SDR DD2R171075

Service difficulty report · Clutch Spring · Cessna 340A

Difficulty date
August 31, 2009
Submitted
May 24, 2010
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N700DK
Make and model
Cessna 340A
Aircraft serial
340A1038
Engine
Cont TSIO520NB
Part
Clutch Spring
Part number
AS539800M015
Condition
Failed
Location
Starter
Part time
10 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

OVERHAULED STARTER ADAPTER FAILED LESS THAN 10 HRS AFTER INSTALLATION. 2ND OVERHAULED UNIT FAILED IN UNDER 5 HRS. DISASSEMBLY & FAILURE ANALYSIS OF BOTH UNITS REVEALED OVERHEATED & MANGLED CLUTCH SPRINGS. EACH HAD A COLLAPSED COIL THAT HAD WOUND AROUND THE SHAFT GEAR MINOR DIAMETER BETWEEN CLUTCH DRUM & INTEGRAL SPUR GEAR. IN 1ST FAILURE, COLLAPSED COIL CUT INTO THE SHAFT GEAR. IN 2ND, COLLAPSED COIL HAD CUT SHAFT GEAR IN TWO. MANGLED CLUTCH SPRINGS & SEPARATED SHAFT GEARS MAKE INFLT ENGINE RESTART IMPOSSIBLE. BOTH CAUSE SIGNIFICANT OIL CONTAMINATION. SHAFT GEAR SEPARATION STOPS OPERATION OF TURBOCHARGER SCAV PUMP, COULD CAUSE LOSS OF OIL PAST TURBOCHARGER SEALS, POSSIBLE ENG OIL STARVATION. SEPARATED SHAFT GEAR COULD DAMAGE CRANKCASE PILOT & CAM/CRANK GEAR TEETH, POSSIBLE ENGINE POWER LOSS. STRONGLY SUSPECT STARTER MOTOR RUN-ON AFTER ENG START. STARTER RUN-ON CAN ONLY BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY ACFT STARTER SWITCH OR RELAY. MOST STARTER RELAYS ARE AIRFRAME PARTS NOT REPLACED AT OVERHAUL OR REPAIR OF ENG & STARTER. IF STARTER ADAPTER FAILURE OCCURS, RECOMMEND TROUBLESHOOTING & FAILURE ANALYSIS OF ENTIRE ACFT STARTING SYS TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE IN ORDER TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF FAILURE. RECOMMEND THE ACFT STARTER RELAY BE REPLACED EVERY 10 YEARS OR 3,000 HRS OR EVERY 2ND ENGINE CHANGE, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, & IF STARTER ADAPTER FAILURE OR STARTER MOTOR FAILURE OCCUR.

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