Service difficulty report · Magneto · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
June 30, 2009
Submitted
August 3, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
14,351 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Magneto
Part number
BL68291018
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) MAG WAS SENT IN DUE TO TIMING SPLIT BETWEEN LT AND RT POINTS OF APPROX 5 DEGREES. CUSTOMER REQUESTED 500 HR INSP BE CARRIED OUT BUT DID NOT SUPPLY THE TT ON THE MAG. TIMING WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE ABOUT 5 DEG LATE ON THE LT POINTS AND 10 DEG LATE ON THE RT POINTS. RETARD POINTS WERE BARELY OPENING ON 3 OF 4 LOBES OF RETARD CAM AND NOT OPENING AT ALL ON 4TH LOBE. WHEN DISASSEMBLED ROLLER BRG WAS FOUND TO HAVE A DARK BROWN GREASE IN IT INSTEAD OF THE WHITE GREASE THEY ARE SUPPLIED WITH. MFG DOES NOT ALLOW REGREASING THESE BRGS, THEY COME PRE-PACKED FROM THE FACTORY. BROWN GREASE HAD COATED CAMS AND CONTAMINATED THE POINTS, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE TIMING ISSUES. WHEN THE DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK WAS REMOVED THE RT COIL TAB WAS BENT UP ENOUGH THAT IT CONTACTED THE END OF THE DIST GEAR SHAFT AND A SMALL WEAR SPOT HAD STARTED. RESISTANCE OF BOTH COILS WERE TESTED AND LT COIL READING (15,500 OHMS) INDICATES THAT IT IS A 4 CYL COIL INSTEAD OF THE 6 CYL COIL REQUIRED FOR THIS MAG. THIS MAG HAD AN STICKER STATING IT HAD BEEN O/H`D ON 21/5/07 REF NR 14255.

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