Service difficulty report · Wire · Piper PA28161

Difficulty date
February 17, 2006
Submitted
February 23, 2006
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N9206H
Make and model
Piper PA28161
Aircraft serial
2841006
Aircraft time
9,756 hours
Engine
Lyc O320D3G
Engine time
6,652 hours
Propeller
Snsnch 74DM
Part
Wire
Condition
Loose
Location
Contactor
Component
Contactor · Piper
Component part number
767394
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
H

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

What was found

MFG HAS RECENTLY ISSUED REPLACEMENT PWR CONTACTORS, IN THIS CASE FOR ENG STARTER, WITH CONTACTORS THAT HAVE PLASTIC INSULATED MOUNTING (FEET). REPLACEMENT CONTACTORS UTILIZE A GROUND WIRE UNDER BOLT HEAD OF ONE OF MOUNT BOLTS FOR CONTACTOR ACTIVATION CIRCUIT GROUND. PLASTIC PORTION OF FEET COMPRESS DURING INSTALLATION, TORQUE PROCESS. CONTACTOR ATTACH POINT LOOSENS CAUSING CIRCUIT WIRE TO GROUND, TO LOOSEN RESULTING IN HIGH RESISTANCE TO GROUND FOR STARTER CONTACTOR ACTIVATION CIRCUIT. RESULT, PLASTIC (FEET) MELT DUE TO HIGH RESISTANCE HEAT, CAUSING MATERIAL ON CABIN SIDE OF FIREWALL TO CAUSE SMOKE IN COCKPIT. BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

More about the Piper PA-28-161