Service difficulty report · Tappet · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
May 21, 2009
Submitted
August 3, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
18,692 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540J2B
Part
Tappet
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) AFTER TAKEOFF, CREW NOTICED RT OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED INTO YELLOW ARC. ACFT RETURNED TO AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ENG WAS INSPECTED AND NO APPARENT CAUSE WAS FOUND INITIALLY. THE OIL SUCTION SCREEN WAS INSPECTED AND A LARGE PIECE OF METAL WAS FOUND. IT WAS SUSPECTED TO BE FROM A TAPPET BODY. OIL FILTER WAS INSP AND FERROUS METAL WAS FOUND WHICH APPEARED TO BE CAMSHAFT MATERIAL. ENG WAS REMOVED AND SENT FOR REPAIR. IT WAS FOUND THAT A COUPLE CAM LOBES WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND THAT A TAPPET BODY WAS INDEED BROKEN. ENG HAD 496 HRS. TSO. ENG WAS REPAIRED AND REINSTALLED. PROP, PROP GOV, AND OIL COOLER WERE FLUSHED AND REINSTALLED. ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE AFTER SATISFACTORY RUNS AND TEST FLIGHT.

More about the Piper PA-31-350