Service difficulty report · Panel · Piper PA31T

Difficulty date
February 2, 2001
Submitted
March 19, 2001
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N88QM
Make and model
Piper PA31T
Aircraft serial
31T8104025
Engine
Pwa PT6*
Part
Panel
Part number
293712
Condition
Damaged
Location
Lt Main Brkr Pan
Part time
3,675 hours
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT SAW SMOKE COMING FROM LEFT MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL AND RETURNED TO AIRPORT. UPON REMOVING LEFT MAIN BREAKER PANEL, FOUND SEVERE HEAT DAMAGE ON ATTACH CLIP FOR RIGHT WINDSHIELD HEAT CIRCUIT BREAKER. THESE ARE PLUG IN STYLE BREAKERS. THE SMALL BRASS RIVET THAT ATTACHES CLIP TO BREAKER PANEL WAS NOT MAKING SUFFICIENT CONTACT TO HANDLE MAKING SUFFICIENT CONTACT TO HANDLE 35 AMP LOAD OF SYSTEM. RECOMMEND INSPECTING LIKE AIRCRAFT BREAKER PANELS FOR HEAT DAMAGE.

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