Service difficulty report · Intake Valve · Piper PA31325

Difficulty date
March 22, 2007
Submitted
May 2, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31325
Aircraft time
3,262 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540F2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Intake Valve
Part number
LW13622
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Part time
136 hours
Component
Cylinder · Lyc · 05K21108
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E, R
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

(CAN) WHILE IN CRUISE, THE PILOT HEARD A BANG AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS IN POWER ON THE LT ENGINE. AS THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AND THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE CONCERN FOR SAFETY THE PILOT CHOSE TO LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING AND SET DOWN AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE NR1 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE HAD FAILED AT THE TIP KEEPER LOCATION. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE ENGINE ASSY AND RETURN IT TO THE OVERHAUL SHOP DUE TO THE LOW TIME SINCE OVERHAUL (TSO). I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE NOTE THAT THE ENGINE PARTS MANUAL IS NOT CLEAR AS TO THE STYLE OF KEEPER REQUIRED FOR THE INTAKE VALVE POSITION AND, THOUGH IT WAS NOT A CONCERN IN THIS CASE, IT COULD BECOME AN ISSUE FOR CONFUSION. THE VALVE THAT FAILED HAD A HORSESHOE STYLE KEEPER AND ROTATOR CAP ON THE TIP, WHEREAS THE PARTS MANUAL SHOWS A TAPER KEEPER WITH NO ROTATOR CAP. THEN ENGINE SHOP HAS SUBMITTED SDR NR 20080229012. (TC NR 20080304008)

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