Service difficulty report · Gasket · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
December 11, 2009
Submitted
January 19, 2010
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
5,714 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2C
Part
Gasket
Part number
LW12795
Condition
Torn
Location
Oil Filter Adapt
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, J
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) AFTER TAKEOFF, THE CREW REPORTED LOW OIL PRESSURE AND HIGH OIL TEMPERATURE ON THE LEFT ENGINE. A CIRCUIT AND LANDING WERE CARRIED OUT. THE OIL WAS DRAINED AND THE SUCTION SCREEN AND SPIN ON FILTER INSPECTED FOR CONTAMINATION. THERE WERE SEVERAL VERY SMALL PIECES OF PAPER GASKET MATERIAL FOUND IN THE OIL SUCTION SCREEN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A LARGER PIECE OF GASKET MATERIAL (1 CM SQUARE) LODGED IN THE OIL PRESSURE BYPASS VALVE WHICH CAUSED THE VALVE TO STAY OPEN, RESULTING IN LOW OIL PRESSURE. FURTHER DISASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE OIL FILTER ADAPTOR GASKET P/N LW-12795 WAS THE SOURCE OF THE GASKET MATERIAL. THIS GASKET HAD BEEN INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN WHICH RESULTED IN THE HOLES NOT LINING UP AND RESTRICTED OIL PASSAGE TO THE FILTER. OVER TIME THE FLOW OF OIL CAUSED THE GASKET TO FALL APART. THE LABEL "TOP OF ENGINE" ON THE GASKET WAS PRINTED UPSIDE DOWN WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE GASKET BEING INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG THE GASKET HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PURCHASED AND IMPORTED BY THE CURRENT OWNER 490 HOURS AGO AND THE GASKET WAS INSTALLED SOMETIME PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE. THE GASKET WAS REPLACED AND OIL AND FILTER CHANGED. ENGINE RUNUP AND TEST FLIGHT WERE CARRIED OUT WITH NO OTHER RELATED DEFECTS NOTED. (TC NR 20091228001)

More about the Piper PA-31