# SDR FQAR20180205007

- Type: Service difficulty report (as reported; unverified)
- Difficulty date: February 5, 2018
- Submitted: February 6, 2018
- Operation: General aviation
- Aircraft: [N309PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N309PA), registered now
- Make and model: Piper PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Aircraft serial: 2843508
- Aircraft time: 18,734 hours
- System (JASC): [2421 · AC Generator-Alternator](https://openairdocs.org/jasc/2421)
- Part: Alternator
- Part number: ALU8532R
- Part serial: HM110076
- Condition: Failed
- Location: Zone 100
- Stage of operation: NR
- How discovered: O
- Nature of condition: H
- Precautionary procedure: D
- FAA source: FAA Service Difficulty Reporting System (https://sdrs.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/sdr/FQAR20180205007

## Discrepancy

DURING FLIGHT THE ALTERNATOR LOADMETER WENT TO ZERO AND PILOTS WERE UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER. INSPECTION OF THE ALTERNATOR REVEALED THE SLIP RINGS INSIDE THE ALTERNATORS WERE SO WORN THAT IT BROKE THE BRUSHES; THE BRUSHES THEN FELL INTO THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE NEWLY OVERHAULED ALTERNATOR HAD BEEN INSTALLED TWO DAYS PRIOR.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
