Service difficulty report · Clamp · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
May 29, 2003
Submitted
June 16, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
10,142 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2B
Propeller
Hartzl HCE2YR2
Part
Clamp
Condition
Jammed
Location
Pitch Servo
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) AUTO PILOT BRIDLE CABLE CLAMP (PITCH) JAMS AGAINST EACH OTHER AT OR NEAR FULL UP (NOSE UP) CONTROL MOVEMENT. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED YEARS AGO WITH OLD EDO-AIR (ALTIMATIC III A/P). THESE CLAMPS ARE NEWER STYLE (MANDITORY BY AD) OLD CLAMPS DID NOT CAUSE PROBLEM. STEC DRAWING 76891 DOES NOT CLEARLY WARN OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. MFG DOES NOT WARN OF THIS PROBLEM DURING SETTING CABLE TENSION. MISSED BY (3) DUAL INSPECTIONS.

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