Engine Issues

After only 26 hours of operation after new parts were installed, this magneto quit producing spark. Troubleshooting found the point timing had drifted off and was impossible to reset within manual limits. The plastic cam follower was found worn or melted. New parts were installed and functionally checked good. Engine is a Continental IO-360-A, installed in a Maule M-4-210Part Total Time: 26.0 hours

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Several aviation components, primarily magnetos, experienced premature failures, including issues with cam followers, internal timing, and faulty assembly (e.g., loose screws).
Other critical failures involved broken intake valve springs in cylinders and recurring failures of turbocharger controllers, with one aircraft experiencing four controller failures within 12 months.
These component malfunctions led to significant operational problems such as loss of spark, hard starting, and loss of turbocharging and cabin pressurization.

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Bendix S6LN25 Magneto – Failed Cam Follower
After only 26 hours of operation after new parts were installed, this magneto quit producing spark. Troubleshooting found the point timing had drifted off and was impossible to reset within manual limits. The plastic cam follower was found worn or melted. New parts were installed and functionally checked good. Engine is a Continental IO-360-A, installed in a Maule M-4-210
Part Total Time: 26.0 hours