What might hot spots on a tail cone of a turbine indicate?

Hot spots on a tail cone of a turbine are indicative of issues related to the combustion process within the engine. When fuel nozzles are malfunctioning or the combustion chamber is faulty, it can lead to uneven combustion. This results in localized areas of excessive heat, or hot spots, which can be detected on the tail cone.

Fuel nozzles play a critical role in ensuring the correct atomization and distribution of fuel for complete combustion. If they are malfunctioning, it can lead to incomplete combustion and fuel pooling, creating areas of high temperature. Similarly, a fault within the combustion chamber that disrupts the flow or the mixing of air and fuel can also create hot spots. This can lead to damage over time or increased maintenance requirements if not addressed.

The other options, while they may have their own implications, do not directly correlate with the specific indication of hot spots on the tail cone as clearly as issues with fuel nozzles or combustion faults do.