LAKE CHARLES, LA, USA
N222SA
PIPER PA-31P-135
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.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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