N401GS
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
No operator established for this aircraft.
Accident & incident history
No NTSB accidents or incidents on file for this aircraft.
Maintenance disclosures
SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FT AGL, PILOT NOTICED PARTIAL LEFT ENGINE POWER LOSS WITH ENGINE FUEL FLOW SURGING FROM MINIMUM TO MAXIMUM. DECLARED AN EMERGENCY RETURNED AND LANDED . NOTICED WHEN PULLING POWER BACK TO LAND PROBLEM LEFT. VISUAL INSPECTION FOR OBVIOUS DEFECTS SHOWED NONE, SUMPED AIRCRAFT NO WATER NOTED, PERFORMED GROUND RUN AND NOTICED ABOVE 1700 RPM ALL THE WAY TO MAXIMUM RPM, FUEL FLOW SURGING. ENGINE DIDN'T SOUND OR FEEL RIGHT. NEXT DAY MAINT ATTEMPT START THE ENGINE FOR TROUBLESHOOTING AND NOTED FUEL FLOW ON PRIMING VERY LOW. ENGINE WOULD NOT START. SUMPED AGAIN NO WATER NOTED, PULLED FUEL SERVO SCREEN INSPECTED AND INSTALLED, EXERSIZED FUEL SELECTOR VALVE PRIMED AGAIN SYSTEM APPEARED NORMAL, STARTED AND GROUND RAN ENGINE, ALL CHECKS NORMAL WITH NO DEFECTS NOTED. AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE. UPON RETURN, INSPECTED FUEL CAP O-RINGS, SELECTOR VALVE DETENTS, SUMPED AIRCRAFT AGAIN WITH NO WATER FOUND. ALL CHECKED NORMAL.
APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HRS INTO FLIGHT, PILOT NOTED RT ENGINE MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROPPED AFTER SWITCHING FUEL TANKS ADJUSTED POWER, ENGINE MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROPPED AND SURGED, PILOT NOTICED OIL ON TOP OF RT ENG COWL AND OIL PRESSURE LOW AND SURGING, REDUCED POWER. IN DESCENT, DUE TO LOW & SURGING OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE POWER, SECURED ENGINE AND FEATHERED PROP, & LANDED. ON INSPECTION, FOUND THE IDLER GEAR SUPPORT ON AFT ENGINE CASE HAD DEPARTED ENG CAUSING OIL LOSS. TWO STUDS THAT MOUNT IT WERE INTACT ON ENG CASE AND THE ATTATCHING HARDWARE TWO NUTS AND TWO LOCKWASHERS WERE FOUND IN ENG COMPARTMENT. REMOVED ENGINE FOR DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION DUE TO IDLER GEAR SUPPORT LOSS AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE FROM LOW & SURGING OIL PRESSURE.
ON APPROACH PILOT SELECTED FULL FLAPS, HEARD LOUD POP AIRCRAFT WANTED TO ROLL RIGHT. CORRECTED WITH AILERON, DECLARED EMERGENCY AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENCE. INSPECTED AIRCRAFT FOUND THAT A FLOOR PANEL CLIP NUT HAD BECOME CAUGHT IN FLAP DRIVE GEAR/CHAIN CAUSING INCREASED TENSION ON CABLE CAUSING IT TO SNAP. REPLACED CABLE WITH NEW AND RIGGED FLAPS.
DURING RETURN FLIGHT, PILOTS NOTICED SLOPPY RUDDER CONTROL, THEY INVESTIGATED AND FOUND VERY LITTLE RUDDER INPUT FROM LT PEDAL ON BOTH PILOT AND CO-PILOTS SIDE. USING RUDDER TRIM FOUND THEY COULD CONTROL RUDDER. THEY FOUND CLOSEST AIRPORT ENROUTE WITH WINDS CLOSE TO RUNWAY HEADING AND LANDED. WENT TO AIRPORT TO INSPECT ACFT, FOUND THAT THE LT RUDDER PEDAL TORQUE TUBE (CONNECTS BOTH LT PEDALS) ARM FOR LT RUDDER CABLE ATTACH HAD PARTIALLY TORN FROM TORQUE TUBE.
LIFTER/CAMSHAFT GALLED. LIFTER BODY CHIP FOUND IN OIL FILTER. PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE CAUSING LOW OIL PRESSURE. ENGINE TORN DOWN, NEW PARTS INSTALLED.
LIFTER/CAMSHAFT GALLED. LIFTER BODY CHIP FOUND IN OIL FILTER. PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE CAUSING LOW OIL PRESSURE. ENGINE TORN DOWN, NEW PARTS INSTALLED.