|
Safety News:
Aging Systems
Think tougher rules on wiring inspection and maintenance are
only a problem for "heavy iron" operators and their maintenance
professionals? Think again.
The condition of wiring in aircraft became a concern after a
string of major in-flight electrical fire episodes in the late
1990s. An FAA-industry committee set up to identify means of
reducing the risk of wiring-related in-flight fires and
critical-system failures wrapped up its three and a half years of
work—which was monitored closely by European regulators—in early
July (AM, September 2002, page 58).
That panel, the Aging Transport Systems Rulemaking Advisory
Committee (ATSRAC), called for new wiring inspection and design
requirements, more stringent standard wiring practices, and
thorough and regular training of mechanics on those practices.
The committee was dominated by individuals who work for,
support, or regulate airline operations. That made sense, since
the committee was focused on turbine-powered, transport-category
aircraft that carry 30 or more passengers and weigh 7,500 pounds
or more.
But ATSRAC’s recommendations make business aircraft makers,
operators, and maintainers nervous. They fear the FAA will apply
those recommendations wholesale to general aviation. To prevent
that, the National Business Aviation Association and the General
Aviation Manufacturers Association pulled together a team of about
35 industry representatives to assess wiring in the business
aircraft fleet and recommend how the ATSRAC findings should be
tailored to general aviation.
The group began last May to inspect wiring on 37 aircraft
representative of the fleet that carries more than six passengers
and maximum payloads up to 7,500 pounds. Group members have
wrapped up that work, and planned to meet October 22-24 in
Wichita, Kansas to brief their findings to, as one member put it,
"all the ATSRAC people who don’t know the first thing about
business aviation."
Like their transport counterparts, the members of this
assessment group say they have found no major wiring discrepancies
in the inspected aircraft. Unfortunately, like their counterparts,
they found lots of minor gripes—wire bundles tied to hydraulic
lines, or showered with metal shavings because they were not
protected during sheet-metal work, or secured with tie wraps,
clamps, and terminals wrong for the job.
ATSRAC found such poor
maintenance and housekeeping can lead to damaged insulation,
exposed conductors, and increased risks of critical system
failures and in-flight fires.
The group is expected to issue its report to the FAA in
January. Don’t be surprised if the agency requires business
aircraft makers, operators and maintenance shops to adhere to new
design, training, maintenance, and inspection requirements similar
to those facing transport operators.—Jim
McKenna
Back to
November 2002 Aviation Maintenance
Information about Aviation Maintenance
Send your comments to the
Aviation Maintenance staff
Ask the Experts |
