SDR 99ZZZX3925

Service difficulty report · Control Cable · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
October 4, 1999
Submitted
March 26, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N925ER
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496012
Part
Control Cable
Part number
62701124
Condition
Frayed
Location
Aileron
Part time
2,019 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 WITH FRAYED AILERON CABLES. 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, THE CABLE WAS AS MUCH AS 40 PERCENT FAILED. THE FLEET OPERATOR HAS GROUNDED AND THEN REPAIRED REMAINING ACFT. SUBMITTER STATED BECAUSE DAMAGE IS NOT APPARENT WITH CABLE IN THE INSTALLED CONFIGURATION, IT IS POSSIBLE CABLE COULD BE LEFT IN SERVICE TO A POINT WHERE IT FAILS.

More about the Piper PA-44-180