Service difficulty report · Alternator · Mooney M20J

Difficulty date
March 1, 2016
Submitted
April 22, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N1079S
Make and model
Mooney M20J
Aircraft serial
243169
System (JASC)
2422 · AC Inverter
Part
Alternator
Part number
ALU8521
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Part time
31 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

PLANE ARRIVED AT SHOP WITH 5 AMP ALT FIELD CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED STATOR BURNED BLACK, FRIED, HOWEVER THE SLIP RINGS WERE PRODUCING A STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD THAT AT FIRST BLUSH MADE ALTERNATOR APPEAR OK. FURTHER CHECK DISCOVERED VOLTAGE REGULATOR SHORTED INTERNALLY. IN ADDITION FOUND ALT FIELD C/B FRIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING ALTERNATOR, VOLTAGE REGULATOR WAS FRIED BUT ALTERNATOR APPEARED TO BE OK. INSTALLED NEW VR AND RUN UP SEEMED NORMAL UNTIL THIRD TEST RUN AFTER APPLYING A FULL COMPLEMENT OF ELECTRICAL LOADS THE ALT FLD C/B TRIPPED AND FRIED ANOTHER REGULATOR. DISCOVERED ALTERNATOR HAD NO OUTPUT. ALTERNATOR SENT IN FOR WARRANTY CONSIDERATION REQUESTING A TEAR DOWN REPORT. IT APPEARS A FAILURE OF NEW ALTERNATOR CAUSES FAILURE OF VOLTAGE REGULATOR. SYSTEM DESIGN NEEDS INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHY VOLTAGE REGULATOR GETS DAMAGED AND NOT PROTECTED BY 5 AMP FLD C/B.

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