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NTSB Report
May 28, 1982 · Piper PA-31P-135 · N222SA
Lake Charles, LA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
May 28, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (7 uninjured)
Location
Lake Charles, LA
Aircraft
Piper PA-31P-135
Tail Number
N222SA
Operator
Z-Rider Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
FTW82IA209
WHILE CRUISING AT FL200 IN VMC CONDITIONS, THE PILOT SMELLED AND THEN OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTERS AND UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE ADVISED HOUSTON CENTER OF HIS SITUATION, THEN TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL DESCENT AND LANDING AT LAKE CHARLES, LA. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE THREE RESISTORS IN THE CIGAR LIGHTER RESISTOR ASSEMBLY HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE PHENOLIC BACKING ON WHICH IT WAS MOUNTED. AFTER BURNING THE BACKING, THE HEAT BURNED ABOUT 2 FEET OF BLACK RUBBER VACUUM TUBING. RESEARCH REVEALED THAT PIPER HAD ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) #654 ON THIS PART. THE SB CALLED FOR THE REMOVAL OF THESE ASSEMBLIES FROM ALL PA-31, 31-325 AND 31-350 AIRCRAFT AFTER A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN JUNE OF 1980. THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND SUBSEQUENT AD 79/20/07 DID NOT ADDRESS THE SAME RESISTORS INSTALLED IN PA-31P AIRCRAFT.
Full Narrative
WHILE CRUISING AT FL200 IN VMC CONDITIONS, THE PILOT SMELLED AND THEN OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTERS AND UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE ADVISED HOUSTON CENTER OF HIS SITUATION, THEN TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL DESCENT AND LANDING AT LAKE CHARLES, LA. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE THREE RESISTORS IN THE CIGAR LIGHTER RESISTOR ASSEMBLY HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE PHENOLIC BACKING ON WHICH IT WAS MOUNTED. AFTER BURNING THE BACKING, THE HEAT BURNED ABOUT 2 FEET OF BLACK RUBBER VACUUM TUBING. RESEARCH REVEALED THAT PIPER HAD ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) #654 ON THIS PART. THE SB CALLED FOR THE REMOVAL OF THESE ASSEMBLIES FROM ALL PA-31, 31-325 AND 31-350 AIRCRAFT AFTER A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN JUNE OF 1980. THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND SUBSEQUENT AD 79/20/07 DID NOT ADDRESS THE SAME RESISTORS INSTALLED IN PA-31P AIRCRAFT.
Flight
Event TypeIncident
Event Time15:15 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionIflt
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-31P-135
Tail NumberN222SA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorZ-Rider Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP & W · PT-6-135 · Turboprop · 680
Seats8
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (7 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured7
Total7
Crew 1Age 29 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 25 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time15:15