Service difficulty report · Idler Gear · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
August 1, 2002
Submitted
August 16, 2002
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
16,797 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2B
Part
Idler Gear
Part number
71664
Condition
Broken
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING CLIMB OUT, THROUGH ABOUT 11,000 FT, LT ENGINE LOST POWER. CREW NOTED LOW FUEL PRESSURE ON LT ENGINE, SELECTED BOOST PUMP, AND REGAINED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION. DIVERTED FOR A LANDING. LT FUEL PUMP WAS REMOVED AND FOUND TO BE FUNCTIONAL, THE PUMP DRIVE IN THE ENGINE WAS NOT ROTATING. THE REAR CASE WAS REMOVED AND THE IDLER GEAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE LOST 5 TEETH THUS DIS-ENGAGING THE FUEL PUMP DRIVE GEARSHAFT. GEAR WAS REPLACED WITH A SERVICEABLE GEAR, ALL OTHER GEARS AND PARTS INSPECTED AND FOUND SERVICEABLE AND THE ENGINE WAS RE-ASSEMBLED AND TESTED OK.

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