Service difficulty report · Connecting Rod · Cessna 421C

Difficulty date
October 12, 2011
Submitted
November 4, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N12RJ
Make and model
Cessna 421C
Aircraft serial
421C0306
Engine
Cont GTSIO520L
Part
Connecting Rod
Condition
Cracked
Location
Engine
Part time
4,130 hours
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

REMOVED THE ENGINE FROM RT POSITION FOR SHIPMENT BACK DUE TO A DAMAGED CASE. DAMAGE APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY A FAILED CONNECTING ROD THAT BROKE APART AND PUNCTURED 2 LARGE HOLES IN THE CRANKCASE. BRIEF HISTORY: 325.5 HRS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF ENGINE, STARTER ADAPTER FAILED DAMAGING THE CASE. THE ENGINE WAS SHIPPED WHERE IT WAS DISASSEMBLED, CLEANED AND INSPECTED BEFORE GETTING REASSEMBLED USING A SERVICEABLE CRANKCASE. THE IS THE 2ND TIME THIS ACFT HAS SUFFERED AN INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE, BOTH FAILURES WERE A RESULT OF A CONNECTING ROD BREAKING LOOSE AND BOTH FAILURES WERE ON SAME O/H ENGINE WITH A BIT OVER 900 HRS SINCE O/H.

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