Service difficulty report · Field Wire · Piper PA31310

Difficulty date
January 29, 2003
Submitted
February 10, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31310
Aircraft time
11,766 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2B
Part
Field Wire
Condition
Chafed
Location
Alternator
Component
Alternator · Prestolite
Component part number
ALU8521
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
H, J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) ON TAKEOFF THE TWO ALTERNATOR LIGHTS CAME ON, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT. THE LIGHTS EXTINGUISHED AND THEN HE CARRIED OUT A GROUND RUN, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. A SECOND TAKEOFF WAS CARRIED OUT, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE AUXILIARY CONTROL BOX WAS GROUND CHECKED SERVICEABLE, HOWEVER, WE NOTICED THAT THE VOLTMETER WAS HIGH. WE CARRIED OUT A GROUND RUN WITH AN INDEPENDENT VOLTMETER, WE DETERMINED THAT THE LT ALTERNATOR WAS CHARGING AT FULL CAPACITY (30VDC), AND IT WAS ENGAGING THE OVER VOLTAGE RELAY. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE NEGATIVE FIELD GROUND WAS WORN AND IT WAS TOUCHING THE CHARGING GROUND, CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO CHARGE AT ITS MAXIMUM.

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