Service difficulty report · Connecting Rod · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
June 11, 2001
Submitted
July 5, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
12,245 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540J2BD
Part
Connecting Rod
Part number
T10540J2BD
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Component
Engine · Cont · TIO540J2BD
Stage of operation
TO
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
C

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

What was found

(CAN) ON TAKEOFF FROM YVG (VERMILION) THE PILOT NOTICED THE LH ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE THEN STARTED TO VIBRATE BADLY AT WHICH POINT THE PILOT STOPPED AND FEATHERED THE # 1 ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO VERMILION WHERE MAINTENANCE CHANGED THE #1 ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE FOUND THE # 6 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD DETATCHED FROM PISTON. SUBSEQUENT ROTATION OF ENGINEAND CONNECTING ROD CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO CRANKCASE AND CAMSHAFT VISIBLE THROUGH HOLE IN CRANKCASE ABOVE # 5 CYLINDER CASUING ENGINE STOPPAGE. THE ABOVE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ON CONDITION. WE ARE PRESENTLY REVIEWING OUR ON CONDITION PROCEDURES.

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