Service difficulty report · Heater · Cessna 172N

Difficulty date
February 5, 2016
Submitted
April 22, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Cessna 172N
Aircraft time
19,579 hours
Engine
Lyc O320D2J
Part
Heater
Condition
Smoke
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
D

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING TAXI FOR TAKOFF, PILOT REPORTED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND REQUESTED RETURN TO BLOCKS. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION COULD FIND NO DEFECT WITH WIRING OR WITH TUBING IN THE ACFT AND THE ELECTRICAL AND HEATING SYS WAS GROUND CHECKED SERVICEABLE. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FLOWN WITH MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL ON BOARD AND IT WAS NOTED DURING TAKEOFF A ODOR OF HEATED LUBRICANT. AFTER REVIEW, IT WAS NOTED, THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT SINCE MAINTENANCE AND THAT THE HEATER VALVE HINGE HAD BEEN LUBRICATED AS PART OF THAT MAINTENANCE. THE CFI HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FINDING AND CAUSE OF THE ODOR IN THE COCKPIT. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN INFORMED TO ENSURE THAT A LONG ENOUGH GROUND RUN BE PERFORMED AFTER MAINTENANCE TO ENSURE ALL ODORS FROM DOING LUBRICATION OR HEAT MUFF CHECKS ARE CLEARED PRIOR TO RELEASING THE ACFT BACK TO SERVICE TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION WITH AN ACTUAL SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT SITUATION.

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