Service difficulty report · Starter Gen · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
February 2, 2015
Submitted
February 6, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N485ER
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
447995223
Aircraft time
14,392 hours
Engine
Lyc IO360E1A
Engine time
746 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCC2YK2
Part
Starter Gen
Part number
BC3151006
Part serial
04094534
Condition
Failed
Location
Rt Engine
Part time
214 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
Y, J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

DURING A TRAINING FLIGHT, THE RT ENGINE WAS SHUTDOWN TO PRACTICE INFLIGHT ENGINE RESTARTS. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE RT ENGINE FAILED TO START. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED AND THE INSTRUCTOR MADE AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING. UPON COMPLETION OF A RT ENGINE INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT START DUE TO LOOSE STARTER ATTACH HARDWARE. THE STARTER DID NOT ENGAGE THE STARTER RING GEAR DUE TO THE LOOSE HARDWARE. THE STARTER INSTALLED WAS A NEWLY O/H STARTER WITH ONLY 214.0HRS TIS SINCE INSTALL ON THE RT ENGINE. DUE TO NORMAL OPERATION AND ENGINE VIBRATION THE STARTER ATTACH HARDWARE IS BECOMING LOOSE. THE STARTER HARDWARE HAS BEEN FOUND LOOSE BEFORE DURING A 100HR INSPECTION ON OTHER ACFT. THE LOOSENING STARTER ATTACH HARDWARE IS A REOCCURRING ISSUE THAT HAS CAUSED PREVIOUS INFLIGHT COMPLICATION. OUR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IS IN PLACE.

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