Service difficulty report · Piston Ring · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
November 2, 2012
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Part
Piston Ring
Part number
05K21108
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Part time
1,970 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, R, J
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

(CAN) PILOT FIRST NOTICED MANIFOLD PRESSURE FLUCTUATE ON R/H ENGINE. GAUGES WERE NORMAL AT THIS POINT BUT AFTER TRYING TO ADJUST THROTTLE TO BRING MANIFOLD PRESSURE UP, OIL PRESSURE WENT DOWN. PILOT THEN SHUT DOWN R/H ENGINE AS A PRECAUTIONARY. MAINTENANCE DRAINED ONLY 3.5 LITRES OF OIL FROM THE CRANKCASE. A BOROSCOPE WAS CARRIED OUT ON THE CYLINDERS AND THEY ALL LOOKED GOOD. AFTER REPLENISHING OIL, ENGINE WAS RUN AND DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE CHECK WAS CARRIED OUT. AT TOP DEAD CENTRE ON ALL CLYINDERS THE READINGS WERE GOOD, BUT READINGS TAKEN WHEN COMING DOWN OFF TOP DEAD CENTRE, 2 CYLINDERS HAD VERY LOW COMPRESSIONS. BLOW-BY PAST THE RINGS SEEMS TO HAVE PRESSURIZED THE CRANKCASE PUSHING THE OIL OUT THE BREATHER.

More about the Piper PA-31-350