Service difficulty report · Starter · Cessna 172R

Difficulty date
September 24, 2002
Submitted
December 2, 2002
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Cessna 172R
Aircraft time
2,797 hours
Engine
Lyc IO360L2A
Part
Starter
Part number
PM2401
Condition
Shorted
Location
Engine
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

(CAN) PILOT REPORTED DURING PRE-TAKE-OFF RUN-UP: 'OVERCHARGING DURING RUN UP, COMPLETE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION 30 SEC. THEN COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE BURNING SMELL (PALASTIC RUBBER). CYCLED MASTER NO EFFECT, SHUTDOWN.' STARTER FOUND BURNED UP AND SHORTED, STARTER REPLACED WITH NEW. ALSO ALTERNATOR WAS FOUND TO BE UN-SERVICEABLE. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE STARTER HAD SHORTED DURING THE STARTING PROCESS, AND THE STARTER CONTACTOR WAS TEMPORARILY FUSED (STUCK CLOSED). THE ALTERNATOR ATTEMPTED TO RUN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH STARTER SOLOENOID TEMPORARILY ENGAGED AND THE SHORTED STARTER IN THE CIRCUIT. THE AMMETER SHOWED A HEAVY DRAW AND THE ALTERNATOR EVENTUALLY QUIT. THE BATTERY ALSO SUFFERED SOME DAMAGE.

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