Service difficulty report · Computer · Swrngn SA227AC

Difficulty date
May 10, 2012
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Swrngn SA227AC
Aircraft time
41,580 hours
Engine
Garrtt TPE33111U
Propeller
Mcauly 4HFR34C652
Part
Computer
Condition
Malfunctioned
Location
Autopilot
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
L

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

What was found

(CAN) FOLLOWING INITIAL INSTALLATION OF THE ST-593 AUTOPILOT IN THIS ACFT, THE CREW WAS ON DESCENT NEAR INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS. THEY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT USING THE DISCONNECT SWITCH AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO FLY THE REMAINDER OF THE APPROACH USING NORMAL ACFT ELECTRIC TRIM FROM THE COPILOT, FLYING, POSITION. THE ACFT RESPONDED TO TRIM DOWN WITH A TRIM UP. TRIM UP GAVE SAME RESULT. COPILOT HANDED OVER TO PILOT WHO ATTEMPTED TO TRIM DOWN, BUT THE ACFT WOULD ONLY TRIM UP. APPROACH WAS ABORTED, THE AUTOPILOT DISABLED, AND THE ACFT LANDED. ON THE GROUND MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT A SIMILAR SEQUENCE ALSO CAUSED THE ORIGINAL ACFT TRIM SWITCHES BOTH SIDES, TO ONLY TRIM UP. TROUBLESHOOTING CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE PFGC AND A REPLACEMENT WAS ORDERED WHICH PERFORMED EXACTLY THE SAME. IT HAD ALREADY BEEN CONFIRMED THAT A KNOWN SERVICEABLE PFGC WORKED CORRECTLY. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE T2 MOD TO THE PFGC INDICATED BY THE T2 IN THE PN HAD NOT BEEN CARRIED OUT DURING PRODUCTION. COMPLETING THAT MOD, REMOVING A RESISTOR, CURED THE PROBLEM.