Service difficulty report · Trim Switch · Amtr SU26MX

Difficulty date
June 18, 2008
Submitted
July 24, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N362MC
Make and model
Amtr SU26MX
Aircraft serial
LJ760
Engine
Pwa PT6A21
Part
Trim Switch
Part number
30B641
Condition
Inoperative
Location
Control Collumn
Component
Autopilot Compu · Century
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 AUTOPILOT SYSTEM, AUTOPILOT COMPUTER TRIM CIRCUITRY FAILED ON INITIAL CHECK OUT, OCT 02, 2007. COMPUTER WAS RETURNED TO MFG AND REINSTALLED AFTER REPAIR. TRIM CIRCUITRY FAILED AGAIN AND WAS RETURNED TO MFG ON JAN 18, 2008. MFG TECH SUPPORT ADVISED REPLACEMENT OF SUSPECTED BAD TRIM SWITCH ASSY AT THIS TIME AS CAUSE OF REPEATED FAILURE. MICRO SWITCHES IN ASSY FAILED ALLOWING BOTH UP AND DOWN COMMANDS AT THE SAME TIME. TRIM SWITCH ASSY PROVIDED BY MFG WAS REPLACED AND COMPUTER REPAIRED AND REINSTALLED ON FEB 17, 2008. TRIM CIRCUITRY FAILED ON INITIAL CHECKOUT. COMPUTER WAS REMOVED FOR REPAIR AND THE TRIM SWITCH WAS CONFIRMED TO BE CAUSING THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE TRIM UP MICRO SWITCH WAS STUCK IN THE ASSY, WHICH CAUSES THE TRIM CIRCUITRY IN THE AUTOPILOT TO FAIL IF TRIM DOWN IS MANUALLY SELECTED. TRIM SWITCH OR COMPUTER SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO PREVENT SIMULTANEOUS ACTIVATION ON BOTH UP AND DOWN SWITCHES. (K)