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Focal
A Special Partnership

Allison-manufactured 501/T56 turboprop

A SERVICE PUBLICATION OF engines have been used exclusively to power
LOCKHEED AERONAUTICAL Hercules aircraft from the YC-130 to the aircraft’s
SYSTEMS COMPANY present configuration, the Advanced C-l 30H.
This is neither happenstance nor merely an artifact
Editor of previous practice. It is the consequence of a
Charles 1. Gale special, ongoing partnership between two compa-
nies which occupy unique positions of leadership
Director
Art in the world of aerospace technology.
Anne G. Anderson
Allison Gas Turbine Division has worked
Vol. 18, No. 3, July-September 1881 closelv with Lockheed over the years to provide a
Jim Stewart power plant whose performance criteria’ meet all
CONTENTS of the mission profile requirements for the various
C-l 30 and L-l 00 models that have evolved. The result is a quality product
Focal Point that offers a constantly improving record of performance, durability, and
Jim Stewart, efficiency.
Subcontracts Administrator
Subcontracts and Machined Parts
Department This issue of Service News features an article which details proven
techniques that maintenance personnel can use in troubleshooting the
T56 Engine Oil System 5Ol/T56 engine’s lubrication system. This valuable guidance from Allison is
Maintenance an example of that company’s commitment to working jointly with Lockheed
A comprehensive guide to engine to provide exemplary support for the operation and servicing of its products
oil loss prevention. on Lockheed aircraft.

Allison’s commitment to close support of Lockheed products also

manifests itself in a very literal way. The engine manufacturer’s Southeastern
Zone Office is physically located on the grounds of Lockheed’s Marietta
manufacturing facility. From this vantage point, the Allison team provides 24-
hour-a-day direct technical service and product support for Lockheed’s
Hercules production effort, and for a number of Hercules operators as well.

This kind of close, working partnership makes a difference that counts.

It helps transform policy and promises into the kind of solid, hands-on product
support whose value can be measured. It is just one more way that we at
Photographic Support: John Rossino
Lockheed strive to ensure that each and every Lockheed customer realizes the
maximum benefit from the quality and capability that is built into every
Cover: The first of more than two dozen Hercules airlifter.
new C-130 airlifters planned for acquisition
by the U.S. Naval Air Reserve, this C-130T Sincerely,
has been assigned to recently reactivated
VR 54 Squadron. The USNR unit is based at
Louisiana’s New Orleans Naval Air Station.

The back panel shows another view of VR mes H. Stewart,

54’s brand-new Hercules, this time over the
Subcontracts Administrator
Crescent City’s famed sports facility, the
Louisiana Superdome.
Subcontracts and Machined Parts Dept.

H. L. BURNETTE DIRECTOR

FIELD SUPPLY TECHNICAL RM&S CUSTOMER

SUPPORT SUPPORT PUBLICATIONS DESIGN TRAINING

J. D. Adams J. L. Bailey A. G. Hunt H. D. Hall S. S. Clark

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 It is also important to bear in mind that the informa-
A Guide to Oil Loss Prevention tion contained in this article is not intended to replace
currently approved technical data or supplant accepted
by Leon D. Smith, Manager, Southeastern Zone maintenance procedures. This presentation is merely a
Allison Gas Turbine Division compilation of proven maintenance techniques designed
to improve the efficiency of your troubleshooting effort.
The lubrication system of the Allison 5Ol/T56 en- The concepts are based upon the ideas and experiences
gine has proven itself effective and reliable in literally gained by Allison product support engineers in many
millions of flight hours during more than three decades years of close collaboration with U.S. military units and
of service. Like all mechanical systems, however, prob- other 501/T56 engine maintainers around the world.
lems can and do occur. One lubrication system problem
that the T56 engine maintainer may encounter sooner or System Description
later is unexplained oil loss.
To be able to troubleshoot an oil loss problem
Engine oil loss, excessive consumption, or just plain efficiently, one must first be thoroughly familiar with the
“dumping” that has no obvious cause can challenge the entire engine oil system and know how it works. Most
expertise and test the patience of the most experienced important, the troubleshooter must know what influence
power plant specialist. Furthermore, there are poten- each component has on the total system. This includes
tially so many factors involved that it is difficult to give the nacelle (QEC kit) components as well as the basic
advice that will be both general enough to cover all cases engine parts.
and specific enough to be useful. But there are some
procedures that should be followed and things to look for The overall 501/T56 engine lubrication system
that can help. Please note that this discussion is opti- consists of two essentially independent systems (Fig. 1).
mized for Allison Series III engines like the 501-D22A They are the pressure lubrication system and the dry-
and T56-A-15 Older engines, although fundamentally sump scavenge recovery system. These two systems,
similar, may require some modification of the proce- commonly known as the “pressure side” and the “scav-
dures described. enge side,’ actually have only one thing in common, and

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that is the oil they pump. They do share a few mechani-
cal devices, however, which we will describe later on.

Each of the two systems is made up of two subsys-

tems. One is for the reduction gear assembly and the
other is for the engine power section. The reduction
gear assembly thus has its own pressure system and scav-
enge system, as does the power section. Although
technically separate, the four subsystems do interrelate
both systemically and mechanically to one degree or
another.

Two independent pressure pumps, one for the

reduction gear assembly and one for the power section,
move oil from a common oil supply tank through their
respective distribution systems and provide lubrication
and cooling to the various internal surfaces. Two dry-
sump scavenge systems route recovered oil back to the
oil tank through a common return system.

On the way back to the supply tank, the oil is filtered

and cooled. At this point the oil is a heavily aerated,
foamy mixture. When it reaches the tank, the oil is
separated from the air it has entrained in its passage
through the lubrication system. The oil drains into the
tank and the air escapes through the tank pressurizing
valve and out the nacelle drain mast to the atmosphere.

A Troubleshooting Overview

When the problem is oil dumping, the pressure sides

of these systems can be virtually eliminated as possible
sources of the trouble. Remember that the pressure
systems supply oil to the engine. When the symptom is Figure 1.
dumping, the problem is not that oil is not being sup-
plied, but that it is not being removed from the engine
and returned to the tank.
occurs only at high altitude. Or, that oil dumping occurs
About the only time the pressure side can cause only during a nose-up attitude. Here is a list of questions
dumping is when one or more of the oil jets have en- whose answers can be most helpful in isolating the cause
larged metering holes. This could allow more oil to flow of an oil dumping problem.
into the engine than can be pumped out by the scavenge
recovery system. This kind of problem does not just 1. What was the oil consumption rate?
“happen,” however. It is normally discovered on the
first run after an oil jet has been replaced. 2. Was the oil leak visible to the crew? If so, from
where?
Another possibility is that oil is simply leaking from
the engine before the scavenge system can recover it. 3. Was the oil loss evident only at high altitude?
The troubleshooter must remember that every oil dump-
ing case is different. The component that was replaced
4. At what altitude did the oil dumping occur?
to correct the most recently encountered oil problem may
not be, and probably will not be, the culprit the next time
around. Every step in the isolation procedures must be 5. After descent, at what altitude did the oil dump-
accomplished in each and every case in order to isolate ing stop?
and identify the faulty component.
6. How long into the flight did the dumping begin?
The reports given by the flight crew are often crucial
in getting an investigation off on the right foot. For 7. What was the aircraft attitude when the dump-
instance, they may mention that the indication of oil loss ing began?

A Lockheed SERVICE NEWS V18N3

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 8. Did the oil dump begin immediately after initial ness. Let us take an in-depth look at each of these
start up? categories individually.

9. Does the oil dump while the aircraft is on the Static Oil Leaks
ground, as well as in flight?
Static oil leaks usually show up after an engine has
10. Was there a rise in oil temperature before or been sitting unused for a period of time. The period can
during the dumping incident? be anything from a few hours to several days. Note the
distinction in terminology between static leaks and
11. Did the affected engine require the oil cooler internal leakage. Static leaks occur in an engine at rest,
flap to be opened more often than the other while internal leakage shows up only during actual
engines to maintain proper oil temperature? engine operation.

12. Was there a noticeable reduction of oil quantity The most common cause of static leakage, also
on the oil quantity indicator before the actual called gravitational flooding, is an improperly func-
dumping began? If so, how much did the quan- tioning oil retention check valve. This may occur either
tity drop and how long did it take before the in the power section oil filter assembly or in the reduc-
dumping began? tion gearbox oil pump assembly (Fig. 2).

Oil loss, oil consumption, or dumping problems can It should be kept in mind that gravitational flooding
usually be grouped into three broad areas: static oil can be a transient condition, caused by a particle of
leaks, internal leakage, and scavenge system ineffective- foreign material temporarily lodged in the seat of one of

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Figure 2. Improperly functioning oil retention check valves are a common cause of static oil leakage.

the oil retention check valves. Sometimes there will be the possibility of fumes entering the air conditioning
evidence of oil dripping out of the bottom compressor system.
bleed valves, and sometimes there will be oil in the tail
pipe or intake. On the other hand, there may be no The oil retention check valves are not always the
external indication of oil leakage at all. culprits; there are other components in the system that
can cause persistent static oil leaks. One or more of the
When a static leak is suspected, perform the follow- following components may contribute to the problem:
ing confirmation check. Verify that the oil quantity gage
of the affected engine shows at least four gallons present l Power section oil filter O-ring deteriorated or
to provide lubrication, and then motor the engine briefly. damaged.

NOTE: Do not add oil to the tank if the oil level Power section oil filter check valves not seated.
is below full, but above four gallons.
l Power section oil filter bypass valve not seated
If the oil quantity increases significantly during the properly within the accessory drive housing
motoring process, it is likely that an excessive amount of front cover.
oil has found its way into the sumps and is being scav-
enged back to the supply tank during the motoring Power section oil pump pressure regulating
process. We know this problem can be temporary, so if valve not seated.
there is no indication that the engine is a repeat offender,
it should be run to clear it of foreign material and Power section oil pump pressure regulating
checked again. The engine will, of course, smoke and valve O-ring at valve outside diameter deterio-
vent abnormally during the first few minutes after rated, damaged, or missing.
starting when the sumps have been flooded.
l Power section oil pump drive and idler shaft
Start the engine in low-speed ground idle. Then seals between the pressure and scavenge pump
close the bleed air valve so that the bleed air from what gears damaged, deteriorated, or missing.
is probably a well-oiled compressor will not enter the
aircraft pneumatic system. Operate the engine at flight l Reduction gear assembly oil pump check valve
idle or higher until the engine is clear of the blue smoke not seated.
from the residual oil. Note that it is a good idea to
compressor-wash the engine before returning it to l Reduction gear assembly oil filter too long,
service to get rid of all the unwanted oil film and avoid causing oil pump check valve to remain off seat.

6 Lockheed SERVICE NEWS V18N3

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 l Reduction gear assembly oil pump drive shaft system. When an engine consumes or dumps oil, it will
seal deteriorated, damaged, worn, or missing. often do so after accumulating oil in one or more of three
major areas: (1) the combustion assembly inner cas-
If static oil leaks become a persistent problem with ing-the “lighthouse” assembly, (2) the reduction gear
a particular engine, further in-depth troubleshooting assembly, and (3) the accessory drive housing (Fig. 3).
must be accomplished to identify and correct the mal-
functioning component. There are effective isolation To troubleshoot an oil loss problem effectively, the
procedures in the maintenance manuals which will help troubleshooter must first determine whether or not the
you identify and locate the specific causes of static oil engine is actually accumulating oil. The following
leaks. Following through on these procedures will solve procedure is designed to ascertain if oil is being accu-
most static oil loss problems. mulated, and if so, where.

Internal Leakage vs. Scavenge Problems Creating a ‘Known Condition”

If static leaks can be ruled out as a source of oil loss, To be able to troubleshoot an engine that may or
which of the remaining choices is it? Internal leakage or may not have residual oil throughout the internal cavi-
an ineffective scavenge system? ties, an unknown condition, one must begin the trouble-
shooting procedures by creating a known condition.
When an engine accumulates oil before it dumps, it Follow the steps of this procedure in sequence. Note
generally points toward some sort of scavenge problem. that it is a good idea to carry out the following procedure
There are other situations, however, in which the engine when the oil is at normal operating temperature.
will lose oil but not accumulate it anywhere. If no
accumulation has occurred, we know oil is being scav- 1. Remove the power section accessory drive magnetic
enged. In such cases, it is likely that the oil loss is drain plug. Drain all of the oil from the accessory
caused by internal leakage somewhere in the power drive housing, and then reinstall the plug.
section.
2. Remove the front (lower) magnetic drain plug from
In practice, it is not always easy to distinguish the reduction gear assembly. Drain all of the oil
between internal leakage and an ineffective scavenge from the reduction gear assembly and then reinstall
the plug.
Figure 3. Accumulated oil will often collect in one or more
of three major areas. 3. Remove and drain both scavenge lines supplying the
external scavenge pump at the accessory drive
housing. Reinstall the lines after draining them.

REDUCTION GEAR ASSEMBLY

SCAVENGE OIL TUBE

DRAIN PLUG LIGHTHOUSE ASSEMBLY

ACCESSORY DRIVE

Lockheed SERVICE NEWS V18N3 7

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 Note that at this point in the troubleshooting proce- lighthouse pressure connection on the diffuser case
dure, the amount of oil that drains from these areas just forward of the 11 o’clock bleed air manifold
is not important. A small amount of static oil leak- adapter. The pressure should be read with a gage
age at these locations is normal. which indicates inches of mercury (in. Hg).

4. Record, exactly, the amount of oil in the oil tank, 6. Operate the engine at cruise power for a minimum of
using the dipstick. A measured amount of oil is now 30 minutes, or until the oil begins to dump out the
in the tank, and the reduction gear assembly, acces- drain mast, whichever occurs first. During the run,
sory drive housing, and lighthouseareas are empty. record the oil scavenge back pressure readings at oil
In other words, a known condition exists. temperatures of 60°C 70°C and 9O'C, and peak
scavenge back pressure. Record peak lighthouse
5. Attach both a scavenge back pressure gage and a pressure at a stabilized takeoff power setting.
lighthouse pressure gage to the engine. The scav-
enge back pressure gage should be connected to a 7. Shut the engine down. Measure the quantity of oil
point where “pump out” pressure can be read. One remaining in the oil tank. Record the amount the oil
such location is the main pressure scavenge oil pump level has dropped from the previous measurement.
magnetic plug. To connect to the pump, modify a
magnetic drain plug by drilling and tapping a hole in Remember that if the oil was not at operating tem-
the center for a No. 4 hose fitting. perature when you began the check, it will have ex-
panded because of the increase in temperature. The
Another possibility is the external scavenge filter difference can be up to 2 quarts, depending on how
“in” point. Connection to the filter can be made by cold the oil was initially. This must be considered
removing the external filter bypass indicator button when figuring the level reduction on the dip stick.
and inserting the special adapter provided with the That is why the oil should be at normal operating
PN 23008696 test set, which is available from temperature before carrying out this procedure.
Allison. Either of these points will show the back
pressure the pump senses during operation. Figure 8. Within 5 minutes after engine shutdown, remove the
4 shows the locations referred to in this step. magnetic drain plugs from the accessory drive
housing and the reduction gear assembly. Catch and
Lighthouse pressure should be determined by measure the amount of oil that drains from these
attaching the pressure gage to the engine at the areas separately.

Figure 4. Determine “pump out” pressure at the main oil pump magnetic plug or the external oil filter “in” point, and lighthouse
pressure at the pressure connection on the diffuser case.

8 Lockheed SERVlCE NEWS V18N3

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9. Under normal operating conditions, the oil drained
from the accessory drive housing should not be more
than 1 quart. The oil drained from the reduction
gear assembly should not be more than 2.5 quarts.
The amount of oil collected over and above these
amounts can be considered accumulated oil.

Three common locations for internal leakage are shown below.

Analyzing the Results

Mathematically determine the sum of the oil drained

from both the reduction gear assembly and accessory
drive housing. Subtract this total from the original dip-
stick reading. Taking into account up to 2 quarts for heat
expansion of the oil, if applicable, the remainder should
equal what was recorded on the dipstick after shutdown.

If the oil reduction on the dipstick was more than the

sum of oil collected from the reduction gear assembly
and accessory drive housing combined, the remaining oil
is probably in the lighthouse assembly. This amount
should not be more than 1 pint.

This method is most accurate when very little or no Figure 5. Compressor front bearing labyrinth seal.
dumping occurred during the run. For this reason it is
imperative that the engine be shut down as soon as oil
dumping begins.

If lighthouse accumulation is suspected, remove the

oil scavenge lines from the external scavenge pump.
Catch and measure the amount of oil drained from these
two lines. Any amount over 1 pint can be considered oil
accumulation. If, by using these procedures, it is
determined that 110 oil has accumulated in any of these
three major areas, the most probable cause for the oil
loss is internal leakage.

Internal Leakage

There is no cut-and-dried method of pinpointing the Figure 6. Turbine rear bearing labyrinth seal.
actual cause of all internal leakage problems without
disassembling the engine. However, there are some
things that can be done to help isolate the problem areas.

There are several locations where internal leakage

most often occurs, all of which are in the power section.
Worn or deteriorated O-ring seals, or a worn or damaged
compressor front bearing labyrinth seal in the compres-
sor front bearing and extension shaft area can cause
internal leakage (Fig. 5).

The lighthouse area can experience internal leakage

from either end caused by damaged crush gaskets, worn
or damaged labyrinth air or oil seals, or even a crack in
one of the combustion chamber inner liners. The turbine
rear bearing sump area can suffer leakage because of Figure 7. Compressor rear bearing labyrinth seal.
ineffective crush gaskets, turbine rear scavenge pump
failure, or a worn or damaged turbine rear bearing laby-
rinth seal (Fig. 6).

Lockheed SERVICE NEWS V18N3

9
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 One tool that can aid in the process of elimination is Now check the torque again. If there is torque
the lighthouse pressure gage. By combining the light- wrench movement, retorque again and wait. Repeat the
house pressure indications with physical evidence of an process until no movement of the wrench occurs when
oil leak, one can determine which part of the lighthouse rechecking torque. This procedure ensures a complete
area is at fault. crush effect on the gaskets and usually corrects the
leakage problem.
For example, if the lighthouse pressure is over 11 in.
Hg, coupled with evidence of oil loss, the most probable If the lighthouse pressure was below 11 in. Hg and
cause is an ineffective compressor rear bearing labyrinth no evidence of oil leakage from the compressor vents
air seal (Fig. 7). This is due to the lighthouse being was noted, try the following:
overpressurized by compressor discharge air flowing
over the worn or damaged labyrinth air seal. 1. Check the turbine exhaust area for evidence of oil
leakage. If oil is present, investigate the turbine rear
This overpressurization forces the oil in the turbine bearing area. It should be noted that there can be
front bearing area to flow over its labyrinth seal and out evidence of oil in this area caused by excessive
the exhaust. Remember, each of these labyrinth seals is down-the-shaft venting. This condition is most
a dual-stage seal. They are made up of an air seal and an oftencoupled with high lighthouse pressure, but it is
oil seal combined in one seal assembly. It is therefore possible for it to occur with normal lighthouse
possible for only one part of the seal to be a problem pressure as well.
while the other part is still serviceable.
2. Remove and inspect a compressor bleed valve for
The reverse can also take place. The turbine front evidence of oil film. Check for oil in the air inlet
bearing labyrinth air seal could be damaged or worn, housing area. If oil is present in either of these
causing an overpressurization of the lighthouse assem- areas, the most probable cause is leakage from the
bly. This will force the oil in the compressor rear compressor extension shaft housing O-ring or the
bearing sump out through its oil seal and out its vents. front compressor labyrinth seal.
However, the indication of this problem would be high
lighthouse pressure coupled with oil venting from the Scavenge System Problems
compressor rear bearing vents.
If it is determined that oil has accumulated in one of
What can make troubleshooting this area even more the three major areas, the problem is likely being caused
confusing is that oil can vent out the turbine exhaust area
Table 1.
when only the turbine front bearing oil seal is worn or . .
damaged. This, however, produces a different symp- 11 [Link] Oil from ‘Probable
tom, in that the oil will be lost even though lighthouse Lighthouse Compressor Cause
pressure remains normal. This happens because the oil Pressure Vents
seal is worn or damaged, and the oil can flow across this
seal and out the exhaust. There is no cause for the At or above No Compressor rear
labyrinth air seal.
lighthouse pressure to build up.
At or above Yes Turbine front laby-
To complicate things still further, the reverse can rinth air seal.
happen as well. Oil can dump out of the compressor rear
bearing vents because the compressor rear bearing Below No Turbine front laby-
labyrinth oil seal is worn or damaged. The oil simply rinth oil seal.
flows across the bad seal and out the vents. There is
again no reason for lighthouse pressure to build. The Below Yes Compressor rear
external symptom seen in this case is oil dumping out of labyrinth oil seal.
the compressor vents, with the lighthouse pressure
normal. Table 1 at the right may make all this a little At or above No Cracked diffuser,
easier to understand. inner combustion
liner, crush gas-
If there is evidence of oil coming from the three kets, piston rings,
o’clock and nine o’clock turbine inlet struts, the problem or both compres-
is probably the inner combustion liner crush gaskets. To sor rear & turbine
front labyrinth air
correct this problem, replace the gaskets and use the
seals.
following torquing procedures. Tighten the bolts in
Potential problem,
order around the circumference until the required torque needs repair.
is obtained. Allow the bolt tension to stress-relieve for
15 or 20 minutes.

10 Lockheed SERVICE NEWS V18N3

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Figure 8. Power section scavenge problems can often be traced to ineffective pumps. leaking seals, and restricted scavenge oil tubes.

by an ineffective scavenge system. The following cannot keep up with the demand. In the early stages, this
procedures can help isolate the cause. Note that these usually causes oil loss only at altitude. If not corrected,
actions should be taken only if accumulation was evident however, the pump will wear to the point of also being
in the area under discussion. Each of the three major ineffective on the ground.
areas will be addressed separately. Figures 8 and 10 will
be helpful in tracing the oil flow in the power section and It should be kept in mind that even a normally
reduction gear assembly scavenge systems. operating scavenge pump loses effectiveness at high
altitude. At sea level, the oil is being forced into the
Lighthouse Accumulation pump by 14.7 psi atmospheric pressure (on a standard
day). This provides a sort of preload effect. At altitude,
There is just one reason why oil accumulation occurs this pressure is reduced, causing more air and less oil to
in the lighthouse assembly. That is that oil is being be pumped. The higher the altitude, the greater the ratio
pumped into the lighthouse faster than it is being pumped of air to oil becomes. At cruise altitude, a perfectly good
out. Either there is too much oil being pumped in, which scavenge pump actually pumps more air than oil.
is usually caused by enlarged jets, or the oil is not being
removed as fast as it should be. As noted earlier, the All too often, an external scavenge pump is replaced
latter situation is much more common than the former. because it is thought to be worn, when in fact it only has
a leaking O-ring. The inner O-ring on the pump cover,
There are several reasons why the oil may not be if leaking, can cause oneelement ofthepump to cavitate.
getting pumped out at a sufficient rate. The most obvi- This causes the pump to lose its efficiency (see Fig. 11
ous is that the external scavenge pump is not pumping on page 15).
effectively. One possible cause is that the drive shaft is
sheared and the pump does not pump at all. Normally Still another reason why oil may not be pumped out
when this happens, the lighthouse area fills with oil in a fast enough is that the oil is not reaching the pump to be
matter of minutes and oil dumps out the compressor rear pumped. Remember that this is a suction-feed pumping
bearing seal vents, the turbine exhaust, or anywhere else system. Any restriction in the passages to the pump will
it can get out. cause oil accumulation to begin.

Another reason for external scavenge pump ineffec- There are two causes of restricted scavenge oil
tiveness is that the pump is worn to the point where it tubes. One is carbon. When oil gets overheated, it tends

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 LINE O-RINGS

Figure 9. Good seals, unobstructed lines, and undamaged S-tubes are critical to proper scavenge oil flow.

to break down chemically, leaving a carbon residue. The key here is the fact that the oil quantity returns
The residue can collect in the oil tubes and passages and to normal at low-speed ground idle. To explain further:
create restrictions to flow. There is a screen in the in low-speed ground idle, the compressor discharge air
bottom of the compressor rear bearing sump to prevent is sometimes not hot enough, nor at high enough pres-
large pieces of carbon from entering the oil tube, but this sure, to expand a hairline crack and force its way into the
does not stop carbon from forming within the tubes S-tube, where it can affect the suction of the pump. The
themselves. Figure 9 shows the details of several of the pump therefore functions correctly and the oil is proper-
components discussed on this page. ly scavenged back to the supply tank.

The other cause for restricted oil tubes is air. Air is When the engine is upshifted or taken to power, the
not really a restriction, but it can act to inhibit flow. compressor discharge temperature increases, as does the
Leaking scavenge line packings at the diffuser port air pressure. This tends to open the crack and allow the
connection allows lighthouse pressure to enter the oil now much higher compressor discharge pressure into the
tube. This breaks the suction to the turbine front bearing system, breaking the suction. The oil that is being
sump. There are two O-rings installed on the return pumped into the lighthouse area will now no longer be
scavenge line to help prevent this from happening. removed as rapidly as it should be, and oil accumulates
in the lighthouse assembly as a result.
Another place air can enter the system is at the
diffuser S-tubes. These tubes are located inside the This causes the oil quantity indicator to show a
diffuser 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock struts. They serve as oil reduction in oil quantity. When the engine is again
passageways to transfer the oil from the lighthouse area down-shifted to low-speed ground idle, the crack will
through the compressor air stream to the pump. If one of close and the oil that has accumulated in the lighthouse
these tubes becomes cracked, compressor discharge air will be scavenged back to the tank. The oil quantity
can enter the tube. The air pressure acts to break the indicator will now show that the oil has returned.
suction and thus inhibits the free flow of oil to the pump.
So when an engine tends to “hide” approximately 2
There is one rather peculiar possibility that should to 3 gallons of oil and then give it back at low-speed
be considered when cracked S-tubes are suspected. Just ground idle, it is likely that an S-tube in the diffuser is
what happens depends on the severity of the crack. The cracked. One way to confirm this problem is to remove
key symptom is that the oil quantity will drop by approx- the lower bleed air duct from the diffuser and inspect the
imately 2 to 3 gallons when the engine is running above oil tubes for visible oil seepage. Normally, this area is
low-speed ground idle. The lost oil will then be mysteri- bone-dry. If these tubes are cracked, there will be signs
ously recovered when the engine is “down-shifted” to of an oil film residue or even just wetness around the S-
low-speed ground idle. tube area.

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 If a condition of oil accumulation in the lighthouse Remember that the reduction gear assembly has two
is neglected long enough, the lighthouse becomes scavenge pumps (Fig. 10). One pump, the main scav-
completely filled with oil. The labyrinth seals will then enge pump, scavenges oil from the sump behind the
usually allow the oil to dump, or the oil will pass through main diaphragm. The other, the nose scavenge pump,
the shaft venting system into the rear turbine exhaust scavenges oil from forward of the main diaphragm.
area. So, if oil is found in the turbine exhaust area, and There are two pumps because it requires two pumps to
more than 1 pint of oil was drained from the lighthouse scavenge all of the oil effectively at altitude.
oil tubes, the problem is likely to be inadequate light-
house scavenge and not turbine rear bearing seals. If both pumps fail, or either one fails at altitude, the
oil will accumulate in both sumps and begin to fill the
Note that it is not a good idea to allow large amounts reduction gear assembly. When the oil level begins to
of oil to accumulate in the lighthouse. When oil is increase, the oil will usually flow out through the torque-
properly scavenged from this area, it takes heat with it. meter and into the compressor front bearing area.
This is how the compressor rear bearing and turbine
front bearing remain cool. If the oil remains, so does the Keep in mind that the compressor front bearing area
heat. This sets up a conditionwhich promotes premature is scavenged through the accessory drive housing by the
bearing failure and carbon build-up in the scavenge power section main pressure scavenge pump. Extra oil
lines. Keep in mind that these things can happen even flowing into the area will overload this pump, causing
with the scavenge back pressure readings well within accumulation to begin in the accessory drive housing as
normal limits. well. Eventually the oil blows by the compressor front
bearing labyrinth seal into the compressor air flow or out
Reduction Gear Assembly Accumulation the breather vent line to the drain mast, or both.

Just as in the case of the lighthouse assembly, there To the troubleshooter, the key to this condition is the
is only one reason why oil accumulates in the reduction large amounts of oil that will be collected from both the
gear assembly. That is that oil is being pumped into the reduction gear assembly and theaccessory drive housing
reduction gear assembly at a significantly faster rate than magnetic drain plug areas. Also, if one pump has failed,
it is being pumped out. The reason that the oil is not the oil quantity indicator will show a reduction of oil
being removed rapidly enough is usually an inefficient quantity at cruising altitude, but remain relatively stable
scavenge pump. at lower altitudes.

Figure 70. Effective reduction gearbox scavenging at altitude depends on efficient operation of both nose and main scavenge pumps.

NOSE SCAVENGE PUMP

MAGNETIC PLUG

SCAVENGE PUMP

MAGNETIC PLUG -

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 This occurs because one pump cannot keep up with to handle the added load, Troubleshooters should again
the oil flow at altitude and oil accumulates The single keep in mind that once again, all these things can happen
good pump may be able to prevent further accumulation with the lighthouse pressure and scavenge back pressure
at lower altitudes, but it does not have enough capacity still within prescribed limits.
to completely recover the oil that has been accumulated
at altitude. The oil simply stops accumulating. There is one other condition that causes reduction
gear assembly scavenge pumps to be ineffective, and that
One symptom which is unique to reduction gearbox is a restriction in the common return system. Remember
main scavenge pump failure is that the engine dumps oil that the reduction gear assembly and power section share
or indicates a reduction of oil quantity only when the the same return system from the external scavenge filter
aircraft is in a nose-up attitude or during rapid accelera- all the way to the oil tank. Any restriction to the free
tion. It is under these conditions that oil normally scav- flow of oil in this system will create a back pressure
enged by the nose scavenge pump flows to the rear of the problem for the pumps, which results in a decrease in
reduction gear assembly. their effectiveness.

If the main pump is functioning properly, this extra Two indications commonly reveal the presence of
oil can be pumped back to the tank at low altitudes, such this situation. One is that the problem will normally be
as during takeoff. However, if the main pump has shown on the scavenge back pressure gage as more than
failed, the oil will accumulate and eventualIy dump into 30 psi back pressure. The other is that both the reduc-
the compressor front bearing area. So, if the engine tion gear assembly and the accessory drive housing will
dumps oil only in a nose-up attitude, especially during usually accumulate oil simultaneously. Isolation of the
takeoff, the reduction gear assembly main scavenge causes of oil return system components failure is covered
pump should be suspected. under “Excessive Scavenge Back Pressure” on page 15.
On the other hand, if the engine dumps oil shortly Accessory Drive Housing Accumulation
after a long descent, the probable cause is failure of the
nose scavenge pump. In a nose-down attitude, the oil Probably the most common area for 501/T56 oil
that is usually pumped by the main scavenge pump flows accumulation is in the accessory drive housing (Pig. 11).
to the front of the reduction gear assembly. The nose There are two pumps located in the accessory drive
scavenge pump will usually pump the additional oil back housing, but one, the external scavenge pump, only
to the supply tank at lower altitudes. However, if the services the lighthouse area and does not affect the
nose pump has failed, oil will accumulate in the front of scavenging of the accessory drive housing itself.
the reduction gear assembly.
The reason for oil accumulation here is the same as
After a time during long descents, the oil quantity in the other cases we have discussed: more oil is being
indicator will indicate a decrease in oil quantity in the pumped in than can be pumped out. There are several
tank. When the aircraft levels off, the accumulated oil possible causes for this problem. One is a plugged back
flows to the main pump, which usually pumps most of it vent on the main oil pump (Fig. 11). When the back
back to the tank. The oil quantity then partially recov- vent becomes plugged, the scavenge element of the
ers. The reason the main pump can handle the extra oil pump tends to cavitate, especially at high altitudes. This
at this point is that after a long descent, the aircraft has reduces the pump’s effectiveness and oil begins to
come to a lower altitude and the pump is more efficient accumulate inside the accessory drive housing.
than at cruise altitudes.
Another cause for main oil pump inefficiency can be
Sometimes, during extremely long descents, there is found within the pump itself. Both the pressure element
so much oil accumulation that after leveling off, the main and the scavenge element share the same drive shaft. If
oil pump cannot handle the added oil. In this case, the the shaft seal between the two elements wears abnormal-
oil again flows out through the torquemeter and dumps ly , oil from the pressure element begins to flow to the
overboard. A uniquething about this situation is that the scavenge element, Unfortunately, the scavenge element
oil will dump for a brief period of time after leveling off, is not capable of pumping both the scavenge oil and the
then stop. additional oil from the pressure side.

The reason for this is that only the excess oil that the In this case, the scavenge pump is working to its
main scavenge pump could not pump is being dumped maximum capacity, but oil is still not being pumped out
overboard. As soon as the excess oil is dumped, the of the accessory drive housing fast enough. The result is
system returns to the situation where the main scavenge that the accessory drive housing fills with oil, and
pump is carrying the load of both pumps. And again, eventually an oil dumping situation arises. In this case,
since the aircraft is usually at a much lower altitude after oil will usually dump when the aircraft is on the ground
a long descent, the pump will be more effective and able as well as at altitude.

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Figure 11. Accessory drive housing oil accumulation is often caused by wear, obstructions. or seal problems affecting the main
pressure scavenge pump.

Another internal problem with the pump is that the Excessive Scavenge Back Pressure
main oil pump can become worn to the point where it is
no longer effective. When this occurs, the problem is Excessive scavenge back pressure is probably the
usually first indicated by oil dumping at altitude only. most commoncause of oil accumulation. Unfortunately,
As we have seen, a scavenge pump normally becomes this can be a rather complex subject. There are many
less effective at higher altitudes. A worn pump will be factors, acting singly or in concert, that can lead to back-
most noticeable at these altitudes first. The main oil pressure problems.
pump differs from the external scavenge pump in that
when the drive shaft shears, both the scavenge and The oil flowing back to the oil tank in the 501/T56
pressure pumps stop working. In this situation, there oil system has much in common with water flowing
will be no oil pressure indication on the flight deck. through a garden hose. If you squeeze a garden hose
with a pair of pliers at its midpoint, the flow to the outlet
One more thing to remember about accessory drive decreases, and the pressure above the restriction in-
housing oil accumulation is the possibility of the “figure creases. This is the key point for troubleshooters to
8” seal causing the problem (Fig. 11). Oil from the remember. The pressure inside the hose will increase
external scavenge pump flows through one side of this only on the upstream side of the pliers, between the
seal and oil from the pressure pump flows through the pliers and the faucet.
other side. If either of these seal sides leak, the oil from
the leak will flow to the bottom of the accessory drive This fact of fluid dynamics holds true for the 501-
housing. This creates a reservoir too large for the IT56 oil return system as well. Any restriction between
scavenge pump to handle and accumulation begins. the pump and the oil tank will cause a decrease in the
flow of oil to the tank, and an increase in pressure on the
It is worth repeating that all these things can happen upstream side of the restriction; in other words, between
and the scavenge back pressure and lighthouse pressure the restriction and the pump. Such restrictions have to
still be within prescribed limits. However, excessive be dealt with; the good news is that we can use this in-
scavenge back pressure can, and often does, cause oil creased pressure as a troubleshooting aid to find where
accumulation in the accessory drive housing. the restriction is located in the system.

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 Remember that we are not directly concerned with able flow resistance, the combined total would push the
the pressure itself, but with what is causing the increased back pressure beyond the overall 30 psi maximum.
pressure. When the flow of oil to the oil tank is reduced,
the oil must go somewhere else. This is how oil accumu- If the scavenge back pressure is shown to be above
lation in all three major areas can begin. 30 psi, it becomes a matter of finding the location of the
restriction that is forcing the system pressure to above-
The common scavenge return system has some built- normal levels. This can be somewhat involved because
in restrictions (Fig. 12). For example, the external oil the cause may not be just one component. Quite possi-
filter creates a certain amount of back pressure, depend- bly, problems in two or more units may be involved.
ing on how contaminated it is. The more contamination, The main thing fortroubleshooters to remember is to try
the more force required to push the oil through the filter. to get the scavenge back pressure as far below 30 psi as
possible. Note that it will be very unusual to get the total
Other components also contribute to system back pressure below about 20 psi, so there is little point in
pressure. As oil flows through the fuel heater, the re- devoting a lot of effort to trying to get it lower than
quirement for pressure increases, depending on how somewhere in the 20 psi to 25 psi range.
restricted the cooler core has become. When the oil
becomes hot enough to flow through the oil cooler, On the other hand, if a troubleshooter takes only
additional energy is again required, this time to push the enough action to reduce the total pressure to about 29
oil through the core. The result is another increase in psi, the problem will return when the total system
pressure. The exact amount of increase depends on just contamination level pushes the oil pressure up only 1 or
how contaminated the oil cooler has become. There are 2 psi; in other words, to the dumping threshold. The
many variables to contend with when troubleshooting lower the scavenge back pressure, the longer it will take
this system. typical contamination processes to raise the pressure to
the dumping stage. In the interest of preventive mainte-
We also must not lose sight of the fact that the entire nance, it always makes good sense to keep the total
system has to be held under a maximum pressure of 30 overall scavenge back pressure as low as possible.
psi for the pumps to pump against. The total system
back pressure represents the sum of the pressure increas- Using the Test Set
es caused by each component’s resistance to oil flow all
along the way The significance of this cumulative effect The Allison PN 23008696 test set has been designed
cannot be overstated. If each individual component in to check scavenge oil pressures at four locations in the
the oil return system were to offer its maximum allow- oil return system. These key locations are the external

Figure 12. Nacelle-mounted oil system components such as the oil cooler, fuel heater, and external scavenge oil filter are important
contributors to scavenge system back pressure.

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scavenge filter inlet, the external scavenge filter outlet,
the oil cooler inlet, and the oil cooler outlet.

(1) External Scavenge Filter Inlet

The reading here indicates the overall pressure to

which the scavenge pumps are subjected (Fig. 4). This
pressure should be maintained as far below the 30 psi
maximum as possible.

(2) External Scavenge Filter Outlet

The value obtained at this point is used to check the

pressure differential (AP) across the external scavenge
filter; in other words, the difference in pressure between
the filter inlet and the filter outlet. This can help deter- I
Figure 73. Even in full operation at 80°C, the AP of the oil
mine the condition of the filter itself. Contamination will cooler should not be more than 9 psi.
cause an increased resistance to oil flow. In normal
operation, a clean filter will have a AP of 3 to 8 psi. Any heater usually causes oil dumping at altitude only, and
amount over 8 psi can be considered excessive. that scavenge back pressure without the special tool
installed-will often be within limits when measured on
(3) Oil Cooler Inlet the ground.

The pressure reading at this location can be com- That is not to say that the oil bypass valve could not
pared with the external scavenge filter outlet pressure become stuck in the closed position, causing high
value to determine the AP across the fuel heater strainer scavenge back pressure both at altitude and on the
assembly (Fig. 14). Under normal operations, a clean ground. This condition is very rare, but one must
fuel heater in full bypass will have a AP of 7 to 12 psi. remember that the limits given above, fully open or fully
Remember, this is in the full bypass condition. In other closed, are extremes. The engine usually operates some-
words, the temperature of the fuel flowing through the where between these two settings. Unfortunately, this is
exchanger is not cold enough to begin closing the bypass yet another variable that the troubleshooter must contend
valve, and all of the oil is bypassing the exchanger. with.

But the fuel is not always this warm. Fuel can get (4) Oil Cooler Outlet
very cold, especially at altitude. During a typical
mission, the decreasing fuel temperature is sensed by a This pressure reading, coupled with that of the oil
thermostat in the fuel heater as the aircraft climbs toward cooler inlet, can help determine the condition of the
cruise altitude. The thermostat in the fuel heater then interior of the oil cooler. Remember that the cooler does
begins to close the bypass valve, which forces the return- not come into play until the oil gets hot enough to require
ing oil up through the heat exchanger. cooling. At 60°C oil temperature, the oil is bypassing
the cooler core. The normal AP for the cooler at this
temperature is 0 to 6 psi.
This action increases the AP across the exchanger
even more. The problem is that it is difficult to duplicate
As the oil begins to heat up, the thermostat in the oil
this situation on the ground. However, the locally
cooler starts to route some of the oil through the cooler
manufactured tool shown in Figure 14 on page 18 can
core. At 75°C oil temperature and above, the bypass is
help in isolating this problem. In use, the fuel heater oil
fully closed and all of the oil is routed through the cooler
bypass (slide) valve is removed and the special tool
core. This increases the AP, but even at 8O'C, the AP
installed in its location. With the tool installed, all of the
should not be more than 9 psi. Any more than 9 psi can
returning oil is forced through the exchanger.
be regarded as excessive and suggests that the unit is
becoming contaminated. Once again, however, if the
When the tool is in place, normal operation of the overall total back pressure is below the maximum of 30
exchanger will increase the AP to about 12 to 18 psi. psi, the system can be considered serviceable.
Any more than 18 psi should be considered excessive.
However, as long as the total overall scavenge back It is clear from the foregoing that the way the oil
pressure does not exceed 30 psi with the special tool cooler affects scavenge back pressure is closely related
installed, the exchanger and the entire scavenge return to oil temperature. This fact can prove useful during
system can be regarded as serviceable. An important troubleshooting activities. If the scavenge back pressure
thing for the troubleshooter to remember is that the fuel is below 30 psi when the oil is cold and it then increases

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 The tool is locally manufactured
using mild steel stock (or equiv-
alent). Do not use aluminum.

Use appropriate caution in re-

moving the oil bypass valve.
It is strongly spring-loaded in
the installed position.

BACK-PRESSURE TESTING TOOL

TOOL IN TEST POSITION

(OIL BYPASS VALVE REMOV‘ED)

FUEL HEATER

Figure 14. Installed in the fuel heater, this locally manufactured tool will allow the unit’s maximum back pressure to be measured.

to above 30 psi when the oil temperature reaches be- connecting the affected component. These oil lines can
tween 65°C and 75”C, the likelihood is that the oil break down on the inside and cause restrictions. Some-
cooler is the culprit. times it is simply a matter of a line being kinked.

It is important not to lose sight of the total back Altitude Effects

pressure of the system as a whole, however. Consider
an example in which the total overall back pressure is 29 Misconceptions about oil loss at altitude are not
psi when the oil is cold, but has risen to 33 psi at 75°C uncommon. The first thing that must be determined is
oil temperature, at which point dumping occurs. System whether altitude actually has anything to do with the
pressure is now above normal, but the oil cooler has only problem. We have already discussed some of the many
raised the total back pressure by 4 psi. A 4 psi increase ways in which altitude can affect the oil system, but it is
is within the normal operating range of a good cooler, so not uncommon for troubleshooters to get the impression
we must look elsewhere for the cause of the problem. that a problem is altitude-related when it is not.

Continuing with our example, further investigation Sometimes the problem involves a time factor in
shows that the AP across the external scavenge filter is which oil accumulation occurs for a while before dump-
found to be 10 psi. By replacing the external scavenge ing begins. An example might be an engine with a
filter and bringing its AP down to 4 psi, the total scav- restricted oil filter which raises the scavenge back
enge back pressure will be reduced to 23 psi. This is pressure to, let us say, 32 psi. This creates an oil accu-
below the dumping threshold even when the extra 4 psi mulation problem, but even though the pump is pumping
of the oil cooler in full operation is added. Now the against excessive back pressure, it is stillpumping. The
overall back pressure reading will be 27 psi, and no accumulation in this case will be very slow.
dumping should occur. Remember to look not only at
individual components, but also at the total system and By the time the oil has accumulated to the dumping
what effect each component is having on it. stage, the aircraft may have reached 20,000 feet. Then
oil dumping begins, and is noted visually by the flight
If it is determined that a certain component is crew. You can see how easily a troubleshooter might be
causing the high scavenge back pressure, and that misled. Of course, flight crews can help by closely
component is replaced but little change in the pressure monitoring the oil quantity indicators during climbout.
readings results, check the condition of the oil lines

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 The actual accumulation rate can be calculated from time. Although a little extra effort must be exerted,
the difference between the flow of oil being pumped into there are a number of things he can do to prevent oil
the area versus the flow being pumped out. It all de- system problems from developing.
pends on how severe the leak or restriction is. With this
in mind, it is easy to see why it may take several hours Check for accumulation. Engines are operated
for the oil to accumulate to the dumping stage. periodically throughout the maintenance program,
usually on a scheduled basis: test cell, pre-ISO, back
There are three components in the oil system that are line, or compressor washes. It is during these
directly affected by altitude (Fig. 1). The oil tank operational checks that inspection for oil accumula-
pressurization valve is a spring-loaded valve that con- tion can be made. Simply drain and measure the
trols the amount of pressure in the oil tank. The spring amounts of oil from the reduction gear assembly and
tension on the valve may become too weak and possibly accessory drive housing after the run. If too much
cause a change in oil tank pressure, or the valve could oil is drained from either location, a potential prob-
stick open or closed and cause problems. As a practical lem may exist and troubleshooting should begin. It
matter, there is not too much that can go wrong with this makes little sense to wait until oil begins to dump in
valve because of its simplicity. Replacing it does not flight, possibly interfering with a priority mission.
often correct an oil dumping problem. It is a factor
which should be considered, however. Keep records. It is a good idea to keep records of
static oil leakers. This way, transient problems can
The oil tank cap should not be overlooked. Some- easily be separated from repeat offenders. Repeat
times the tank cap is improperly seated or the seal may offenders need to be thoroughly checked out and the
be defective. Normally there are no problems until the malfunctioning components replaced.
pressure on the outside of the tank is reduced, which of
course happens at altitude. The oil may then flow from Monitor lighthouse pressure. Lighthousepressure
the cap and very possibly out the scupper drain. This is can be taken during the operational checks men-
due to the venturi effect of the drain mast saber, which tioned above. If the pressure is getting close to the
creates suction at the scupper. But there may also be no 1 l-inch Hg limit, the engine should be scheduled for
evidence of an external oil leak at all. removal and repair at the earliest possible time.

As noted earlier, the operation of the fuel heater Keep critical components clean. During the in-
strainer assembly is indirectly related to altitude in that shop repair cycle, many components of the common
it responds to fuel temperature, which usually becomes oil return system are removed. This is a good time
lower at altitude. When the fuel cools, oil is directed to make the effort to clean these components so that
into the heat exchanger. If this unit is overly contami- when they are reinstalled they will not create prob-
nated, high scavenge back pressureat altitude can result. lems with back pressure. Ensure that new, clean
filters are installed. Oil coolers and fuel heaters
One more thing to consider. There have been cases should be cleaned before installation.
recorded where changing the oil fixed an altitude dump-
ing problem. As strange as it may seem, this can and Go all the way with maintenance. When an engine
does occur. Engine oil has an anti-foaming agent added. has been removed for oil accumulation in the light-
When oil is left undisturbed for a long period of time, the house area, there are certain extra steps that can be
agent separates from the oil and goes to the bottom of the taken in the shop that may avoid future failures. For
container. If the container is not shaken or the oil mixed instance, we know that oil is used to keep bearings
prior to servicing, the agent may get left in the container. cool. If lighthouseaccumulation has occurred, there
When this happens, the oil foams excessively at altitude a good chance the bearings have been overheated.
and exits through the venting system. Mixing incompati- So while the engine is disassembled, replace both
ble oils can also cause excessive foaming and oil loss. the turbine front and the compressor rear bearings.

Preventive Maintenance While the material offered in this article is by no

means all-inclusive, we hope it will prove helpful and
One of the keys to successful 501/T56 engine opera- useful to the many 501/T56 engine maintainers through-
tion is a sound preventive maintenance program. This out the world.
has been proven throughout the world as one of the most
important elements in the satisfactory completion of
Service News wishes to express its appreciation to
Hercules aircraft missions. It holds true for the oil the Allison Gas Turbine Division Training Department
system as well.
and the Lockheed (LASC) Customer Training Systems
Department for the use of the illustrations accompanying
The primary thing for the maintainer to be con-
this article.
cerned with is identifying a potential problem ahead of

Lockheed SERVICE NEWS V18N3 19

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