What was found
DURING TRAINING FLIGHT, PILOT NOTICED SEVERAL HIGH AMPERAGE SPIKES FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL OUTPUT FROM THE ALTERNATOR. ALSO DAMAGED ELECTRICALLY WERE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND OVERVOLTAGE RELAY. POSSIBLE CAUSE FOUND DURING A BENCH CHECK OF AFFECTED ALTERNATOR, AN ARCING FROM FIELD TERMINAL LUG TO THE TIP OF THE REAR COOLING FAN. ABRASIONS FOUND ON ALL OF THE COOLING FAN TIPS INDICATED A CONTINUOUS ARCING HAD BEEN OCCURRING. THE MATTER HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ELECTROSYSTEMS, INC. (X)