Service difficulty report · Breather Tube · Cessna 152

Difficulty date
March 1, 2011
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Cessna 152
Aircraft time
16,932 hours
Engine
Lyc O235L2C
Propeller
Mcauly 1A103TCM
Part
Breather Tube
Part number
040034313
Condition
Clogged
Location
Engine
Part time
16,941 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE IN THE CABIN DURING FLIGHT AND DECLARED AND EMERGENCY LANDING. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ENGINE BREATHER TUBE HAD BEEN PLUGGED SOLID WITH ICE WHICH PRESSURIZED THE ENGINE CRANKCASE CAUSING THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL TO BE PUSHED OUT. THIS SENT ENGINE OIL OUT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE WHICH DRIPPED ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING OIL TO BURN ON THE EXHAUST PIPES WHICH CONTRIBUTED THE SMELL IN THE COCKPIT THAT THE PILOT SMELLED. THE ACFT WINDSHIELD AND AIRFRAME WAS COVERED IN OIL AND ENGINE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. HAD THE ACFT HAD THIS PROBLEM AWAY FROM AN AIRPORT, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE RUN OUT OF OIL AND WOULD OF HAD TO LAND ELSEWHERE. THERE IS A SECONDARY HOLE DRILLED 8" UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BREATHER TUBE WHICH IS A SMALLER DIAMETER THAN THE BOTTOM MAIN HOLE, WE ARE NOT SURE AT THIS POINT IF THE SECONDARY HOLD WAS PLUGGED AS WELL OF IF JUST THE BOTTOM HOLD BEING PLUGGED WOULD BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL TO BE PUSHED OUT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REF CADORS 2011CX0667 AND W/O YAV-697.

More about the Cessna 152