Service difficulty report · Valve Spring · Cessna 550

Difficulty date
June 29, 2017
Submitted
July 13, 2017
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N620VB
Make and model
Cessna 550
Aircraft serial
411094
Aircraft time
496 hours
Engine
Cont TSIO550C
Engine time
496 hours
Part
Valve Spring
Condition
Broken
Location
Nr 4 Cylinder
Part time
496 hours
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

DISASSEMBLY OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER REVEALED THAT THE INNER AND OUTER EXHAUST VALVE SPRINGS WERE FRAGMENTED INTO FOUR AND TWO PIECES RESPECTIVELY. THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER INTAKE EXHAUST VALVES EXHIBITED NORMAL OPERATING SIGNATURES EXCEPT FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VALVE TIP WEAR THAT WAS PRESENT. EXAMINATION OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER INTAKE AND EXHAUST ROCKER ARMS REVEALED THAT THE CONTACT PADS (ROCKER TO VALVE TIP INTERFACE) CONTAINED ABNORMAL WEAR; WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNT ON THE EXHAUST ROCKER ARM CONTACT PAD. THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER INTAKE AND EXHAUST ROCKER ARM BUSHINGS EXHIBITED MINIMAL WEAR. THE OIL SQUIRTS IN THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER INTAKE AND EXHAUST ROCKER ARMS WERE RESTRICTED BY DEBRIS. THE BUSHINGS WERE REMOVED FROM THE ROCKER ARMS TO ALLOW EXTRACTION AND EXAMINATION OF THE DEBRIS. THE DEBRIS ARE METAL FRAGMENTS, LEFTOVER FROM THE ROCKER/BUSHING MACHINING AND/OR ASSEMBLY PROCESS. THE ALMOST COMPLETE RESTRICTION OF THE OIL SQUIRTS IN THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER INTAKE AND EXHAUST ROCKER ARMS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF OIL AVAILABLE TO THIS AREA, CAUSING ABNORMALLY HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND RESULTING IN THE FRAGMENTATION OF THE INNER AND OUTER EXHAUST VALVE SPRINGS.

More about the Cessna 550