Service difficulty report · Intake Valve · Diamon DA20A1

Difficulty date
May 19, 2003
Submitted
May 27, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Diamon DA20A1
Aircraft time
2,317 hours
Engine
Rotax ROTAX912
Propeller
Hofman HOV352F
Part
Intake Valve
Condition
Separated
Location
Cylinder
Stage of operation
CR
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) KATANA DA20A1 WAS ON A ROUTINE TRAINING FLIGHT WHEN THE CREW BECAME SUDDENLY AWARE OF A SIGNIFICANT ENGINE POWER LOSS AND WERE FORCED INTO MAKING AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING IN A FARMERS FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY AND WAS LATER DISMANTLED AS NECESSARY AND TRAILORED BACK TO ITS BASE OF OPERATION. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NR 3 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE HAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AND PISTON. THE VALVE ENDED UP WEDGED PERPENDICULAR IN ITS SEAT AND THE VALVE SPRING RETAINER WAS FOUND SEPARATED AS WELL. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT AND REPAIR.

More about the Diamon DA20-A1