Service difficulty report · Heater · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
March 7, 2005
Submitted
March 7, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N572ER
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496148
Aircraft time
1,626 hours
Engine
Lyc O360*
Part
Heater
Part number
90D382EL
Part serial
A02030038
Condition
Smoke
Location
Cabin
Part time
401 hours
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
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

NOTICED HEATER SMOKING FROM THE EXHAUST. HAD PILOT TURN TEMP CONTROL TO LOW AND SHUT DOWN THE HEATER. OPENED NOSE CONE AND NOTICED SMOKE AND STRONG BURNING SMELL. THE HEATER INLET AIR CONTROL CABLE HAD MELTED ALONG WITH A GROUND WIRE TERMINAL LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE HEATER. ALSO THE HEATER ITSELF HAD A BURNED/DISCOLORED AREA ON THE TOP SIDE. THERMAL HEAT BREAKER WAS POPPED. FOUND THE HEATER CABIN BLOWER WAS INOPERATIVE, SO THERE WAS NO AIR CIRCULATION THRU THE HEATER OUTER CAN. REPLACED HEATER ASSEMBLY. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WITHIN THE LAST FOUR DAYS ON THE SAME TYPE OF AIRCRAFT . HAVE CONTACTED THE MFG CONCERNING PROBLEM.

More about the Piper PA-44-180