Service difficulty report · Clip · Piper PA28181

Difficulty date
July 15, 2003
Submitted
July 16, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N4144K
Make and model
Piper PA28181
Aircraft serial
2843145
Aircraft time
3,301 hours
Part
Clip
Condition
Mismanufactured
Location
Nav Com Sys
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
C
Nature of condition
L, S
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

NAVIGATION CONTROL OF NAV/COMM TOGGLED FREQUECY UNCOMMANDED, WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF OPERATION OF VOR/LOC DURING FLT. OPERATOR COMPLAINED THAT THIS CONDITION MADE NAV UNRELIABLE FOR USE. TRACED PROBLEM TO KHZ NAV FREQUENCY CONTROL VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO TRIGGERING FROM NORMAL VIBRATION DUE TO MATERIALS USED IN MANUFACTURE. ASSEMBLY REQUIRES GREATER SECURITY IN ASSEMBLY OF FREQUENCY CONTROL SWITCH AT THE LOCKING SLEEVE AND THE "C" CLIP. MOVEMENT ALLOWED BY IN EFFECTIVE ATTACHMENT BY THE "C" CLIP CAUSES PHOTO CELL TO TRIGGER, TOGGLING THE NAV FREQUENCY. LOCKING SLEEVE NEEDS TIGHTER TOLERANCE WHERE THE "C" CLIP ATTACHES. IMPROVEMENT TO LOCKING SLEEVE MAY REQUIRE USE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL, METAL IN PLACE OF NYLON.

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