The American Bonanza Society (ABS) asks aircraft owners for information by Sept. 21 on in-flight failures of circuit breaker-type switches used in many Beechcraft Bonanzas and Barons.
ABS is collecting the information in response to an FAA request for data including, but not limited to circuit breakers replaced under Airworthiness Directive 2008-13-17. The request also seeks information about “any aircraft having [AD] applicable circuit breaker switches and/or Tyco switch style circuit breaker switches,” ABS said.
The FAA cites 90 reports of switch-type circuit breaker failures in Beechcraft airplanes thought to be compliant with AD 2008-13-17, said Thomas Turner, executive director of the American Bonanza Society’s Air Safety Foundation. He asked owners to provide information on failure of switch-type circuit breakers installed since September 2008.
For each failure, information should include the type of failure (failed in an off position, failed in an on position, overheated, created smoke, caught fire, etc.); the equipment powered by the breaker (landing light, pitot heat, etc.); time in service (hours) for the switch at failure; and an estimate of how frequently you turned the switch on or off (once per hour, once every two hours, etc.)
Please email your information to the ABS Air Safety Foundation by Sept. 21.
