20070815018269A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32R-301T · East Alton, IL · August 15, 2007

Date: August 15, 2007 · 07:00 local
Place: East Alton, IL
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N3120T
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC07IA199
Reported as: Piper PA32R301T
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0

N3120TRegistered now · New Piper PA-32R-301TS/N 3257417 · Built 2006 Airframe modelNew Piper PA-32R-301T Engine modelLycoming TIO-540-AH1AReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On August 15, 2007 a Piper PA-32R-301T N3120T enroute from aurora municipal airport (karr) to spirit of st. louis (ksus) the pilot noticed smoke coming out from under the pilot's side instrument panel. Simultaneously, the circuit breaker popped and the pilot's flight display (PFD) went blank. The pilot descended and declared an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit. Aircraft landed at st. louis regional airport (kaln) without incident. Premier air center of East Alton IL crs# PAZR068H replaced PFD voltage suppressor p/n 688-002 and returned aircraft to service August 23, 2007. A safety recommendation will be submitted on the failed voltage suppressor.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON AUGUST 15, 2007 A PIPER PA-32R-301T N3120T ENROUTE FROM AURORA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KARR) TO SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS (KSUS) THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE PILOT'S SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED AND THE PILOT'S FLIGHT DISPLAY (PFD) WENT BLANK. THE PILOT DESCENDED AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY DUE TO SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. AIRCRAFT LANDED AT ST. LOUIS REGIONAL AIRPORT (KALN) WITHOUT INCIDENT. PREMIER AIR CENTER OF EAST ALTON IL CRS# PAZR068H REPLACED PFD VOLTAGE SUPPRESSOR P/N 688-002 AND RETURNED AIRCRAFT TO SERVICE AUGUST 23, 2007. A SAFETY RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SUBMITTED ON THE FAILED VOLTAGE SUPPRESSOR.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC07IA199Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportAlton, ILThe component manufacturer's inadequate fabrication of the transient voltage suppressor.Aug 15, 2007 · Minor damage