Service difficulty report · Cylinder Head · Beech D55

Difficulty date
March 29, 2011
Submitted
April 1, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N44DC
Make and model
Beech D55
Aircraft serial
TE735
Engine
Cont IO520C
Part
Cylinder Head
Part serial
5068715
Condition
Cracked
Location
Engine
Part time
869 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

NR 3 CYLINDER ON LT ENGINE HAD A COMPLETE HEAD SEPARATION CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE AREA AROUND THE INTAKE VALVE. THIS AREA IS THE COMMON FAILURE FOR MFG REV NR 3 CYLINDERS DUE TO A MFG DEFECT/DESIGN IN THE HEAD CASTING. THE AREA THICKNESS WAS MFG TOO THIN IN THIS AREA AROUND THE INTAKE VALVE WHEN MFG SWITCHED SUPPLIER.

More about the Beech D55