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Camshaft Concerns

The following is derived from maintenance facility submissions to the FAA’s Service Difficulty Reports database.

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Key Takeaways:

  • A variety of aircraft types experienced failures related to camshafts and their associated components (lobes, gear teeth, lifters, tappets), highlighting a common vulnerability in these engine parts.
  • These failures manifested through diverse symptoms, including engine noise, power loss, inability to make minimum RPM, and the presence of metallic debris in oil, detected during flights, routine inspections, or ground checks.
  • Such camshaft-related damage consistently led to serious engine issues, often requiring significant repairs or complete engine removal.
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Beech A36 Bonanza: Damaged Camshaft Gear Teeth

During climb out, the PIC heard engine noise. At 6000 feet agl, the engine shut down and pilot landed at the nearest airport. A subsequent engine teardown revealed approximately 12 cam gear teeth damaged on p/n 655516A.

Part total time: Unknown

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