Service difficulty report · Combustion Liner · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
May 25, 2001
Submitted
July 5, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft time
3,519 hours
Engine
Lyc O360E1A6
Propeller
Hartzl HCC2YR2
Part
Combustion Liner
Condition
Cracked
Location
Heater
Component
Heater · Janitrol · 90D381
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

(CAN) PILOT SMELLED A STRANGE BURING SMELL IN COCKPIT WHICH LAST APPROX. 30 SEC AND DISAPPEARED. SHORTLY FOLLOWING SHE STARTED FEELING A FLOATING SENSATION /TRANSFERRED CONTROL TO STUDENT/WITHIN 30 SEC THE STUDENT FEELING SAME EFFECTS.THE PILOT THAN DECLARED EMERGENCY AND REGAINED CONTROL FLIGHT WAS IMC. WE OPENED THE STORM WINDOW SHUT OFF HEATER/CHECKED THE CO DETECTIR WHICH INDICATED NORMAL. WITHIN 30SEC WE FELT BETTER WITH THE FRESH AIR AND LANDED WIT HOUT INCIDENT. INSPECTION SHOWED AIRCRAFT HEATING SYSTEM REVEALED A 2.5-3 INCH CRACK IN THE COMBUSTION HEATER CAN, IN THE AFT WELDED LID. HEATER W AS REPLACED. NEXT DUE FOR PRESSURE DECAY TEST AT 500HR. HEATER HOBBS TIME.

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