Squawk Box

Beech C33 Debonair Broken Rings And Skirts The oil quick-drain valve would not lock open. Inspection revealed metal in the sump. The oil filter was removed and cut open; no visible contamination was noted. An oil sample and compression tests came back normal. Teardown revealed three piston skirts were broken, and piston ring pieces were […]

Beech 58 Baron Cold-Weather Failure While at cruise altitude of 14,000 feet on a very cold day, the G500 panel flagged the airspeed, altitude, AIS, OAT, heading and horizon all “x” out with big red x’s. Loss of all data from the AHARS.  Pilot used the backup instruments to complete the flight. Whenever cold, the […]

Beech Model E55 Baron Overtorqued Servo Clutch Testing of the pitch servo’s clutch tension revealed breakaway force needed was 45 lbs. The specified setting is 13 ± 2 lbs. Examination revealed a new cotter pin on the castle nut and the orange torque seal strip did not align. At some point during previous maintenance, the […]

Cessna 172M Skyhawk Leaking Tailpipe While carrying out the pressure test in AD CF90-03-R2, large leaks were found in the area surrounding the muffler tailpipe area under the heat muff shroud support structure. No defects in this area were visible. Without the pressure test, this defect would not have been found. It is assumed the […]

Beechcraft A36 Bonanza Dislodged Oil Pan Heat Pad After removal of the left lower side engine compartment inspection panel, the left oil sump heater pad was found dislodged and wrapped around the throttle control arm and cable. Part total time: unknown Cessna 172N Skyhawk Lubricated Heater Valve Hinge During taxi, pilot reported smoke in the […]

Beechcraft Model 58 Baron Broken Propeller Control Cable While en route, the right engine oversped to 3500 rpm and had no control. Shut the engine down and landed with no further problem.  Maintenance ran the right engine and it made takeoff power, but had no propeller control. Found prop control cable broken. Going to remove […]

Cessna 152 Cracked Propeller Hub Propeller submitted for inspection and compliance with AD 10-04-05. Propeller (p/n 1A103TCM) was cracked along leading edge bolt holes beyond repair limits. Part total time: Unknown Cessna 152 Incorrectly Pitched Propeller This prop (p/n 72CKS6056) was purchased new and installed. It has been overspeeding by 25-50 rpm. Sent it to […]

Beech 58 Baron Nose Gear Switch Out Of Adjustment During landing approach, the nose gear light flickered. Pilot recycled gear and received three-green, gear-down-and-locked indication, landing without incident. Maintenance found the nose gear down-and-locked indicator switch out of adjustment. Adjusted switch. Performed multiple landing gear retractions without a failure. Part total time: Unknown Beechcraft B300 […]

Beechcraft 58P Pressurized Baron Drain Nipple Debonding Newly manufactured inboard leading edge tank was installed nine months earlier, replacing OEM p/n 60-921057-3. Low point drain nipple internal reinforcement debonded, allowing complete draining of left wing fuel load. Aircraft was on ground at time of incident. Recommend manufacturing process be reviewed. Part total time: 55.0 hours […]

Beech C90GT King Air 90 Manufacturing Defect After a new master cylinder was installed, attempts to bleed the system failed. Instead, it pulled fluid from the reservoir and returned it through the same line—internal bypass not functioning properly. Disassembled and found bypass valve stuck. Parts were unable to slide smoothly on shaft; metal shavings were […]