Service difficulty report · Bushing · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
July 11, 2003
Submitted
September 4, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2
Part
Bushing
Part number
L227667A
Condition
Misinstalled
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
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

(AUS) RT ENGINE OIL FILTER CONTAMINATED WITH FINE ALUMINIUM/BRONZE METAL PARTICLES. STRIP AND INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE SOURCE OF THE METAL CONTAMINATION WAS FROM THE VALVE ROCKER THRUST WASHER AREAS. SEVERAL OF THE ROCKER PEDESTAL BUSHES HAD BEEN INSTALLED PROUD OF THE THRUST FACE AT MANUFACTURE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE THRUST WASHERS INITIALLY BEARING ON THE EDGE OF THE BUSHINGS, EVENTUALLY WEARING THEM DOWN, THEN ON TO THE ROCKER PEDESTAL THRUST FACES. SOME OF THE BUSHING MATERIAL RUBBED OFF DURING THIS TIME HAD LODGED BETWEEN THE THRUST WASHERS AND PEDESTALS RESULTING IN ABRASION OF THE THRUST FACE. PERSONNEL/MAINTENANCE ERROR.

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