Service difficulty report · Cylinder Head · Piper PA28181

Difficulty date
May 19, 2015
Submitted
May 20, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N309PA
Make and model
Piper PA28181
Aircraft serial
2843508
Aircraft time
15,351 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A4M
Propeller
Snsnch 76EM8S5
Part
Cylinder Head
Part number
SL36006WA20P
Part serial
366WB1315451
Condition
Cracked
Location
Nr 4
Part time
2,152 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE'S EXHAUST RISERS, A MECHANIC NOTED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE NR 4 CYLINDER HEAD THAT BEGAN AT THE EXHAUST STUD AND EXTENDED INWARD TO THE EXHAUST VALVE SEAT. FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE CYLINDER HEAD REVEALED CRACKING TO EITHER SIDE OF THE LOWER SPARK PLUG HOLE. AFTER THE CYLINDER WAS REMOVED, CRACKS WERE SEEN CONNECTING THE LOWER PLUG HOLE AND THE EXHAUST VALVE SEAT. THE CYLINDER WAS NOT DISCOLORED AS THOUGH IT HAD SEEN EXTREME HEAT, NOR DID IT HAVE ANY BROKEN OR BENT FINS OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A CRACKING.

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