Service difficulty report · Fan · Pilats PC1247

Difficulty date
August 16, 2010
Submitted
January 4, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Pilats PC1247
Engine
Pwa PT6A67
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4A3D
Part
Fan
Condition
Obstructed
Location
Heater
Part time
1,789 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
C
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

CREW REPORTED CABIN FAN CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED. C/B RESET WITH ANOTHER POP. THE CABIN FAN BREAKER IS THE POWER SOURCE FOR THE AUXILLARY HEATING FAN LOCATED UNDER THE REAR CABIN FLOOR . WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING, A BAGGAGE TAG FROM A PASSENGERS BAG WAS FOUND JAMMED IN THE INLET OF THE FAN AND CAUSING THE BREAKER TO POP. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE INLET GRATE ABOVE THE CABIN FLOOR IN THE AFT FUSELAGE DOES NOT HAVE A SCREEN INSTALLED AND THUS ALLOWING SMALL OBJECTS TO BE PULLED INTO THE HEATER FAN WHEN OPERATING. THE HEATER HAS AN ELEMENT THAT COULD CAUSE SMOKE OR FIRE IF THE PAPER BAGGAGE TAG HAD PASSED THROUGH THE FAN ASSY. HEATER SYS TESTED SERVICABLE AFTER REMOVAL OF DEBRIS.