Service difficulty report · Capacitor · Piper PA12

Difficulty date
August 29, 2005
Submitted
October 3, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA12
Aircraft time
3,125 hours
Engine
Lyc O320A2B
Part
Capacitor
Part number
1051676TCM
Condition
Failed
Location
Magneto
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) PILOT REPORTED IGNITION PROBLEMS WHEN OPERATING ENGINE ON RIGHT HAND MAGNETO. ALL IGNITION COMPONENTS INSPECTED AND TESTED INCLUDING CAPACITOR. CAPACITOR ELECTRICALLY TESTED TO 0.358 MICRO FARADS. THIS VALUE IS ABOVE THE MAINTENANCE VALUE OF A 0.300 MICRO FARAD MINIMUM. IGNITION SYSTEM RE-INSTALLED ON ENGINE. DURING ENGINE RUN UP PROBLEMS PERSISTED. NO EVIDENCE OF A DEFECTIVE CAPACITOR WERE FOUND ON THE SURFACE CONDITION OF THE BREAKER POINTS. DUE TO EXPERIENCE WITH SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, CAPACITOR REPLACED WITH NEW KELLY AEROSPACE CAPACITOR P/N 10-51676. SUBSEQUENT RUN UP CONFIRMED CAPACITOR TO HAVE BEEN SOURCE OF IGNITION TROUBLES.

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