Service difficulty report · Throttle Body · Diamon DA20C1

Difficulty date
September 23, 2016
Submitted
September 26, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N941DA
Make and model
Diamon DA20C1
Aircraft serial
C0512
Aircraft time
4,787 hours
Engine
Cont IO240B
Engine time
583 hours
Propeller
Snsnch W69EK63
Part
Throttle Body
Part number
R6538981A19
Part serial
A16FA060R
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Part time
61 hours
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

PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN NOTED. THIS SPECIFIC THROTTLE BODY FAILED AT 61.4 HOURS AND HAS A SERVICE LIFE OF 2200 HOURS. DEFECTS IN THE THROTTLE BODY ARE EVIDENT BY CYCLING THE THROTTLE BODY ARM AND FEELING A GRINDING ATTRIBUTE. FURTHER EVIDENCE OF FAILURE IS THE INABILITY TO CORRECTLY ADJUST THE IDLE MIXTURE RISE. TRENDS AND ANALYSIS SHOW A CONSISTENT RECURRING PREMATURE FAILURE OF ALL THROTTLE BODIES WITH SERVICE LIFE BETWEEN 50-300 HOURS. THE SAFETY CONCERN REQUIRING ATTENTION IS THAT IF THE THROTTLE BODY FAILS DURING FLIGHT, WHICH MEANS ENOUGH WEAR FROM BRASS AND STEEL CONTAMINATION BECOME GRINDING IN THE IDLE SETTING. THE ENGINE COULD BECOME OVER RICHENED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FLOOD THE CYLINDERS WITH EXCESSIVE FUEL, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. THIS CONDITION COULD BE DETRIMENTAL AS IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACFT ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT. THE RECOMMENDATION TO CORRECT THIS DEFICIENCY IS FOR ENGINE MFG TO IDENTIFY THE REASON OF SUCH CONSTANT PREMATURE FAILURE AND RECOMMEND A SOLUTION TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCY IN ORDER FOR THE THROTTLE BODY TO REACH SERVICE LIFE LIMITS.

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