Service difficulty report · Cylinder · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
February 15, 2016
Submitted
February 16, 2016
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N765KP
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
318253012
Aircraft time
10,509 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2B
Engine time
8,921 hours
Part
Cylinder
Part number
05K21108
Condition
Cracked
Location
Nr 5
Part time
1,833 hours
Component
Engine · Lyc · LTIO540J2B
Component part number
LTIO540J2B
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

DURING A ROUTINE 100 HOUR INSPECTION, BLUE FUEL STAINING WAS FOUND ON THE TOP INTAKE SIDE OF THE NR 5 CYLINDER. CLOSER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE CYLINDER WAS CRACKED, BETWEEN THE 14TH & 15TH COOLING FINS ON THE INTAKE SIDE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD INTO THE INTAKE PORT. THIS IS THE 7TH OCCURRENCE WE HAVE FOUND ON THIS SET OF ENGS IN 1833 HOURS SINCE A FACTORY OVERHAUL WITH ALL NEW OEM CYLINDERS. THE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED WITH NEW & BOTH THE MFG & THE FAA ARE INVESTIGATING. MFG SI 1553 ADDRESSES CRACKS IN THIS AREA & RECOMMENDS INSTALLING A CYLINDER FIN STABILIZER TO PREVENT THEM, HOWEVER THIS ENG WAS BUILT AFTER THAT SI WAS ISSUED & WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH STABILIZERS, NOR DO NEW CYLINDERS COME OUTFITTED WITH THE STABILIZERS.

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