Service difficulty report · Potentiometer · Dhav DHC8102

Difficulty date
October 22, 2012
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Dhav DHC8102
Engine
Pwa PW120A
Propeller
Hamstd 14SF7
Part
Potentiometer
Part number
14231000
Condition
Failed
Location
Rh Aileron Tab
Part time
54,345 hours
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) ON DEPARTURE THE FLIGHT CREW FOUND THAT IT TOOK A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO TURN THE CONTROL WHEEL TO THE LEFT. ONCE THE ACFT WAS TRIMMED TO FLY LEVEL THEY NOTED THAT THE AILERON TRIM WAS INDICATING FULL LWD. THE CREW DECLARED AN EMERGENCY FOR FLIGHT CONTROL ISSUES HOWEVER COMPLETED THEIR FLIGHT TO DESTINATION MAIN BASE. EXTENSIVE MAINTENANCE INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLL CONTROL SYS FOUND SOME MINOR ISSUES, SLIGHTLY LOW CABLE TENSIONS AND SOME SLIGHTLY WORN PULLEYS, WHICH WERE CORRECTED HOWEVER WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE REPORTED CONTROL DIFFICULTY. THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE FINDING WAS THE AILERON TRIM INDICATION POTENTIOMETER WAS FOUND FAILED GIVING ERRONEOUS AILERON TRIM INDICATION. THE AILERON TRIM INDICATOR POTENTIOMETER, PN 1423-100-0, WAS REPLACED AND RIGGED IAW THE AMM. A TEST FLIGHT WAS CARRIED OUT WITH NO FINDINGS, SATISFACTORY. THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.