Service difficulty report · G Switch · Bbavia 8KCAB

Difficulty date
March 26, 2016
Submitted
April 22, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N86954
Make and model
Bbavia 8KCAB
Aircraft serial
14874
Part
G Switch
Condition
Failed
Location
Elt
Component
Elt · Ameriking
Component part number
AK451
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
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

THIS 406 MHZ WAS ORDERED NEW 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS SENT IN FOR REPAIR DUE TO A DEFECTIVE G-SWITCH THE VERY NEXT YEAR AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED. THIS YEAR SHOWED COMPLETE FAILURE DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND OUR SHOP HAS SENT BACK SEVERAL AK451 ELT`S THAT GENERALLY HAD G-SWITCH FAILURE WITHIN THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF INSTALLATION. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE AK450, 121.5 MHZ ONLY, ELTS WERE LOW QUALITY AND PRONE TO FAILURE BUT THAT THE NEW AK451, 121.5/406 MHZ, ELTS ARE FAILING AT SUCH A HIGH RATE, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, INDICATES THE LOW QUALITY LEVEL IS CONTINUING INTO THE NEW PRODUCT LINE. LASTLY, IT IS ALARMING THAT THE DEFECT AT ISSUE NOT FOUND UNTIL THE UNIT IS TESTED AT ANNUAL INSPECTION.