Service difficulty report · Rotor · Cessna 172P

Difficulty date
June 2, 2011
Submitted
September 9, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Cessna 172P
Aircraft time
1,726 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A3A
Propeller
Mcauly 1A170CFA
Part
Rotor
Part number
M3548
Condition
Cracked
Location
Magneto
Part time
1,071 hours
Component
Magneto · Slick
Component part number
4370
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
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

MAGNETO ROTOR CRACKED AT THE SPLIT WHERE THE POINTS CAM GETS INSERTED. THE CRACK CAUSE THE SMALL ROTOR GEAR TO FALL AWAY AND LOSE CONTACT WITH THE DISTRIBUTOR GEAR STOPPING THE FUNCTION OF THE MAGNETO. BOTH SIDE OF THE SPLIT WERE CRACKED CLEAN OFF. MY GUESS AT WHY IT HAPPENED WOULD BE FROM SOMEONE LEAVING THE TIMING PIN IN THE MAG WHILE TURNING THE ENGINE IN IT PAST HISTORY CRACKING THE ROTOR.

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