Service difficulty report · Turbocharger · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
September 22, 2011
Submitted
September 24, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N141ME
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
318152117
Aircraft time
21,133 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Engine time
1,685 hours
Part
Turbocharger
Part number
LW12463W
Part serial
MBL00084
Condition
Failed
Location
Rt Engine
Part time
1,685 hours
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, B, A
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

AFTER LANDING TOUCH-DOWN SMOKE WAS NOTICED EXITING THE REAR OF THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS SHUTDOWN. THE TURBOCHARGER`S MAIN BEARING LET GO AND THE IMPELLER HIT THE HOUSING CAUSING IT TO LOSE BLADES, OIL WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE SEALS ON THE COMPRESSOR AND EXTREMELY HOT TURBINE SIDE CAUSING THE FIRE AND SMOKE. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO WITHIN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND NO VISIBLE FIRE DAMAGE WAS FOUND WHEN THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED.

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