Service difficulty report · Controller · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
March 22, 2007
Submitted
June 7, 2007
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
21,331 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540J2BD
Part
Controller
Condition
Leaking
Location
Fuel System
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, E, R
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING A TRAINING FLIGHT WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED, THE RT ENGINE ACCELERATED NORMALLY TO 40 INCHES AND THEN STARTED TO SURGE BETWEEN 20 AND FORTY INCHES. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE THE ENGINE AT ABOUT 25 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. ALL GAUGES WERE NORMAL ALTHOUGH THEY COULD NOT GAIN ANY MORE THAN 30 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. A LOT OF BLACK SMOKE WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE WING OF THE AIRCRAFT. AS THE AIRCRAFT LANDED, THE RIGHT ENGINE QUIT. A QUANTITY OF FUEL WAS POURING OUT THE `SNIFFLE` VALVE OF THE ENGINE. MAINTENANCE REMOVED THE DENSITY AND DIFFERENTIAL CONTROLLERS. THE DENSITY CONTROLLER APPEARED TO HAVE AN INTERNAL LEAKAGE WHICH HAD CONTAMINATED BOTH THE DIFFERENTIAL CONTROLLER AND THE FCU

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