Service difficulty report · Magneto

Difficulty date
May 18, 2004
Submitted
June 4, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Engine
Lyc O540E4C5
Part
Magneto
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
L
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) DUE TO ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. MAG WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY, WAS REPLACED. A/C WAS TEST FLOWN, ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH. INSP OF ENG AND REPLACED MAG NOTED INTERNAL MAG GEAR WAS DAMAGED WITH MISSING TEETH. NOTED METAL IN OIL SCREEN. ENG WAS REMOVED AND SHIPPED FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. ENGINE WAS DISMANTLED AND CRANKSHAFT GEAR WAS DAMAGED WITH TEETH BROKEN OFF. OTHER INTERNAL DAMAGE INCLUDED A DAMAGED IDLER GEAR, OIL PUMP DRIVE, AND TACH SHAFT. EXACT CAUSE OF FAILURE IS U/K BUT IT IS SUSPECTED THAT WHEN A/C WAS FIRST SERVICED, MAG WAS REPLACED THAT INTERNAL TIMING 10 PENNY NAIL WAS LEFT INSTALLED AND THUS CAUSED LOCKING UP OF MAG GEARS. WHEN ENGINE WAS STARTED MAG AND CRANK GEARS WERE BROKEN OFF.