Service difficulty report · Ignition Switch · Mooney M20

Difficulty date
December 22, 2021
Submitted
December 23, 2021
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N57825
Make and model
Mooney M20
Aircraft serial
250849
Part
Ignition Switch
Part number
EA13000
Condition
Inadequate
Location
Instrument Panel
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
P
Precautionary procedure
O, H

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

What was found

I HAVE A NEWLY INSTALLED ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS), ELECTROAIR EIS-61000. ALONG WITH THE EIS I HAD A NEW IGNITION AND STARTER SWITCH KIT WHICH REPLACES THE TRADITIONAL KEY MAGNETO AND STARTER SWITCH. THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED AT THE BOTTOM, LEFT EDGE OF THE PANEL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SWITCH AND VERY EASY TO NOT SEE THE POSITION OF THE SWITCH, PARTICULARLY ANYTIME THERE IS A LACK OF DIRECT, BRIGHT LIGHT. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE BY PULLING THE MIXTURE CONTROL, BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEED TO REMOVE A KEY, IT IS VERY EASY TO LEAVE THE MAG AND EIS SWITCHES IN THE ON POSITION. TURNING THE PROP TO MOVE IT FOR ATTACHING A TUG, ETC., COULD POSSIBLY START THE ENGINE AS THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS STILL ON, THOUGH WITH THE MIXTURE FULLY LEANED, IT DOES SLIGHTLY MITIGATE THE RISK. EACH OF THE TWO SWITCHES SHOULD HAVE AN LED LIGHT INDICATING THE SWITCH, FURTHER THESE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE SWITCHES SHOULD NOT BE POWERED BY THE SWITCHED BUS BUT SHOULD ALWAYS BE HOT.

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