SDR 99ZZZX3917

Service difficulty report · Control Cable · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
October 4, 1999
Submitted
March 26, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N920ER
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4495013
Part
Control Cable
Part number
62701143
Condition
Frayed
Location
Aileron
Part time
2,637 hours
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

ONE AIRCRAFT IN FLEET OF EIGHT WAS FOUND TO HAVE FRAYED AILERON CABLES. THE LOCATION OF THE DAMAGE IS AT PULLEYS, PN 62713-02 AND PN 62713-04. CABLES APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION AT FIRST, BUT WHEN INSPECTED WITH A BRIGHT LIGHT AND WIPED WITH A CLOTH, SMALL STRANDS CAN BE SEEN AND FELT WHERE THEY ARE BROKEN. ONCE CABLE IS REMOVED, IT CAN BE BENT TO A SMALL RADIUS. THIS IS WHEN THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE CAN BE SEEN. IN SOME CASES, CABLE WAS AS MUCH AS 40 PERCENT FAILED. FLEET OPER GROUNDED AND REPAIRED THE REMAINING AIRCRAFT. SUBMITTER STATED BECAUSE THE DAMAGE IS NOT APPARENT WITH THE CABLE IN THE INSTALLED CONFIGURATION, IT IS POSSIBLE THE CABLE COULD BE LEFT IN SERVICE TO A POINT WHERE IT FAILS.

More about the Piper PA-44-180