Service difficulty report · Lifter · Cessna 172M

Difficulty date
April 21, 2005
Submitted
June 2, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Cessna 172M
Aircraft time
16,747 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A4M
Part
Lifter
Part number
72877
Condition
Destroyed
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

A/C SUFFERED A PWR LOSS IN FLT DUE TO THE COLLAPSE/FRACTURE OF NR 2 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HYD LIFTER BODY P/N 72877. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE A/C AND CONTINUE THE FLT TO THE CLOSEST AIRPORT (SWAN HILLS, ALBERTA 'CEM5'). LANDED W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. INSPECTION REVEALED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE RESULTING FROM THE BREAK-UP OF THE VALVE LIFTER BODY, AND PIECES OF IT BEING PROJECTED AGAINST THE CRANKCASE, AS A RESULT. THE ENG IS A TOTAL WRITE OFF THE ENGINE WAS CHANGED AND THE A/C WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE. THIS ENGINE OPERATED ON A TRANSPORT CANADA APPROVED 'ON CONDITION' MX PROGRAM. FLIGHT TECH AVIATION AS THE MX ARM OF ALTA FLIGHTS (CHARTERS) INC HAVE DECIDED TO REDUCE THIS ENG MAKE/M

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