Service difficulty report · Static Inverter · Swrngn SA227TT

Difficulty date
November 17, 2013
Submitted
November 29, 2013
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N6UP
Make and model
Swrngn SA227TT
Aircraft serial
TT441
Part
Static Inverter
Part number
PROWATT800
Part serial
21027881
Condition
Damaged
Location
Cabin
Part time
2,741 hours
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

DURING APPROACH, A PASSENGER NOTICED SPARKS COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE AFT MOUNTED CABIN AC INVERTER. ACCORDING TO PASSENGERS AND CREW, THERE WAS NOTHING PLUGGED IN OR THE 110 VOLT AC OUTLET ON THE INVERTER FRONT PANEL. AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING, MECHANIC REMOVED INVERTER AND CABINET IT WAS MOUNTED IN. THERE WAS ARCING, BURNS ON THE LOWER FWD CORNER OF THE INVERTER AND ITS MOUNTING CABINET, AND AT THE AREA THAT THE INVERTER AND CABINET MET THE FLOORBOARD. CAPPED AND STOWED THE WIRING GOING TO THE INVERTER AND IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACFT. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER THE INVERTER LOST ITS GROUND AND TRIED TO GROUND THRU THE CASE, OR THE POWER WIRE FEEDING THE INVERTER CAME LOOSE AND SHORTED TO GROUND.