Service difficulty report · Volt Regulator · Piper PA28180

Difficulty date
August 30, 2019
Submitted
September 18, 2019
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N16EC
Make and model
Piper PA28180
Part
Volt Regulator
Part number
R1224
Part serial
HS122105
Condition
Intermittent
Location
Zone 100
Part time
19 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
H, J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

CUSTOMER COMPLAINED THAT ALTERNATOR WOULD QUIT CHARGING AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTE FLIGHT. CONDUCTED TEST FLIGHT OF AIRCRAFT, MONITORED CHARGING VOLTAGE WITH CALIBRATED VOLTMETER, CHARGING VOLTAGE 13.8- 13.9 CONSISTENTLY DURING FLIGHT. CHARGING SYSTEM BEHAVED NORMALLY, THEN WENT INOPERATIVE 22 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT. LANDED AIRCRAFT SHUT OFF ENGINE, LEFT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON, FOUND FIELD CIRCUIT OF REGULATOR TO SHOW "0" VOLTS. CYCLED POWER AND HAD 12.0 VOLTS AT REGULATOR. REPLACED VOLTAGE REGULATOR WITH NEW UNIT, PERFORMED TEST FLIGHT, SYSTEM FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. I SUSPECT THE INTERNAL OVER VOLTAGE RELAY IN THE REGULATOR WAS TRIPPING AT TOO LOW A VOLTAGE, PERHAPS RELATED TO HEATING OF THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS DUE TO CONTINUED OPERATION.

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