Service difficulty report · Starter Gen · Aerosp AS355*

Difficulty date
July 23, 2014
Submitted
July 28, 2014
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N125LN
Make and model
Aerosp AS355*
Aircraft serial
4145
Aircraft time
3,374 hours, 9,739 cycles
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1D1
Engine time
3,231 hours, 8,318 cycles
Part
Starter Gen
Part number
150SG122Q
Part serial
9887XL2
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
AA
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B, H
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

UNUSUAL SMELL AS RETURNING TO BASE FOLLOWING A BASE TRANSFER. MADE DECISION TO LAND AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE TURN EXECUTED TO NAVIGATE TO THE AIRPORT PUT THEM IN HEAVY RAIN WHICH DIMINISHED VISIBILITY. AT THIS TIME HE NOTICED A FUEL P LIGHT ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PILOT DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE THE FLIGHT PATH TO THE AIRPORT & TURNED AWAY FROM THE HEAVY RAIN. DURING THIS TURN, A GEN LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL. DECIDED TO LAND THE ACFT IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. HIS DECISION NOT TO RESET THE GEN WAS DUE TO THE OBVIOUS SMELL IN THE CABIN & THE POSSIBILITY OF ESCALATING THE ALREADY PROBLEMATIC SITUATION. ONLY SECONDS AFTER THE ILLUMINATION OF THE GEN LIGHT, THE COMMUNICATION RADIOS DROPPED OFF LINE AS WELL AS ALL THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS & LANDING LIGHTS. THERE WAS ALSO SOME BRIEF ERRATIC NG INDICATIONS. THE STARTER GEN HAD FAILED ON THE GEN SIDE. THE STARTER GEN WAS REPLACED & THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.