SDR 98ZZZX2053

Service difficulty report · Alternator · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
April 30, 1998
Submitted
March 26, 2000
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N9287Y
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft serial
31380
Part
Alternator
Part number
ALU8421
Condition
Shorted
Location
Rt Engine
Part time
701 hours
Stage of operation
NR
Nature of condition
H
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

PILOT REPORTED BOTH ALTERNATORS FAILED. PILOT TRIED AUXILIARY REGULATOR, ALTERNATOR CAME ON-LINE FOR SHORT TIME, THEN FAILED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FIELD OF THE RT GENERATOR WAS INTERMITTENTLY SHORTING TO GROUND. SUBMITTER SUSPECTED INSULATION BREAKDOWN DUE TO HEAT. SINCE ONE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CONTROLS BOTH ALTERNATORS, THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE LT ALTERNATOR TO FAIL.

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