Service difficulty report · Engine · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
October 10, 2003
Submitted
November 3, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
7,768 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2C
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Engine
Condition
Failed
Location
Left
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
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) IN CRUISE THE LT ENGINE LOST POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED. THE ONLY INDICATION WAS A LOSS OF M.P. TO 20' AND A YAW TO THE LEFT. THE LT PROP WAS FEATHERED BUT CONTINUED TO ROTATE SO THE PILOT FELT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND UNFEATHERED THE PROP AT WHICH TIME SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER. IN THE PROCESS OF TROUBLESHOOTING, THE FUEL WAS SELECTED TO INBOARDS FROM OUTBOARDS. A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE TURBO CHARGER, INDUCTION SYSTEM AND FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM WAS CARRIED OUT ALONG WITH SAMPLES OF FUEL FROM THE TANKS AND NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TEST FLOWN FOR 30 MIN WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.

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