Service difficulty report · Bolt · Gruman FIRECAT

Difficulty date
October 23, 2009
Submitted
December 1, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Gruman FIRECAT
Aircraft time
7,698 hours
Engine
Wright 982C9HE2
Propeller
Hamstd 43D51
Part
Bolt
Part number
RC2748
Condition
Loose
Location
Engine Mount
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) DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE MAIN ENGINE MOUNT THROUGH BOLTS WERE FOUND TO BE LOSSENED OFF ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS MARKINGS. ONE BOLT INDICATED LESS THAN30 FT LBS OF TORQUE, THE REQUIRED TORQUE VALUE IS 80 FT LBS. ALL 8 BOLTS WERE FOUND LOOSENED. THE BOLTS WERE LOCKWIRED. THE QEC TSO IS 418.3 HRS. IT APPEARS THAT PERHAPS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PAINT ON THE LORD MOUNTS UNDER THE BOLT HEADS GAVE WAY, CAUSING THE BOLTS TO LOOSEN. ALL OF THE AFFECTED BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND RETORQUED. A FLEET CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN RAISED TOO INSPECT THE REMAINING QEC`S. CONAIR WILL REPORT THE FINDINGS UPON COMPLETION OF THE CAMPAIGN. (TC 20091027009)