Service difficulty report · Switch · Cessna 550

Difficulty date
March 11, 2004
Submitted
June 4, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Cessna 550
Aircraft time
8,070 hours
Engine
Pwa JT15D4
Part
Switch
Part number
MS243313
Condition
Overheated
Location
Mlg
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) AC WAS SITTING ON RAMP WITH GROUND POWER ATTACHED TO AC, AC MASTER SWITCH ON. SMOKE ORIGINATING FROM LOWER SIDE OF IB SECTION OF RT WING. CREW WAS NOTIFIED, AC WAS POWERED DOWN ELECTRICALLY, GPU REMOVED. SMOKE STOPPED WITH POWER OFF, VERIFIED TO BE COMING FROM RT WHEEL WELL. CAUSE OF SMOKE WAS QUICKLY ISOLATED TO LANDING LIGHT SAFETY SWITCH IN RT MAIN GEAR WELL. THIS PLUNGER TYPE SWITCH IS ACTIVATED BY GEAR DOOR, UPON RETRACTION, REMOVES POWER SOURCE TO LANDING LIGHT AS BACK UP TO COCKPIT SWITCH. NORMALLY POWER IS ALWAYS APPLIED THROUGH THIS SWITCH. FAULT WAS ISOLATED TO SWITCH ONLY, WITH NO ASSOCIATED HEAT DISTRESS TO AC OR TO WIRING. AC ELECTRICAL SYS WAS VERIFIED SERVICEABLE, SWITCH REPLACED.

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