Service difficulty report · Latch · Pilats PC1245

Difficulty date
July 6, 2011
Submitted
September 9, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Pilats PC1245
Aircraft time
19,074 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A67B
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4A3D
Part
Latch
Part number
5711009072
Condition
Stripped
Location
Internal Threads
Stage of operation
TO
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
C

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

What was found

THE FWD LOWER LATCH ASSY FAILED DUE TO THE INTERNAL THREADS IN THE ALUMINUN FITTING PULLING OUT. THE METAL THREADS ON THE STUD HAVE NO APPARENT WEAR, HOWEVER THE THREADS IN THE FITTING ARE BEYOND LIMITS. IT IS ONLY UNDER LOAD THRU THE CAM ACTION OF LOCKING CAN YOU NOTE THE BEYOND LIMIT CONDITION WITHOUT REMOVING THE STUD. THE FITTING IS ALUMINUM AND THE THREADS AND STUD ARE SMALL 3/16 10-32. A MORE DETAILED INSPECTION OF THESE LATCHES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.