Service difficulty report · Rocker Boss · Airtrc AT401B

Difficulty date
July 16, 2001
Submitted
August 7, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Airtrc AT401B
Aircraft time
1,577 hours
Engine
Pwa R1340AN1
Propeller
Hamstd 23D40
Part
Rocker Boss
Part number
399356
Condition
Cracked
Location
Exhaust Valve
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) THE EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER ARM BOSS CRACKED THROUGH THE PIVOT BOLT HOLES WHICH ALLOWED THE ROCKER ARM TO MOVE WITHOUT OPENING THE EXHAUST VALVE, SEVERLY REDUCING ENGINE POWER. FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH SEVERAL AME'S THE CONSENSUS IS THAT OVERTORQUING OF THE PIVOT BOLT, AT SOME TIME IN THE PAST, COULD CAUSE FATIQUE IN THIS AREA. THIS CYLINDER HAS HAD NO REPAIRS SINCE LAST OVERHAUL.