Service difficulty report · Accumulator · Beech 76

Difficulty date
September 8, 2009
Submitted
December 1, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Beech 76
Aircraft time
3,057 hours
Engine
Lyc LO360A1G6
Propeller
Hartzl HCM2YR
Part
Accumulator
Part number
8907021
Condition
Discharged
Location
Feathering Sys
Part time
3,300 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
Y, 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) DURING ROUTINE MULTI-ENGINE FLIGHT TRAINING PREOCEEDURES, ONE ENGINE WAS SHUTDOWN AND FEATHERED TO SIMULTE AN ENGINE FAILURE. NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR GETTING ENGINE TO ROTATE FOR A RESTART IS TO MOVE PROP CONTROL LEVER FROM FEATHERED POSITION TO FULL FINE POSITION. ACCUMULATOR WHICH STORES THE PRESSURE REQUIRED TO UNFEATHER PROP HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK OVER TIME AND LOST ITS NITROGEN CHARGE. THIS ENGINE MODEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START WITH JUST STARTER FROM THE FEATHERED POSITION IN THE AIR. ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE IS CHECKED AT EVERY 100 HR INSP INTERVAL HOWEVER WE WILL AMEND OUR MX SCHEDULE TO INCREASE THE INTERVAL TO EVERY 50 HOURS TO CO-INCIDE WITH ROUTINE MX CHECKS.

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