Service difficulty report · Cooling Fan · Piper PA28181

Difficulty date
August 26, 2024
Submitted
August 29, 2024
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N4403W
Make and model
Piper PA28181
Aircraft serial
2843725
Aircraft time
10,980 hours
Part
Cooling Fan
Part number
30546700
Part serial
11428
Condition
Inoperative
Location
Zone 200
Part time
10,980 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

STATEMENT FROM THE PILOT: “THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE IN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENOUGH TO CREATE A HAZE IN THE FLIGHT DECK. IF WE HAD NOT OPENED THE WINDOW AND OPENED AIR VENTS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO BEGIN TO IMPEDE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN. PRIOR TO THE SMOKE ENTERING THE CABIN WE HAD A BURNING SMELL.” WHEN MAINTENANCE LOOKED INTO IT THEY FOUND THE MFD COOLING FAN HAD FAILED AND WAS NOT OPERATIONAL ANY MORE. WHEN WE REMOVED THE FAN AND SMELLED IT IT KIND OF SMELLED LIKE SMOKE. NOTHING ON THE FAN OR ON THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND TO BE BURNING. WE SUSPECT THE FAN MADE THIS SMELL AND CREATED THE SMOKE. FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING TO COME FOLLOWED UP BY A TEST FLIGHT. COOLING FAN MANUFACTURER IS SANDIA AEROSPACE. PART NUMBER 305467-00, S/N-11428. WE WILL BE SENDING IT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR TEAR DOWN AND INSPECT.

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