Service difficulty report · Pump · Grob G120A

Difficulty date
August 12, 2011
Submitted
September 9, 2011
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Grob G120A
Aircraft time
1,285 hours
Engine
Lyc AEIO540D4D5
Propeller
Hartzl HCC3YR
Part
Pump
Part number
RG9570K1M
Condition
Failed
Location
Fuel System
Part time
1,749 hours
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED TO REPLACE ANOTHER PUMP WITH LOW IDLE PRESSURE. ON STARTUP FOR GROUND TEST, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE PUMP HAD ZERO OUTPUT. ON REMOVAL FOR REPLACEMENT, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS SHEARED. IT WAS THEN NOTICED THAT THE FITTING ON THE OUTPUT PORT HAD MADE CONTACT WITH A SHOULDER INSIDE THE PUMP. WHILE IT WAS NOT INTERFERING WITH THE OPERATION OF THE PUMP, THE FITTING HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND SOME PARTICLES HAD JAMMED THE PUMP CAUSING THE SHAFT TO SHEAR. THE OUTLET PORT WAS MEASURED AT 0.610" DIA VS THE INLET PORT AT 0.582" DIA. THIS DIFFERENCE COULD POSSIBLY ALLOW THE PIPE THREADED FITTING TO GO IN FURTHER AND CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE PUMP HOUSING. THE DIFFERENCE IN PORT SIZES COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO SOME WEAR CAUSED BY REPEATED THREADING OF THE FITTINGS INTO THE PUMP SINCE THE PUMP HAD BEEN IN FOR OVERHAUL QUITE OFTEN. ANOTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE IS DUE TO THE FITTING ON THE OUTPUT SIDE HAVING THREADS THAT ARE LONGER THAN THE DEPTH OF THE HSG, ALLOWING THE FITTING TO GO IN TOO DEEPLY. THE THREADS ON THE INLET SIDE FITTING HAVE A SHOULDER THAT MAY STOP IT BEFORE IT BOTTOMS IN THE PUMP. PART AFFECTED: ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TSN: 1749 TSO 505.3 MANUFACTURER: LEAR ROMEC PN: RG9570K1/M SN: B4696

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