Service difficulty report · Intake Duct · Piper PA32R301

Difficulty date
October 17, 2024
Submitted
March 25, 2025
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N81481
Make and model
Piper PA32R301
Aircraft serial
32R8013049
Aircraft time
3,970 hours
Engine
Lyc IO540K1G5D
Engine time
3,970 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCC3YR
Part
Intake Duct
Condition
Incorrect
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
R
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AIRPORT AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT, AIRCRAFT HAD LEVELED OUT AT CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 7,000 FEET. AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING THE GROUND ON ITS BELLY AND SLIDING SIDEWAYS INTO A UTILITY POLE SEPARATING THE EMPENNAGE AND LEFT WING FROM THE FUSELAGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIR INLET HOSE WAS WORN AND APPEARED TO EASILY COLLAPSE DUE TO THE INTERNAL WIRE BEING LOOSE AND DETACHED FROM THE HOSE. THE COLLAPSED HOSE WOULD RESTRICT AIR INTO THE ENGINE. AS MORE POWER IS REQUESTED, MORE SUCTION WOULD BE APPLIED TO THE HOSE CAUSING THE HOSE TO COLLAPSE RESTRICTING THE AIR FLOW. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE HOSE INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT IS NOT THE CORRECT PART.

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