Service difficulty report · Shaft · Piper PA32R301T

Difficulty date
July 11, 2013
Submitted
February 28, 2014
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N61JW
Make and model
Piper PA32R301T
Aircraft serial
32R8029023
Engine
Lyc TIO540S1AD
Part
Shaft
Part number
LW14021
Condition
Worn
Location
Idler
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

AIRCRAFT LANDED WITH NO OIL PRESSURE AND FUSELAGE INCLUDING WINDSCREEN TOTALLY COVERED IN OIL. PILOT REPORTED THAT 10,000 FT MSL, THE ENGINE STARTED LEAKING OIL, COVERING THE WINDSCREEN AND WAS SMOKING AND MAKING ABNORMAL NOISES. OIL PRESSURE READ 0 PSI. ACFT LANDED ON TAXIWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND PROP GOVERNOR DRIVE GEAR IDLER SHAFT IN LOWER ENGINE COWL. THE PLUG THAT COVERS THE SHAFT ACCESS HOLE WAS OUT OF ITS HOLE AND HANGING FROM SAFETY WIRE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE STATIONARY IDLER SHAFT HAD BEEN ROTATING AND HAD WORN THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE PLUG. THE SET SCREW THAT HOLDS THE IDLER SHAFT WAS IN PLACE IN THE CRANKCASE BUT APPEARED TO NOT BE ENGAGED WITH THE IDLER SHAFT, ALLOWING IT TO ROTATE AND WEAR ITS WAY THROUGH THE PLUG. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THE IDLER SHAFT SETSCREW WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY IAW MFG TECH DATA.

More about the Piper PA-32R-301T