Service difficulty report · Trim Switch · Beech C90

Difficulty date
June 18, 2008
Submitted
July 16, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N362MC
Make and model
Beech C90
Aircraft serial
LJ760
Engine
Pwa PT6A21
Part
Trim Switch
Part number
31B641
Condition
Failed
Location
Control Wheel
Component
Computer
Component part number
ID7570004206
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

AFTER INSTALLATION OF NEW MFG AUTOPILOT SYS, AUTOPILOT COMPUTER TRIM CIRCUITRY FAILED ON INITIAL CHECK OUT. COMPUTER WAS RETURNED TO MFG AND REINSTALLED AFTER REPAIR. TRIM CIRCUITRY FAILED AGAIN AND RETURNED TO MFG. MFG TECH SUPPORT ADVISED REPLACEMENT OF SUSPECTED BAD TRIM SWITCH ASSY AT THIS TIME AS CAUSE OF REPEATED FAILURE. SWITCHES IN ASSY FAILED ALLOWING BOTH UP & DOWN COMMANDS AT THE SAME TIME. TRIM SWITCH ASSY PROVIDED BY MFG, WAS REPLACED & COMPUTER REPAIRED & REINSTALLED. TRIM CIRCUITRY FAILED AGAIN AFTER 3 HOURS OF FLT. COMPUTER REPAIRED & REINSTALLED. TRIM CIRCUITRY FAILED ON INITIAL CHECKOUT. COMPUTER REMOVED FOR REPAIR & TRIM SWITCH CONFIRMED TO BE CAUSING FAILURE AGAIN. TRIM UP SWITCH STUCK IN THE ASSY, WHICH CAUSES TRIM CIRCUITRY IN AUTOPILOT COMPUTER TO FAIL IF TRIM DOWN IS MANUALLY SELECTED. TRIM SWITCH OR COMPUTER SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO PREVENT SIMULTANEOUS ACTIVATION OF BOTH UP AND DOWN SWITCHES. (K)

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