Service difficulty report · Fuel Nozzle · Lkheed C130H

Difficulty date
December 16, 2024
Submitted
April 22, 2025
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N140CG
Make and model
Lkheed C130H
Aircraft serial
3824337
Aircraft time
23,041 hours, 5,874 cycles
Engine
Rroyce T56A15
Engine time
15,595 hours, 600 cycles
Part
Fuel Nozzle
Part number
6809618
Part serial
AG2504
Condition
Out Of Limits
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
X
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

PILOT OBSERVED THE ENGINE TAKING LONGER THAN NORMAL TO START WITH START TEMPERATURES LOWER THAN USUAL, THOUGH STILL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. THE FLIGHT WAS COMPLETED WITH ALL PARAMETERS REMAINING IN LIMITS, BUT AT THE LOWER END OF NORMAL RANGE. UPON RETURN, MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TROUBLESHOT THE ENGINE TO BRING ALL PARAMETERS WITHIN STANDARD OPERATING RANGE. MAINTENANCE ADJUSTED THE ORIFICE IN THE INCREASE DIRECTION TO RAISE START TEMPERATURES. FOLLOWING THIS ADJUSTMENT, A CREW MEMBER NOTICED FLAMES (TORCHING) COMING FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST. THE TEAM REMOVED THE FUEL NOZZLES AND THERMOCOUPLES TO CONDUCT A DETAILED BORESCOPE INSPECTION OF THE TURBINE AND OTHER INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. AFTER CONFIRMING NO INTERNAL DAMAGE, A TD AMP CHECK WAS PERFORMED TO VERIFY ALL STARTING PARAMETERS MET STANDARDS, AND IGNITORS WERE TESTED TO ENSURE PROPER SPARK IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. ALL TESTS YIELDED POSITIVE RESULTS. NEW FUEL NOZZLES WERE INSTALLED AS THE SUSPECTED CAUSE OF THE TORCHING ISSUE. SUBSEQUENT ENGINE TESTING SHOWED ALL STARTING ASPECTS FUNCTIONING AS EXPECTED, WITH NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED.