Service difficulty report · Control Cable · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
March 24, 2016
Submitted
March 31, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N318PA
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496134
Aircraft time
8,489 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A1H6
Propeller
Hartzl HCC2YR2
Part
Control Cable
Part number
62701185
Condition
Frayed
Location
Te Flaps
Part time
2,267 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

DURING A LANDING GEAR FUNCTIONAL CHECK, THE GEAR UP/POWER REDUCED WARNING HORN, FAILED TO SOUND WHEN THE FLAPS WERE EXTENDED TO 25 DEGREES, SECOND NOTCH. THE MAINTENANCE TECH BELIEVED THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE FLAP POSITION MICROSWITCH BECOMING MISADJUSTED, SO HE REMOVED THE CABIN FLOOR TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FLAP CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN THE FLOOR WAS REMOVED, THE TECH OBSERVED THAT THE MICROSWITCH WAS NOT ACTIVATING BECAUSE THE FLAP CABLE HAD FRAYED MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF ITS THICKNESS, CAUSING THE FLAP CONTROL SYS AND MICROSWITCH TO BECOME IMPROPERLY RIGGED. INSPECTION OF THE REMOVED CABLE REVEALED 4 OF THE 7 WIRE BUNDLES HAD BROKEN AND WAS SEPARATED IN A BROOMSTRAW PATTERN AT THE TURNBUCKLE SWAGE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE FROM WEAR, SUCH AS RUBBING ON ADJACENT PARTS OR STRUCTURE AND NO CORROSION WAS PRESENT. THIS REPAIR STATION IS UNSURE OF WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE CABLE.

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