ACS-Cessna Switch
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:19 am
FAA has released a ACS regarding certain Cessna Switches for 100-200-300 aircraft, Reference Service bulletins SEB09-6A, dated May 11, 2009 and MEB09-3 dated May 11, 2009.
The ACS claims that landing, taxi, and certain beacon switches have been known to fail after about 4 years and so they are considering AD action, and asking for feedback. Below is the actual ACS in pdf format for you to download if you wish to read it. Also, below is the text of my response to FAA.
To: daniel.hilton@faa.gov
1 attachment
Cessna-Sw...pdf (27.8 KB)
Dear Mr. Hilton,
This ACS is so broadly written and so sparse in information as to WHICH MODELS aircraft, WHICH SERIALS, and WHICH TYPE, MFR, BRAND, ETC. of switches, that it is not worthy of action. Unless it can be shown that a particular switch is susceptible to failure following a specific NUMBER OF CYCLES .... then the "sky is falling" approach to "switches" that are a certain age is without merit.
There have been NO "short" failures of the switches used in the Cessna 170 series that I, as parts and maintenance Advisor to the Int'l Cessna 170 Association, am aware.
This ACS has no more validity than to claim that "TIRES" AND "TUBES" of a certain age in 100/200/300/400/500 series Cessnas have been known to go flat causing a potential for loss of directional control.
Please take a reasonable approach to this ACS and require specific aircraft serials and specific switch types/models/mfr's to be analyzed, etc. before taking a "blanket" approach to such matters.
Thank you.
George Horn
Parts/MX TIC170A
The ACS claims that landing, taxi, and certain beacon switches have been known to fail after about 4 years and so they are considering AD action, and asking for feedback. Below is the actual ACS in pdf format for you to download if you wish to read it. Also, below is the text of my response to FAA.
To: daniel.hilton@faa.gov
1 attachment
Cessna-Sw...pdf (27.8 KB)
Dear Mr. Hilton,
This ACS is so broadly written and so sparse in information as to WHICH MODELS aircraft, WHICH SERIALS, and WHICH TYPE, MFR, BRAND, ETC. of switches, that it is not worthy of action. Unless it can be shown that a particular switch is susceptible to failure following a specific NUMBER OF CYCLES .... then the "sky is falling" approach to "switches" that are a certain age is without merit.
There have been NO "short" failures of the switches used in the Cessna 170 series that I, as parts and maintenance Advisor to the Int'l Cessna 170 Association, am aware.
This ACS has no more validity than to claim that "TIRES" AND "TUBES" of a certain age in 100/200/300/400/500 series Cessnas have been known to go flat causing a potential for loss of directional control.
Please take a reasonable approach to this ACS and require specific aircraft serials and specific switch types/models/mfr's to be analyzed, etc. before taking a "blanket" approach to such matters.
Thank you.
George Horn
Parts/MX TIC170A