Service difficulty report · Stud · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
July 5, 2005
Submitted
July 26, 2005
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N4110N
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
318252063
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2
Part
Stud
Condition
Destroyed
Location
Nr 3 Cylinder
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

THE FORWARD EXHAUST STUD BECAME LOOSE AND WAS FORCED OUT OF POSITION BY THE EFFECTS OF EXHAUST PRESSURES WORKING AGAINST IT. WHEN THE THREADS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED, BOTH ON THE STUD AND IN THE CYLINDER HEAD, THE EXHAUST WAS ALLOWED TO EXIT THE HEAD FROM A POSITION DIRECTLY UNDER THE EXHAUST VALVE PUSHROD HOUSING. THE RESULTING HEAT BURNED A HOLE IN THE TUBE ALLOWING OIL TO ESCAPE AND CREATE A LOT OF SMOKE. THE FLIGHT WAS NOT INTERUPTED AS THE SMOKE WAS NOT DETECTED UNTIL LANDING, AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE WAS SECURED AND THE PASSENGERS DEPLANED. RECOMMEND AT EACH 50 HR/OIL CHANGE THE TORQUE BE TESTED ON THESE STUDS. (K)

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