Squawk Box 02/04: Exhausting Work
Exhaust system faults can lead to lots of trouble, from poisoning to engine failure
Squawk Box
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Squawk Box 12/03: Beater Heaters
Mechanics and owners still appear to take shortcuts in inspecting Janitrol heaters
Squawk Box 11/03: Wrong Spot for That
Malibu fuselage frame assembly piece found deformed in apparent installation error
Squawk Box 10/03: Turbo Troubles
The following information is derived from the FAAs Service Difficulty Reports and Aviation Maintenance Alerts.
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The FAA is encouraging owners of turbocharged Mooneys to inspect the V-band clamps attached to the turbochargers.The FAAs special airworthiness information bulletin cites a recent fatal accident of a Mooney M20M Bravo in which the tailpipe apparently separated from the turbochargers, allowing hot exhaust gases to be expelled into the engine compartment. The pilot reported smoke and fire in the cockpit before the aircraft crashed short of the airport, killing both aboard.Mooney recommends replacing the multi-segmented V-band clamps at 2,000 hours – the engines T…
Problem Gear
The troubled hydraulics in the Cessna 210 landing gear attract the FAAs attention again
Thirsting for Fuel
Fuel system contaminated by drilled-out rivet heads grounds experimental
Bungee Jumping
Aztec may lose elevator bungee spring, resulting in pitch handling difficulties
Hose Woes
The FAA says it has received a number of reports of failed landing gear hydraulic hoses in Cessna 177RGs and Cessna 210s. In several cases, the failures have resulted in the loss of hydraulic fluids and in some cases in the inability to extend the landing gear at all. The hose failures involve S2178-4 series hoses, which are identified in a 1992 Cessna service bulletin as requiring replacement. The bulletin, SEB-92-8, specifies replacing the original hoses with S2888 series hoses. Because service bulletins are not mandatory for Part 91 operations, the FAA says it appears that many operators have not upgraded the hose in question.
Beech A36 Bonanza
Broken Control Cable Turnbuckle
Stow 310 Handle
The following information is derived from the FAAs Service Difficulty Reports and Aviation Maintenance Alerts.
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The FAA is advising operators of Cessna 310s to verify during preflight checks and maintenance inspections that the manual emergency gear extension handle is properly stowed.
Its possible for the handle not to be stowed correctly, which can present a danger in flight. If the handle is not properly seated, operating the primary gear motor may rotate the handle in such a way that it strikes the left engine fuel selector and drives the fuel selector to the off position. At the same time, the unseated handle will prevent the gear from retracting, leaving the pilot…
Bolt Confusion
The following information is derived from the FAAs Service Difficulty Reports and Aviation Maintenance Alerts.
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Some operators of aircraft with Lycoming -540 series engines who were hit by a pair of crankshaft bolt ADs last year got another letter from the FAA: Never mind.
The emergency AD and the superceding AD issued in December required owners of Lycomings big six-cylinder engines to replace the crankshaft gear retention bolt. The AD cut across applications, applying to aerobatic engines, turbos, left-turning engines and for airplanes and helicopters. Although it applied only to those engines with a Lycoming part number STD-2209 retaining bolt, many people didnt mak…
