Service difficulty report · Bulkhead · Piper PA31T

Difficulty date
May 20, 2004
Submitted
July 22, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31T
Aircraft time
17,671 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A28
Propeller
Hartzl HCB3TN3
Part
Bulkhead
Part number
50090XX
Condition
Cracked
Location
Behind Firewall
Part time
17,794 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
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) MAINTENANCE INSPECTION REVEALED CRACKING IN THE LONGITUDINAL BULKHEADS (BOTH) BEHIND EACH ENGINE. THESE BULKHEADS RUN THE LENGTH OF THE NACELLE, FROM THE FIREWALL TO THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE NACELLE. THE CRACKS ARE PRESENT WHERE THE BULKHEADS NARROW TO ACCOMODATE THE FRONT WALL OF THE NACELLE FUEL TANK AND THE CUTOUTS FOR PLUMBING AND AIR DUCTS. PRESENTLY PURSUING A REPAIR DESIGN CERTIFICATE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

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