGHT. WE REMOVED THE DEFECTIVE VALVE (THAT WAS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD) AND INSTALLED A NEW VALVE. DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION THIS YEAR, 2024, (1 YEAR AFTER THE 2ND VALVE WAS INSTALLED) WE EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS ISSUE. THE EMERGENCY RELEASE VALVE WOULD NOT RELEASE THE LANDING GEAR. THE VALVE HAD FAILED INTERNALLY AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE LANDING GEAR TO BE RELEASED. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE WITH OUR MERIDIAN/M500 FLEET. WE HAVE FILED MULTIPLE SERVICE DIFFICULTY REPORTS WITH THE FAA BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ATTENTION IN REGARD TO THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. WE WILL FILE A PIPER SL 1041A REPORTS FOR EVERY AIRCRAFT THAT WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS YEAR.

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