Service difficulty report · Engine · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
January 20, 2002
Submitted
January 21, 2003
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
15,446 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540J2B
Propeller
Hartzl HCC4YR2
Part
Engine
Condition
Making Metal
Location
Left
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) PILOT REPORTED LOW OIL PRESSURE READING 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO LANDING. VISUAL INSPECTION OF ENGINE EXTERIOR & OIL LEVEL CHECK CARRIED OUT BY PILOT. 3 LITERS OF OIL ADDED. AIRCRAFT TEST FLOWN, TAKEOFF NORMAL, RUN UP WAS NORMAL, AT CRUISE POWER OIL PRESSURE STARTED DECREASING 5 MINUTES AFTER CRUISE POWER SET. AIRCRAFT RETURNED FOR LANDING. MAINTENANCE FLOWN DOWN TO INSPECT ENGINE. METAL FOUND IN OIL, OIL FILTER AND SCREEN. ENGINE TAKEN OFF LT SIDE OF AIRPLANE. AFTER ENGINE OVERHAUL, FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT LOBS WERE WEARING OUT CAUSING METAL PARTICLES IN THE ENGINE OIL.

More about the Piper PA-31