Service difficulty report · Motor · Pilats PC12

Difficulty date
July 14, 2021
Submitted
July 15, 2021
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N854AL
Make and model
Pilats PC12
Aircraft serial
397
Aircraft time
14,109 hours, 18,019 cycles
Engine
Pwa PT6A67
Engine time
13,386 hours, 17,119 cycles
Part
Motor
Part number
9599022119
Condition
Smoke
Location
Evaporator
Component
Evaporator
Component part number
9599022119
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
D, H

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

What was found

TAXIING OUT TO THE RUNWAY A SLIGHT SMELL OCCURRED. I PULLED THE AIRCRAFT TO A VACANT LEAD-IN TAXIWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. TOLD THE TOWER I MAY NEED SOME TIME. I THEN SHUT OFF ECS TO SEE IF THE SMELL WENT AWAY ( I COULDN'T TELL) ASKED THE CREW IF THEY COULD TELL. NO DIFFERENCE. THEN TURNED OFF AIR-CONDITIONING AND BLOWER. AGAIN ASKED THE CREW IF THEY COULD TELL A DIFFERENCE. THEY DIDN'T. I COULDN'T TELL IF THE SMELL WAS BETTER OR NOT, IT SEEMED A BIT BETTER. I THEN TURNED THE ECS BACK ON TO SEE IF THIS THEN WOULD INCREASE THE SMELL. NOTHING EITHER WAY. I THEN TURNED AC BACK ON TO SEE IF THAT WOULD INCREASE THE SMELL. COULDN'T TELL IF AN INCREASE OR DECREASE. AT THIS TIME I TOLD THE GROUND I WAS GOING TO RETURN TO BASE. TAXING BACK THE CREW SAID THAT THEY NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS BLOWING ON ME BECAUSE THE LIGHT HIT IT JUST RIGHT. THEN I SHUT ALL ELECTRICAL OFF AND SHUT OFF AIRCRAFT. WE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND CALLED MAINTENANCE. AFTER CALLING RAD, HE SUGGESTED I UNHOOK THE BATTERY IF ABLE TILL MAINTENANCE ARRIVED TO MAKE SURE NO SHORT COULD HAPPEN. TROUBLESHOT SOURCE OF SMELL TO AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR BLOWERS. ELECTRICAL/OZONE BURNING SMELL PRESENT WHEN FANS ARE ENERGIZED AT LOWEST SPEED.