Service difficulty report · Piston

Difficulty date
March 9, 2012
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Engine
Cont IO470L
Part
Piston
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) WHILE ON FINAL, THE ACFT STARTED TO VIBRATE, UPON SELECTION OF "GEAR DOWN" AT LOW POWER SETTINGS, 15" MANIFOLD, 2300 RPM. THE GEAR WAS CYCLED ONCE AND THE VIBRATION WORSENED. THE RPM ON THE RT ENGINE DROPED FROM 2300 TO 1500 RPM. ADJUSTING THE RT PROP DID NOT AFFECT THE RPM. ALL PARAMETERS HAD BEEN NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT, INCLUDING DURING THE STAGE COOLING IN THE DESCENT. ON THE LANDING ROLL, BOTH ENGINES APPEARED TO BE DEVELOPING THRUST AT POWER IDLE. AFTER CONTACTING MAINTENANCE IT WAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A GROUND RUN. IT SHOWED HIGH MANIFOLD PRESSURE, LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, FROM 45 PSI GREEN ARC TO RED LINE AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE BACKFIRING. THE ACFT WAS PULLED INTO A HANGAR AND LOCAL MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE RT ENGINE. ONE OF THE PISTONS BROKE APART INSIDE THE ENGINE, WHEN THE CYLINDER WAS PULLED, THE PISTON WAS GONE, ONLY THE PISTON PIN REMAINED.