Service difficulty report · Tube · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
May 5, 2015
Submitted
August 5, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
7,581 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Tube
Condition
Displaced
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R
Precautionary procedure
D

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

What was found

(CAN) AIRCRAFT WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE MANIFOLD PRESS ON THE RT ENG & DURING TROUBLESHOOTING IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RT ENG NR 4 CYLINDER INTAKE TUBE IN THE AIR BOX WAS DISPLACED. THE OH MANUAL STATES THAT IT`S PRESS FIT, THEN SWAGED INTO PLACE. AFTER OPENING THE SUMP INTAKE MANIFOLD BOTTOM PLATE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CLAMP HOLDING THE INTAKE TUBE FOR NR 4 & 3 CYLINDER WAS LOOSE. THIS WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THE INTAKE TUBE WAS INSTALLED 90 DEGREES CLOCKWISE & OF THE SHAPE OF THE INTAKE TUBE IT WAS CONTACTING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE MANIFOLD & LOWER PORTION OF THE OIL SUMP MAKING A GOUGE. OVER TIME IT ROTATED BACK TO A NORMAL POSITION & WAS THEN SITTING LOOSE IN THE CLAMP WHICH IS LIKELY WHAT CAUSED THE SWAGE TO FAIL. THE SUMP GOUGE IS MEASURED AT .059 INCHES.

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