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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:

  • Maintenance alerts highlight various issues stemming from manufacturing defects, such as improperly machined cylinders or oversized engine mount bolts.
  • Components exhibited premature wear, chafing, and corrosion due to inadequate protection or environmental factors, affecting fuel lines and pitot systems.
  • A critical electrical capacitor failure, potentially due to over-voltage, resulted in an in-flight emergency and substantial aircraft damage.
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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