Service difficulty report · Cylinder · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
August 15, 2011
Submitted
January 23, 2013
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
17,095 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2B
Part
Cylinder
Condition
Failed
Location
Lt Engine
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, E
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

(CAN) AT APPROX 2115 UTC ON 15 AUG 11, IN CRUISE FLIGHT, ENROUTE, EXPERIENCED DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE ON LT ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY VIBRATION. PILOT FEATHERED PROP, SECURED ENGINE, DECLARED EMERGENCY, DIVERTED, AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT NR 3 CYLINDER ATTACH STUDS HAD FAILED. CAUSE ASSESSED AS FRETTING, FOLLOWED BY EVENTUAL LOOSENING OF 1 OR MORE STUDS, LEADING TO FAILURE. OPERATOR INTENDS TO AMEND MX SCHEDULE TO REQUIRE TORQUE CHECK OF ALL CYLINDER ATTACH STUDS WITHIN 100 HRS AFTER ENGINE O/H, AND THEREAFTER AT 200 HR INTERVALS.

More about the Piper PA-31