Good Morning VAF
I was nearing completion of my first annual. Part of my annual maintenance checklist is a simple pull test of the A-740 cable for the alt-air on the airbox. What could go wrong. Someone in the cockpit to pull alt-air knob while I watch the door swing open. Nada.
The cable pulled out in the cockpit with no resistance. I unscrewed the end at the airbox and about 9" of cable pulled out the FWF side.
The cable has no kinks, no wear. There are no cuts. It's just cleanly broken. The cable follows a very gentle curve from the cockpit to the alt-air door.
I have a USB microscope at home. In looking more closely I can see an obvious dark spot within both broken ends that extends out to each of the matching sides.
I'll try to find a place to post this if people are interested (I don't have anywhere that I post images online - not on social media)
but my question would be if others have seen this type of issue. These are 0.050 stainless steel cables. They are incredibly difficult to wrap around the end at the alt-air door so I can't imagine how this could break.
Cheers.
Michael B.
I was nearing completion of my first annual. Part of my annual maintenance checklist is a simple pull test of the A-740 cable for the alt-air on the airbox. What could go wrong. Someone in the cockpit to pull alt-air knob while I watch the door swing open. Nada.
The cable pulled out in the cockpit with no resistance. I unscrewed the end at the airbox and about 9" of cable pulled out the FWF side.
The cable has no kinks, no wear. There are no cuts. It's just cleanly broken. The cable follows a very gentle curve from the cockpit to the alt-air door.
I have a USB microscope at home. In looking more closely I can see an obvious dark spot within both broken ends that extends out to each of the matching sides.
I'll try to find a place to post this if people are interested (I don't have anywhere that I post images online - not on social media)
but my question would be if others have seen this type of issue. These are 0.050 stainless steel cables. They are incredibly difficult to wrap around the end at the alt-air door so I can't imagine how this could break.
Cheers.
Michael B.