Service difficulty report · Bushing · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
May 29, 2019
Submitted
May 29, 2019
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N434PA
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496064
Aircraft time
11,598 hours
Engine
Lyc LO360A1H6
Engine time
1,168 hours
Part
Bushing
Part number
SL77309
Condition
Cracked
Location
Engine
Part time
1,168 hours
Component
Idler Gear · Supairpart
Component part number
SL75072REVG
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 A SCHEDULED INSPECTION EVENT, BRONZE COLORED METAL CHUNKS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL FILTER, UP ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BUSHING (PT# SL77309) THAT IS INSTALLED IN THE IDLER GEAR (PT# SL75072 REV G)HAD FAILED AT THE FWD END OF THE BUSHING, FAILUIRE MODE WAS BREAKING OFF OF PIECES FROM THE END OF THE BUSHING. FAILURE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE BUSHING, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN INSTALLED FROM THE FORWARD END OF THE GEAR WITH A TOOL BEING USED TO PUSH THE BUSHING DOWN TO THE BASE OF THE SHOULDER IN THE BORE. IT APPEARS THAT THE CORRECT INSTALLATION WOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE FUEL PUMP CAM SIDE OF THE GEAR AND PRESSING THE BUSHING IN PLACE UNTIL IT IS FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE.

More about the Piper PA-44-180