Service difficulty report · Bolt · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
December 6, 2002
Submitted
January 6, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
14,206 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2B
Part
Bolt
Part number
STD2209
Condition
Sheared
Location
Crankshaft Gear
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, Y, 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 WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN HE FELT A SURGE IN POWER ON THE LT ENGINE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF RPM, ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH TANKS AND NOTHING HAPPENED, FEATHERED PROP AND SHUT ENGINE DOWN. PILOT FLEW TO AIRPORT AND LANDED SAFELY ON RT ENGINE. AN ENGINE RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED ON THE GROUND AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PROP WAS TURNED BY HAND AND NO COMPRESSION WAS FELT. THE REAR ACCESSORY SECTION WAS REMOVED AND FOUND CRANKSHAFT GEAR BOLT SHEARED AND GEAR TEETH BROKEN OFF. TOTAL TIME ON ENGINE 1100 HOURS, 400 HOURS SINCE BULK DISASSEMBLY AFTER PROP STIKE, 40 HOURS SINCE AD 02-20-51AND SB 554 AND 475B WAS C/W.

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