Service difficulty report · Downlock Switch · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
March 26, 2016
Submitted
March 28, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N433PA
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496063
Aircraft time
9,117 hours
Part
Downlock Switch
Part number
89291006
Condition
False Indication
Location
Mlg
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
N
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

DURING FLIGHT, THE NOSE GEAR DOWN-AND-LOCKED INDICATION WAS INTERMITTENT AND FLICKERED ON AND OFF. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN WIRE IN THE NOSE GEAR DOWN LIMIT SWITCH. THIS REPAIR STATION HAS SEEN DOZENS OF ISSUES WITH DOWN LIMIT SWITCHES ON THIS ACFT TYPE, AS THE DESIGN OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSES WIRES TO BECOME PULLED AND FATIGUED; THE DESIGN ALSO MAKES VISUAL DETECTION OF BROKEN WIRES VERY DIFFICULT.

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