Service difficulty report · Turbocharger · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
September 1, 2014
Submitted
March 12, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
23,545 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Turbocharger
Part number
4091709001
Condition
Damaged
Location
Lt Engine
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B, R
Precautionary procedure
E, A

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

What was found

(CAN) AFTER TAKE OFF AND ENTERING CRUISE FLIGHT CREW REPORTED PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER ON LT ENGINE. ENGINE WAS NOT SHUTDOWN AT THAT TIME, SHORTLY THEREAFTER HEAVY OIL STREAKING AND SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM ENGINE COWLING PANELS AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN, PROP FEATHERED, LANDED SAFELY AT NEAREST AIRPORT. MAINTENANCE FOUND SEVERE DAMAGE OF TURBOCHARGER, I.E. COMPRESSOR/TURBINE SHAFT SEEMS SHEARED, TURBINE BEARINGS APPEAR TO BE DESTROYED AS EVIDENCED BY SHAFT FREE-PLAY, COMPRESSOR SIDE HAS NUMEROUS BROKEN, MISSING ROTOR PIECES AND ENGINE OIL WAS BEING PUMPED OUT OF THE TURBO CAVITY INTO ENGINE/EXHAUST AREA BY ENGINE OIL PRESSURE.

More about the Piper PA-31-350