230 “Phantom Cracks” in Airplane Engine Cylinders

Airplane Owner Maintenance - By Dean Showalter

Do you think these really are cracks between the spark plug bosses and the fuel injector bosses? (Cirrus SR22 Continental engine.)

The owner of a Cirrus SR22 was told by a service center he had 4 cracked cylinders on his engine.

However, after taking a closer look and bringing their most experienced technicians together to thoroughly clean and examine the cylinders, it was discovered they were not cracked after all.

The service center was very professional with their communications and the process they used to evaluate the cylinders.

This whole scenario was such a great example of healthy collaboration between an aircraft maintenance service center and an airplane owner.

Listen to the audio of this week’s podcast to hear the full story, and some email communications I had with the airplane owner.

After thinking about the situation, here are some thoughts:

• If an airplane engine cylinder is truly cracked, it needs immediate attention.
• Sometimes, what appears to be a crack, is not a crack after all.
• Thorough cleaning and precise evaluation are required.
• Sometimes a second and third expert opinion are helpful.
• Excellent communication between airplane owners and service centers is key.

---

Have a great week everyone!

The post, 230 “Phantom Cracks” in Airplane Engine Cylinders appeared first at AirplaneOwnerMaintenance.com