Service difficulty report · Pump · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
April 21, 2004
Submitted
June 4, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
6,925 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2C
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Pump
Part number
RG9080J4AM
Part serial
C4010
Condition
Inoperative
Location
Fuel System
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) PUMP WAS RECENTLY MODIFIED/OVERHAULED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP OUTPUT PRESSURE DROPPED RIGHT OFF AT IDLE POWER BUT WAS FINE AT HIGH POWER SETTINGS. ENGINE DID NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION OF PUMP PRESSURE DIFFICULTIES, ROUGH RUNNING, QUITTING,ETC. PUMP WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A SERVICEABLE UNIT. SUSPECTED INTERNAL RELIEF VALVE AT FAULT. PUMP IS PRESENTLY AT COMPONENT SHOP. TEARDOWN REPORT RECEIVED FROM AND FINDINGS WERE AS FOLLOWS: RELIEF VALVE POPPET SEATING AREA UNEVENLY WORN AND NICKED CAUSING POOR SEATING ON RELIEF VALVE HSG. LOCK RING. ADJUSTMENT SCREW CAME OFF AND WAS LODGED BETWEEN SPRING AND SPRING SEAT. DRIVE SEAL NUT LOCK SCREW WRONG.

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