Service difficulty report · Tube · Cessna R182

Difficulty date
May 1, 2026
Submitted
May 1, 2026
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N736ZG
Make and model
Cessna R182
Aircraft serial
R18200800
Part
Tube
Part number
S10711
Condition
Melted
Location
Zone 500
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

OWNER ADVISED TECHNICIAN THAT NEITHER OF THE TWO AIRSPEED INDICATORS WERE READING. WHEN TECHNICIAN OPENED INSPECTION PANELS NEAR THE PITOT PROBE, THE PLASTIC TUBING WAS FOUND TO BE MELTED THROUGH BY WHAT APPEARED TO BE A WIRE. TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE WIRES COMING FROM THE HEATER TO BE TWISTED SOLID CORE WIRES INSULATED WITH CLEAR SILICONE. AFTER TURNING ON PITOT HEAT, TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THESE WIRES, ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE HEATER, BECAME UNCOMFORTABLY HOT. IT IS LIKELY THAT THESE WIRES ARE CONDUCTING HEAT FROM THE HEATER AND BECOMING HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THROUGH PLASTIC TUBING. TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDS ENSURING THAT PITOT HEAT WIRING IS ROUTED AWAY FROM PLASTIC TUBING OR REPLACING THE FIRST 4-6" FROM THE PROBE WITH METAL TUBING.

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