Service difficulty report · Magneto · Piper PA28161

Difficulty date
October 18, 2004
Submitted
February 9, 2005
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N53597
Make and model
Piper PA28161
Aircraft serial
2842166
Engine
Lyc O320D3G
Part
Magneto
Part number
4370
Part serial
02051957
Condition
Broken
Location
Right
Part time
1,284 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
R, J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

ACFT WAS BEING USED FOR TRAINING, THE PILOT STATED THAT (SUDDENLY THE ENG LOST 3500 RPM. THE PILOT TRIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OPPOSITE TANK. BOTH OF THESE PRODUCED NO CHANGE. THE PILOT THEN MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. AFTER LANDING, HE TRIED PERFORMING A MAGNETO CHECK. WHEN MAG SWITCH WAS PLACED IN RT POSITION, ENGINE DIED. MAINT TROUBLESHOT, REMOVED RT MAG. UPON DISASSEMBLY OF MAG, ROTOR ASSY (M3548) WAS FOUND BROKEN OFF AT THE BASE OF MACHINED FORK (INTERNAL TO MAG), PLASTIC DISTRIBUTOR DRIVE GEAR (M3827) WITH BOTH PIECES OF FORK WERE FLOATING AROUND INSIDE THE MAGNETO. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED WITH MAGNETO. NO VISIBLE CLUES WHICH LEAD TO FAILURE. (K)

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