Service difficulty report · Contactor · Piper PA28181

Difficulty date
October 29, 2002
Submitted
October 29, 2002
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5675V
Make and model
Piper PA28181
Aircraft serial
287790493
Aircraft time
6,871 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A4M
Propeller
Snsnch 76EM8S5
Part
Contactor
Part number
455151
Condition
Burned
Location
Cockpit
Part time
300 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

A/C DIVERTED DUE TO THE SEVERE CHOKING SMOKE. PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND SQUAWKED 7700 STATING THAT DUE TO THE SMOKE HE WOULD HAVE TO DITCH IN THE OCEAN. HE SAW THE BLOCK ISLAND AIRPORT AND LANDED LONG AND FAST RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A PERIMETER FENCE. PILOT STATED HE HAD A HARD TIME STARTING THE ENGINE AND CRANKED THE ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE BATTERY WENT DEAD. HE GOT A JUMP-START FROM A VEHICLE USING THE CORRECT PLUGS AND 12 VOLT BATTERY. IT APPEARS THAT THE POWER RELAY CONTACTOR PIPER FAILED, PERHAPS SHORTED INTERNALLY. STARTER, ALTERNATOR, REGULATOR, START SWITCH, STARTER SOLENOID ALL CHECKED GOOD. THIS CONTACTOR WAS CHANGED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE.

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