Service difficulty report · Control Cable · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
July 12, 2009
Submitted
October 9, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N9290P
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496019
Part
Control Cable
Part number
62701099
Condition
Frayed
Location
Rt Aileron
Part time
7,082 hours
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

CABLE IS FRAYED WHERE IT PASSES NEXT TO THE FLAP SELECTOR HANDLE UNDER THE CENTER FLOORBOARD TUNNEL. DIFFICULT TO SEE DEFECT WITHOUT REMOVING FLAP SELECTOR HANDLE. CABLE FRAYED APPROX 50 PERCENT AT THIS LOCATION. IT IS NOTED THAT WHEN THE FLAP IS EXTENDED TO ITS FULLEST TRAVEL, THE SELECTOR HANDLE CONTACTS THE AILERON CABLE. THEN THE CABLE RUBS ON THE HANDLE WHENEVER THE AILERONS ARE MOVED WHILE FLAPS ARE EXTENDED FULLY. THERE APPEARS TO BE ENOUGH CLEARANCE WHEN THE FLAPS ARE NOT FULLY EXTENDED. FLAP SELECTOR HANDLE SEEMS TO HAVE WORN OVER TIME AND NOW HAS MUCH MORE PLAY THAN ON A NEW HANDLE ASSEMBY. THIS MAY BE CAUSING THE DAMAGE ON THE OLDER . NO PULLEYS OR FAIRLEADS ARE NEARBY - RECOMMEND INSTALLING A PULLEY OR FAIRLEAD TO AVOID DAMAGE OF A NEWLY INSTALLED CABLE ON AN OLDER AIRCRAFT. ALL CABLE TENSIONS WERE CORRECT, ON DEFECTIVE CABLE AND OTHER CABLES.

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