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Fretting And Chafing

During an annual inspection, the IA found black fretting corrosion below the center two, l/h aft engine mount bolts. The bolts were loose in the mount even though their nuts were tight. Investigation revealed the bolts are a little too long and the nuts were running out of threads. The solution was to add another washer below the nuts, then re-torque back to specifications.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Aircraft inspections frequently uncover mechanical issues, including loose engine mount bolts due to improper length and chafing fuel lines from inadequate factory protection.
  • Manufacturing defects, such as an ECI cylinder lacking a crucial O-ring seal area, can lead to immediate operational problems like oil leaks.
  • Electrical component failures, such as a blown capacitor causing an emergency landing, and corrosion in critical systems due to trapped moisture, highlight diverse safety concerns.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The following information is derived from the FAAs Service Difficulty Reports and Aviation Maintenance Alerts.

Beech A36

Fretting Engine Mount Bolts

During an annual inspection, the IA found black fretting corrosion below the center two, l/h aft engine mount bolts. The bolts were loose in the mount even though their nuts were tight. Investigation revealed the bolts are a little too long and the nuts were running out of threads. The solution was to add another washer below the nuts, then re-torque back to specifications.

Part Total Time: 1672.1 hours.

ECI Cylinder

Improper Machining

A cylinder-base oil leak was discovered during the engines initial run-up. The technician determined the cylinder (p/n EC 636122ST) base lacked a machined area for the O-ring seal to seat.

Part Total Time: 0.0 hours.

Beech B24R

Blown Electrical Capacitor

Before takeoff, the airplane proved hard to start, drawing down the battery. During the takeoff, the pilot reported hearing a “pop,” then seeing smoke in the cabin. The takeoff was aborted and an emergency gear-up landing was made, resulting in substantial damage.

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