Service difficulty report · Alternator · Cessna 340A

Difficulty date
July 20, 2014
Submitted
July 25, 2014
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N118BH
Make and model
Cessna 340A
Aircraft serial
340A0003
Aircraft time
10,819 hours
Engine
Cont TSIO520NB
Engine time
195 hours
Part
Alternator
Part number
ALV9510
Part serial
A170672
Condition
Fractured
Location
Zone 400
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
Y
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

THE RT ENGINE LOCKED UP DURING FLIGHT GOING INTO FEATHER AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. MAINTENANCE FOUND THE ENGINE NEARLY LOCKED UP BUT COULD STILL BE TURNED WITH DIFFICULTY USING THE PROPELLER. THE ALTERNATOR ROTOR SHAFT HAD SHEARED OFF FLUSH WITH THE ALTERNATOR INNER BEARING CAUSING THE COUPLER, PN 630995 AND THE INPUT PORTION OF THE ROTOR SHAFT TO DROP INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO LOCK UP AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CASE. THE ENGINE DRIVE GEAR BOLTS WERE SHEARED. THE ALTERNATOR STILL TURNED FREELY AND THE FAILURE DOES NOT SEEM BEARING RELATED. AT THIS TIME IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE BOLTS OF THE ALTERNATOR DRIVE GEAR SHEARED OR BEGAN TO SHEAR CAUSING VIBRATION AND BROKE THE END OF THE ROTOR SHAFT OR THE ROTOR SHAFT SIMPLY FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVE GEAR BOLTS TO SHEAR WHEN THE ALTERNATOR COUPLER JAMMED IN THE CASE AGAINST THE ENGINE DRIVE GEAR. IF FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE A FOLLOW UP WILL BE SUBMITTED.

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