Service difficulty report · Transmitter · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
December 16, 2018
Submitted
December 28, 2018
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N59826
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft serial
317652077
Aircraft time
20,133 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2B
Engine time
244 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Transmitter
Part number
98120004101
Part serial
46610
Condition
Failed
Location
Fuel Qty
Part time
32 hours
Stage of operation
CR
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

PILOT REPORTED, "RT OUTBOARD FUEL GAUGE READS FULL CLOCKWISE - ALL THE TIME." FUEL QUANTITY SYSTEM WAS DEFERRED PER MEL 28-4 "FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS" ON DMR #5111 CATEGORY "C" WITH A DURATION OF 10 DAYS.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR MAINTENANCE ON 27 DECEMBER 2018 AFTER FLYING 2.5 HOURS SINCE DEFERRAL.

DURING TROUBLESHOOTING THE RIGHT INBOARD AUX FUEL SENDER WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND SHOWED AN INDICATION THAT ABNORMALLY HIGH HEAT HAD BEEN GENERATED DURING THE TIME OF THE SENDER'S FAILURE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF HEAT DISCOLORATION AND POSSIBLE SMOKE STAINS ON THE SENDER'S WIPER CASE AND SUPPORT BRACKET. DISASSEMBLY OF THE WIPER CASE REVEALED THAT THE WIPER WAS DEFORMED DUE TO HIGH HEAT AND THE POTENTIOMETER STRIP WAS DAMAGED BY WHAT APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL ARCING. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF MELTED PLASTIC AND SMOKE RESIDUE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE WIPER CASE.

THERE WAS NO DAMAGE INFLICTED IN THE FUEL CELL OR THE WIRING TO/FROM THE FUEL QUANTITY SENDER.

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