Service difficulty report · Line · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
May 2, 2003
Submitted
June 11, 2003
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N3536B
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
317952205
Engine
Lyc TIO540J2BD
Part
Line
Part number
2319517
Condition
Leaking
Location
Lt Wing Fuel
Part time
21,559 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

PILOT REPORTED LT FUEL BOOST PUMP CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED IN FLIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF FUEL PUMP IN LT WING ROOT, IT WAS APPARENT THERE HAD BEEN A BRIEF FIRE IN THE AREA. PLASTIC SPIRAL WRAP AROUND FUEL LINE HAD SHRUNK AND MELTED. PNEUMATIC LINE TH LT WING DE-ICE BOOT WAS MELTED. AREA WAS COVERED WITH SOOT. WIRE TO LOW-PRESSURE BOOST PUMP HAD CHAFFED AGAINST THE FUEL LINE TO BOOST PUMP WARNING PRESSURE SWITCH. THE WIRE ARCED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE CREATING A FUEL LEAK AND FIRE. WHEN CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED, BOOST PUMP FAILED AND REMOVED PRESSURE FROM LEAKING LINE.

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