Service difficulty report · Shield · Mooney M20K

Difficulty date
November 5, 2002
Submitted
January 6, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N3055E
Make and model
Mooney M20K
Engine
Cont TSIO520NB
Part
Shield
Condition
Missing
Location
Fuel Dist Head
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, J
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

(CAN) A/C ENROUTE AT FLIGHT LEVEL 210, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. AIRCRAFT TURNED BACK. PILOT REPORTED ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE & MISFIRING BADLY A/C LANDED SAFELY. PILOTS EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS ON NR 3 CYLINDER FIRST & THEN ON BOTH NR 3 & 4 CYLINDERS. ENGINE IS EQUIPPED WITH CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE PROBES FOR ALL CYLINDERS & COULD SEE 3 & 4 AS COLD CYLINDERS. BASED ON THE INVESTIGATION PILOTS ARE CONFIDENT PROBLEM WAS ICE CRYSTALS IN THE FUEL. FUEL IS FEED TO THE CYLINDERS FROM A DISTRIBUTION HEAD ON THE TOP OF ENGINE. A SHIELD THAT IS DESIGNED TO DEFLECT COLD AIR FROM THE DISTRIBUTION HEAD AND THE LINES COMING FROM IT, REQUIRED BY AN AD.

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