Service difficulty report · Control Cable · Piper PA28161

Difficulty date
September 2, 2010
Submitted
September 17, 2010
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N971AC
Make and model
Piper PA28161
Aircraft serial
287916188
Engine
Lyc O320*
Part
Control Cable
Part number
MC62701047
Condition
Broken
Location
Stab Trim
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

CABLE DIAMETER 0.0700, OEM CABLE DIAMETER: 0.0665. LARGER DIAMETER CABLE CAUSES IMPROPER RESTING OF CABLE INTO TRIM BARREL GROOVE, CAUSING OVER EXTENDING OF OVERALL DIAMETER AS WELL AS "WOBBLE" ON THE RAISED SECTION. ONCE INSTALLED, AND DUE TO CLOSE CLEARANCES BETWEEN TRIM BARREL AND SUPPORTING BRACKET, THE "RAISED" PORTION OF CABLE CAUSES BARREL TO "JAM" INTO POSITION ELIMINATING PROPER SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE STABILATOR TRIM CONTROL, WHICH WILL REQUIRE FROM OPERATOR OF ACFT EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN THE TRIM WHEEL, CAUSING IT TO EITHER BREAK THE CABLE (OR CABLES) OR INDUCE FLYING THE ACFT WITHOUT ANY BENEFITS OF THE TRIM TO COMPENSATE THE AERODYNAMIC FORCES APPLIED ON THE STABILATOR SURFACES.

More about the Piper PA-28-161