Service difficulty report · Ignition Unit · Doug DC3C

Difficulty date
July 29, 2010
Submitted
July 29, 2010
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N982Z
Make and model
Doug DC3C
Aircraft serial
12947
Aircraft time
18,204 hours
Engine
Pwa R1830*
Engine time
255 hours
Propeller
Hamstd 23E50
Part
Ignition Unit
Part number
VJR24BX
Part serial
9158
Condition
Grounded
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
Y
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

ENGINE ROLL DOWN JUST AFTER TAKE-OFF. AFTER LANDING, ENGINE WOULD ONLY START ON LT MAG. DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION VIBRATOR WAS SHORTING RT MAG DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE. ALSO FOUND LT AND RT MAGS P-LEADS GROUND FAULTING TOGETHER THROUGH AN IGNITION FILTER MOUNTED IN FIREWALL. SPECULATED THAT CAPACITORS (SPRAUGE 10283-64 & 1032364B) IN THE FILTER SUFFERED CORROSION AND MOISTURE CONTAMINATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GROUND TO BRING BOTH MAGS DOWN.

More about the Doug DC3C