# Accident 20070815018269A: Piper PA32R301T, East Alton, IL, August 15, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 2007, 07:00 local time
- Place: East Alton, IL
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8906° N, 90.1842° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8906&lon=-90.1842&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3120T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3120T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: New Piper PA-32R-301T (registry code 7104308, https://openairdocs.org/model/new-piper-pa-32r-301t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A (registry code 42003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-ah1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R301T
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC07IA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07IA199) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070815018269A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC07IA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07IA199), Aug 15, 2007: Piper PA-32R-301T (N3120T), Alton, IL, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The component manufacturer's inadequate fabrication of the transient voltage suppressor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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