Service difficulty report · Wedge · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
July 10, 2009
Submitted
August 3, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
5,714 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2C
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Wedge
Part number
10349219
Condition
Loose
Location
Magneto
Component
Magneto
Component part number
BL3492901
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) MAG WAS RECEIVED FOR 500 HR INSP BUT NO HOURS WERE PROVIDED. WHEN MAG WAS DISASSEMBLED ONE OF ALUMINUM COIL WEDGES WAS FOUND LOOSE AND HAD TRAVELLED AROUND INSIDE MAG CAUSING DAMAGE TO DISTRIBUTOR GEAR. APPROX 5 GEAR TEETH WERE BROKEN OFF AND WERE FOUND IN THE MAG AS WELL. MAG STILL HAD THE ORIGINAL MFG TORQUE SEAL ON THE COVER SCREW INDICATING IT HAD NEVER BEEN OPENED BY ANYONE ELSE. THE COIL WEDGES ARE DRIVEN IN WITH A HAMMER AND PUNCH TO RETAIN THE COIL ASSY. OTHER WEDGE WAS STILL HOLDING THE COIL PROPERLY. DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE PAST THE DRIVE END BALL BRG SEAL THE MAG WAS DISASSEMBLED FURTHER TO CLEAN OUT ALL CONTAMINATION (OIL AND MATERIAL FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR GEAR AND COIL WEDGE) AND AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR WAS PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER. THE CUSTOMER OPTED TO HAVE THE MAG OVERHAULED. IT WAS AND HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE CUSTOMER.

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