Service difficulty report · Case · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
February 23, 2010
Submitted
February 24, 2010
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N35453
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Engine
Lyc TIO540*
Part
Case
Condition
Cracked
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
D
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

OPERATOR REQUESTED TROUBLESHOOTING OF LOW OIL PRESSURE ON RT ENGINE. UPON REMOVAL OF RT ENG COWL, MECHANIC DISCOVERED OIL FILM ON LT SIDE OF ENG CASE. FURTHER INSP REVEALED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A CRACK ON THE LT CASE HALF. PAINT WAS REMOVED AND DYE PENETRANT APPLIED REVEALING A 1.3" CRACK ON THE CASE HALF AT THE NR4 CYLINDER FWD TOP STUD AREA. CLEANED PENETRANT AND APPLIED DEVELOPER TO AREA. RAN ENG TO VERIFY CRACK WAS THROUGH CASE. RUN-UP REVEALED OIL COMING FROM SUSPECTED CRACKED AREA. OPERATOR ADVISED AND ACFT GROUNDED UNTIL REPAIR.

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