Service difficulty report · Oil Cooler · Piper PA32300

Difficulty date
June 20, 2015
Submitted
April 22, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA32300
Aircraft time
2,989 hours
Engine
Lyc IO540K1A5
Part
Oil Cooler
Part number
8529245
Condition
Leaking
Location
Engine
Part time
3,000 hours
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) PILOT FLEW AIRCRAFT ON AN HOUR FLIGHT AND WHEN PUSHING HIS AIRCRAFT BACK INTO HIS HANGAR, NOTICED LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL ON THE LOWER PART OF THE COWLING AND DRIPPING ON THE GROUND. HE HAD NO INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS DURING HIS FLIGHT. AFTER REMOVING THE TOP COWLING THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK APPEARED TO BE THE LEFT OIL COOLER. THE OIL COOLER WAS REMOVED AND PRESSURIZED WITH SHOP AIR AND A LARGE LEAK WAS APPARENT NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE COOLER. NOTE THAT THERE WAS ONLY 4 QUARTS OF OIL LEFT IN THE 12 QUART SUMP, SO IT WAS GOOD THAT HIS INTENDED FLIGHT WASN`T ANY LONGER.

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