Service difficulty report · Rotor · Piper PA28161

Difficulty date
February 24, 2017
Submitted
May 24, 2017
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N552PU
Make and model
Piper PA28161
Aircraft serial
2842089
Aircraft time
11,067 hours
Engine
Lyc O320D3G
Engine time
4,190 hours
Part
Rotor
Part number
M3548
Condition
Broken
Location
Magneto
Part time
1,786 hours
Component
Magneto · Champion
Component part number
4370
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
D

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

What was found

DURING ENGINE RUN UP PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FOR TRAINING LESSON THE RIGHT MAGNETO WAS REPORTED TO HAVE A 200 RPM DROP, EVEN AFTER ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE THE EXCESSIVE DROP. THE MAGNETO WAS REPLACED AND THE REMOVED UNIT WAS INSPECTED FOR INTEGRITY. THE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS SOME LOST MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE MAGNETO DRIVE END AND THE POINTS/DISTRIBUTOR GEAR END. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE P/N M3548 MAGNETO ROTOR WAS BROKEN AT A POINT BETWEEN THE MAGNET PART OF THE ROTOR AND THE MOUNT AREA FOR THE P/N M3006 BALL BEARING. THE SHAFT BROKE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE MAGNETO WOULD STILL FUNCTION ALTHOUGH CAUSING THE REPORTED EXCESSIVE MAG DROP DUE TO THE LAG IN BETWEEN THE DRIVE END AND THE POINTS/DISTRIBUTOR GEAR END.

More about the Piper PA-28-161