Service difficulty report · Tube · Piper PA28181

Difficulty date
December 18, 2013
Submitted
January 29, 2014
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N294PA
Make and model
Piper PA28181
Aircraft serial
2843504
Aircraft time
13,370 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A4M
Engine time
13,305 hours
Propeller
Snsnch 76EM8
System (JASC)
3245 · Tire Tube
Part
Tube
Condition
Failed
Location
Nlg Tire
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
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

WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS EITHER TAXIING OR BEING PARKED, THE NOSE TIRE WENT FLAT. THE WHEEL ASSY WAS REPLACED WITH A SERVICEABLE BUILT UP WHEEL ASSY. THE AFFECTED TUBE WAS INSTALLED AS PART OF A BUILT-UP WHEEL ASSY ON 11/7/2013 AND HAD SINCE ACCRUED 128 HOURS TIME IN SERVICE. THIS REPAIR STATION HAS EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF TIRE TUBE FAILURES WITHIN THE PAST 6 WEEKS; THESE FAILURES OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OR WHEN THE ACFT WAS STANDING. THE MAJORITY OF FAILED TUBES ARE PN 092-315-0. INSPECTION OF FAILED TUBES REVEALS SMALL, ELONGATED HOLES OR TEARS THAT ARE NOT LOCATED ON A SEAM IN THE RUBBER. THE HOLES ARE LOCATED ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE TUBE WHEN LAID FLAT. THE AFFECTED TUBES ARE INSTALLED IN 600X6X6PR TIRES, ARE SERVICED WITH 18 OR 24 PSI OF DRY NITROGEN, AND ARE INSTALLED ON AIRCRAFT THAT OPERATE BETWEEN 2100 AND 2500 LBS. THE REPAIR STATION LOCATION HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHANGES THAT WOULD AFFECT INFLATION PRESSURE.

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