Service difficulty report · Engine · Cessna 140

Difficulty date
March 25, 2026
Submitted
March 25, 2026
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N89109
Make and model
Cessna 140
Aircraft serial
8117
Engine
Cont C8512
Part
Engine
Condition
Making Metal
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
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

DURING THE ENGINE OVERHAUL, UNDER THE DISASSEMBLY PROCESS, WE FOUND A MOUNTED EXTERNAL SPIN-ON OIL FILTER. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE STILL RETAINED ITS ORIGINAL INTERNAL MESH OIL FILTER. THE ORIGINAL FILTER CONTAINED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL SLUDGE, DEPOSITS, AND METAL PARTICLES, WHILE THE SPIN-ON FILTER SHOWED NO CONTAMINATION. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT THE MODIFICATION PERFORMED ON THIS ENGINE WAS INCORRECT. WHEN AN OIL FILTER ADAPTER IS INSTALLED, THE ORIGINAL MESH FILTER MUST BE REMOVED SO THAT ONLY THE SPIN-ON FILTER IS IN USE. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WOULD TYPICALLY INSPECT ONLY THE SPIN-ON FILTER AND NOT THE ORIGINAL INTERNAL FILTER. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE ORIGINAL FILTER BECOMING CLOGGED, CAUSING ENGINE OIL STARVATION AND RESULTING IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE AS EVIDENCED BY THIS ENGINE AND THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS FOUND IN THE ORIGINAL FILTER.

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