Service difficulty report · Actuator · Boeing 737201

Difficulty date
August 17, 2003
Submitted
September 4, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Boeing 737201
Aircraft time
54,678 hours
Engine
Pwa JT8D9A
Part
Actuator
Part number
65449617
Condition
Cracked
Location
Drag Control
Component
Drag Control · Boeing
Component part number
65449617
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) UPON ROUTINE PRE-FLIGHT WALK AROUND INSPECTION, ENGINEER DISCOVERED TRACES OF FLUID UNDER THE RT WING O/B FLAP TRACK FAIRINGS. FLAPS WERE BROUGHT DOWN AND SPEED PANELS RAISED. ENGINEER DISCOVERED NR 8 GRD SPOILER ACTUATOR COVERED IN HYD FLUID. AFTER PRESSURIZING THE HYD SYS, THE SPOILER PANELS WERE CYCLED A FEW TIMES. A SMALL LEAK WAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTUATOR CYL, BUT ONLY LEAKED ON THE WAY FROM EXTEND TO RETRACT POSITION. THE SPOILERS WERE KEPT CYCLING TO TRY TO LOCATE THE EXACT POSITION OF THE LEAK, AFTER ABOUT 6 CYCLES, THE CYL SUDDENLY CRACKED WITH A LOUD BANG FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CYL RELEASING APPROX 1 GAL OF FLUID IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS. A NEW ACTUATOR WAS ORDERED.