Swearingen SA226TC Landing Light Wires Arcing to Fuel Line - Service Difficulty Alert

AL 2002-07
30 October 2002

Landing Light Wires Arcing to Fuel Line

The crew reported smoke in the cabin during taxi; the aircraft was shut down and the smoke dissipated. Subsequent inspection revealed evidence of a fire adjacent to the L/H landing light in the wing center section and a fuel leak when the L/H boost pump was on.

Further inspection revealed a hole in the fuel line P/N 27-64033-021, located just above the landing light. This appears to be a result from arcing of the jumper wire on the retractable landing light.

The damaged fuel line was replaced, and all remaining fuel lines were inspected. The landing light was replaced and damaged wiring repaired. No structural damage was evident. The remainder of the operator's fleet was inspected in accordance with Fairchild Service Note A009 issued on July 19, 1977 (Fuel line clearance above Landing Light Housing) with no reported problems.

It is worthy to note that this area was disturbed complying with AD 99-06-02 (Spar Web Repair).

Transport Canada strongly recommends that operators who have disturbed this area and/or have not recently complied with Service Note A009 do so at their earliest convenience. Incorporation of this Service Note into the operator's maintenance program could prevent this potentially dangerous situation from re-occurring.

Any defects or further occurrences should be reported by sending a Service Difficulty Report to Transport Canada, Continuing Airworthiness, Ottawa.

For further information, contact a Transport Canada Centre, or Mr. Steve Dudka, Continuing Airworthiness, Ottawa, telephone (613) 952-4361, facsimile (613) 996-9178 or e-mail dudkas@tc.gc.ca.

For Director, National Aircraft Certification

B. Goyaniuk
Chief, Continuing Airworthiness