FAA Aviation Maintenance Alerts

The following are a few alerts that were issued this month:
Aeronca: 7CCM; Stuck Fuel Gauge; ATA 2842
An FAA safety inspector describes the following incident report. "This aircraft lost power and landed in a hayfield, (ending) up on its nose. The pilot stated he checked the fuel gauge prior to the flight and that it read ‘1/2.’ He did not visually check the quantity. Investigation revealed the fuel tank to be empty and the gauge stuck in the ‘1/2’ position." (The fuel gauge part number provided: 2-731.)
Part Total Time: unknown.

Beech: A65; Split-Flap Condition; ATA 2752
(The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority provided the following report for our FAA Service Difficulty Reporting System data base. One of their pilots wrote this defect's narrative, describing an inbound-flight to the island capitol city of Roseau in Dominica.) “(This flight...) was under VFR conditions and the approach to landing was normal. After the landing rollout the flaps were retracted. When exiting the aircraft it was noticed that the inner flap on the port side was still down. The flap was manually reset to zero and (later) flown back (to home base and a no-flap landing). “The maintenance department found the L/H inboard flap drive assembly had failed. The two lugs that transfer cable movement 90 degrees into the actuator movement had sheared. The L/H inboard flap could be deployed from the ‘up’ to the ‘down’ position, but had to be reset to the ‘up’ position manually. The L/H outboard, R/H inboard and outboard flap drive assemblies, flap gearbox and motor, and flap drive cables were inspected and found satisfactory. The drive assembly P/N 50-380113-1 was placed on order and the aircraft grounded (waiting parts).”
Part Total Time: unknown.

Beech: B100; Jammed Fuel Control Linkage; ATA 7620
This submitter states, “During a check ride, the chief pilot shut down the R/H engine in flight. When attempting a restart, the fuel cut-off lever jammed in the cut-off position. The crew conducted a successful and uneventful single engine landing at the base airport. Upon investigation, the technician discovered the aft shroud on the R/H starter generator (P/N 23079-000-1) had slipped aft, blocking the linkage while still in the cut-off (position). The shroud was repositioned and its clamp secured.” (Note: this starter generator part number returns 18 entries since 1993—but this report is unique for describing “blocked linkage.” No separate part number was indicated for just the shroud.)
Part Total Time: 322.0 hours.

Boeing: 737-3G7; Incorrect Flap Series; ATA 5753
A technician from a repair station in England writes, “During routine maintenance it was noticed the L/H inboard aft flap appeared to be of the wrong type for this series aircraft. The internal parts catalog was consulted and this confirmed the (P/N 65-46434-139) aft flap assembly is not effective (as in effectivity code) for this aircraft. A survey was carried out on the other trailing edge flap assemblies—it was discovered the R/H, inboard aft flap was also not of the correct effectivity for this aircraft (P/N 65-46434-140). All of the other flap assemblies were found to be correct. We suspect these (particular) flap assemblies are for the 737-200 aircraft.”
Part Total Time: unknown.

Cessna: 175; Cracked Engine Mount Attach Brackets; ATA 7120
(This report combines three submissions from the same mechanic on three different 175 aircraft.)
“The engine mount attachment bracket (P/N 0513132-11) was found broken and with cracks at the 12 and 6 o’clock position. The cracks were on the inboard and outboard sides of the AN960-616 washer(s).” “The possible cause (for this defect) is the AN960-6126 washer is too small. (I believe) a larger and thicker washer is needed to support the upper engine mount load.”
(Since 1996, 21 reports have been entered into the FAA Service Difficulty Reporting System data base for this bracket’s part number. Fourteen of these entries have included times ranging from 1,900 to 5,983 hours: 3,234.14 hours average.)
Part Total Time: unknown. For further information