Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-08-13
February 27, 2008
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises you
of an airworthiness concern on Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models
PA-28-161 (Warrior III), PA-28-181 (Archer III), PA-28R-201 (Arrow),
PA-32R-301 (Saratoga II TC), PA-32R-301T (Saratoga II HP), PA-32-301FT
(6X), PA-32-301XTC (6XT), PA-34-200T (Seneca V), PA-44-180 (Seminole),
PA-46-350P (Mirage), and PA-46-500TP (Meridian) airplanes where
possible failure of a Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) may result in
an increase in workload for the pilot.
This airworthiness action has been taken after consideration of the
responses from Piper as well as airplane owners/operators through
relevant associations and type clubs, using the procedures found in the
Small Airplane Directorate Airworthiness Directives Manual Supplement
(Airworthiness Concern Process Guide).
At this time, this airworthiness concern is not considered an unsafe
condition that would warrant an airworthiness directive (AD) action
under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR part 39).
Background
Piper aircraft equipped with particular Transient Voltage
Suppressor (TVS) devices have been failing in the field. The TVS
failure may result in the loss of Primary Flight Display (PFD) function
due to circuit breaker trip, as well as smoke or the smell of smoke in
the cockpit. There have been 11 reported field failures of TVS devices
in Piper airplanes as of the issuance of this SAIB. The defective TVS
devices have been isolated by Piper to discrete manufacturing lots. The
aircraft serial numbers affected by Piper Service Bulletin No. 1187 is
limited to the defective lots.
Recommendations
Per Piper Service Bulletin No. 1187 (dated February 8, 2008), we
recommend that you inspect and determine the lot number printed on the
TVS device(s) installed on your aircraft. If the TVS device(s) lot
number match those specified by the referenced service bulletin, we
recommend you remove and replace the TVS device(s) per the Piper
service bulletin.