Service difficulty report · Seal · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
May 15, 2005
Submitted
June 2, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
16,832 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A1B
Propeller
Hartzl HCE2YR2
Part
Seal
Condition
Leaking
Location
Turbocharger
Component
Turbocharger · Lyc
Component part number
LW12689
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING ENGINE RUN-UP AND SUBSEQUENT CHECK FOR FUEL AND OIL LEAKS, AFTER A ROUTINE ENGINE CHANGE, AN OIL LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE TURBOCHARGER. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE OIL WAS COMING THRU ONE OF THE SEALS ON THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE TURBOCHARGER. THE LEAKING TURBO WAS EXCHANGED AND IS BEING SENT BACK FOR WARRANTY CONSIDERATIONS AND REPAIR/OVERHAUL. NO REASON FOR THE LEAKING SEAL COULD BE FOUND IN THE FIELD. THIS TURBO CAME WITH 0.0 HRS TSO WITH THE NEWLY OVERHAULED ENGINE. FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF POWER AND THIS IS WHY A DECISION WAS MADE TO FILE THIS SDR.

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