Service difficulty report · Impulse Coupling · Piper PA30

Difficulty date
June 30, 2025
Submitted
March 20, 2026
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N2VQ
Make and model
Piper PA30
Aircraft serial
30563
Aircraft time
12,219 hours
Engine
Lyc IO320*
Part
Impulse Coupling
Part number
3529
Condition
Destroyed
Location
Magneto
Component
Magneto · Champion
Component part number
4373
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R
Precautionary procedure
D

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

What was found

PILOT REPORT OF HEARING A BANG AT STARTUP. WHILE BRINGING THE PLANE TO THE MAINTENANCE SHOP ACROSS THE AIRFIELD, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE LH ENGINE, HE THEN SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING VISUAL INSPECTION THAT THE RH MAGNETO ON THE LH ENGINE HAD THE IMPULSE COUPLING FAIL. THE RIVETS HOLDING THE PAWLS HAD BECOME LOOSE AND THEN DEPARTED THE MAGNETO, TRAPPING THE PAWLS UNDER THE IMPULSE COUPLING, BINDING THE MAGNETO DRIVE IN SUCH A WAY AS IT WOULDN'T TURN. THE CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR HAD EATEN THROUGH 2 OF THE TEETH ON THE MAGNETO DRIVE GEAR. PIECES OF THE DRIVE GEAR, IMPULSE COUPLING SPRING, RIVETS, STOP PIN, AND PAWL WERE FOUND IN THE ACCESSORY CASE AND OIL SUMP. THE MAGNETO DID NOT DEPART THE AFT END OF THE ENGINE.

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