Service difficulty report · Nut · Piper PA23250

Difficulty date
June 24, 2004
Submitted
August 30, 2004
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N61MG
Make and model
Piper PA23250
Aircraft serial
277405285
Engine
Lyc IO540C4B5
Part
Nut
Part number
LW12186
Condition
Loose
Location
Connecting Rod
Part time
510 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, Y
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

ENGINE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. AT ENGINE TEARDOWN, THE NR 6 PISTON (FRAGMENTED), PISTON RINGS, CONNECTING ROD, ROD CAP, BEARINGS, ROD BOLTS, AND NUTS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL SUMP. ONE ROD BOLT WAS BROKEN AND ITS NUT WAS ON IT. THE OTHER ROD BOLT WAS NOT BROKEN AND ITS NUT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE OIL SUMP. ONE ROD BOLT WAS BROKEN AND ITS NUT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE OIL SUMP. POSSIBLE CAUSE IS A DEFECTIVE LOCK NUT. RECOMMEND CHECKING ROD NUT DRAG TORQUE WHEN ASSEMBLING CONNECTING RODS.

More about the Piper PA-23-250