Service difficulty report · Cylinder Head · Piper PA28181

Difficulty date
December 30, 2015
Submitted
January 4, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N419PA
Make and model
Piper PA28181
Aircraft serial
2843413
Aircraft time
17,750 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A4M
Engine time
2,135 hours
Propeller
Snsnch 76EM8
Part
Cylinder Head
Part number
SL36006W20AP
Part serial
366WA1416200
Condition
Separated
Location
Zone 200
Part time
2,135 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, E
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOTS NOTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, ACCOMPANIED BY ABNORMAL ENGINE SOUNDS AND A BURNING ODOR. THEY DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NR 1 CYLINDER HEAD WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SEPARATING FROM THE BARREL AND ESCAPING COMBUSTION GASSES HAD BURNED HOLES IN THE CYLINDER BAFFLE AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE HAD LAST UNDERGONE A DETAILED INSPECTION 7.3 HOURS PRIOR; A COMPRESSION TEST WAS 70/80 AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND AT THAT TIME. THE CYLINDER HEAD CASTING NR WAS C-03354.

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