Service difficulty report · Pitot Head · Piper PA28181

Difficulty date
October 27, 2021
Submitted
October 27, 2021
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N991TA
Make and model
Piper PA28181
Aircraft serial
28020029
Aircraft time
50 hours
Part
Pitot Head
Part number
96392012
Part serial
NA
Condition
Arced
Location
Zone 500
Part time
50 hours
Stage of operation
UK
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

PITOT HEAT FAIL CAS MESSAGE CAME ON WHEN PITOT HEAT WAS TURNED ON. FOUND PITOT MAST AFT HEATING ELEMENT WIRES WERE INSTALLED AND TY-WRAPPED IN JUST A WAY THAT THEY SHORTED ON THE PITOT HEAT ELEMENT CASE. THIS CAUSED THE ELEMENT TO FAIL BUT ALSO CAUSED PITOT AND STATIC HOSES TO MELT. BURN MARKS WERE OBSERVED ON THE MAST, HEATER ELEMENT, AND HOSE CLAMPS.

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