Service difficulty report · Fuel Control · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
January 13, 2018
Submitted
January 16, 2018
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N36PB
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
317405128
Aircraft time
23,043 hours, 1,727 cycles
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Engine time
1,010 hours, 985 cycles
Part
Fuel Control
Part number
RSA10ED1
Part serial
52342
Condition
Obstructed
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

DURING NIGHT/IMC CONDITIONS, AND WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE ILS FINAL APPROACH, THE LEFT BOOST PUMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONFIRMED BOTH BOOST PUMP SWITCHES WERE ON, ENGAGED BOTH EMERGENCY BOOST PUMP SWITCHES. APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE. SENSING EITHER PENDING ENGINE FAILURE OR SIMPLE FUEL STARVATION, SWITCHED BOTH TANKS TO THE INBOARD POSITION. THE LEFT ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE, IT SEEMED ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTORE FUEL FLOW WOULD BE UNSUCCESSFUL, FOLLOWED SINGLE ENGINE FAILURE PROCEDURES, SECURED THE ENGINE, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND CONTINUED THE FINAL APPROACH TO A SUCCESSFUL SINGLE-ENGINE LANDING. ON INSPECTION, DEBRIS WAS FOUND IN THE METERING ORIFICE. CLEANING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE PERFORMANCE RUNS FOUND THE ENGINE OPERATION NORMAL AND THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE.

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