Does the mixing of different aircraft wire types create problems?

February 14, 2012 Michael Traskos

Modifications or additions to an aircraft wire will typically require (at least in some locations) the addition of new wire constructions to existing bundles. The concern that some have had is that, by mixing the different wire insulation constructions, it can create increased chaffing between wires, which can lead to premature failure of the wire […] Read more

Aircraft wiring guideline: Review of incoming wire

February 8, 2012 Michael Traskos

To maintain good process management and quality of end products, it is important to review the quality of the incoming materials for aircraft wiring. Wiring should not be excluded from this process. If you ever had to troubleshoot a problem only to find it hidden in the middle of a large wire bundle, you can […] Read more

Guidelines for aircraft wiring: Magnet wire

January 30, 2012 Michael Traskos

Magnet wire is a conductor (copper or aluminum) with a thin insulation used in motors or transformers that is used in aircraft wiring. The wire is wound around a core to generate a magnetic field when an electrical voltage is applied – hence the name magnet wire. A key characteristic of a magnet wire is […] Read more

Guidelines for aircraft wiring: Which tests?

January 13, 2012 Michael Traskos

Aircraft wiring details are rarely found in common wire specifications. In fact, there is not a consistent set of specification tests for aerospace wiring. One wire type requires testing of the wicking properties, whereas the other does not. As an engineer, this can be unnerving at times, because it prevents a simple comparison between the […] Read more

When should you consider adopting an aircraft wire life extension program? Part VII

December 13, 2011 Michael Traskos

Through this series of articles, we have gone over all of the components that are necessary to perform a full risk assessment to maximize wire life extension. In this article, we will examine what a comprehensive risk assessment entails. Read more

Aircraft wire failure and incident investigation, Part II

November 23, 2011 Michael Traskos

A couple of weeks back, we wrote the Wire Failure and Incident Investigation article that reviewed some of the characteristics of wire failure and the means to detect them in a post aviation incident investigation. That article focused mostly on the conductor failure mechanisms. The three failure mechanisms that will be covered in this article […] Read more

Aircraft wire degradation and new research on red plague

November 20, 2011 Michael Traskos

We have addressed the red plague concept behind the aircraft wire degradation process in the For wire systems, there is no perfect conductor, not even a silver plated one article. However, since this issue has been spurring a new level of interest every five years, we are updating you on the new developments. To briefly […] Read more

A response to the TWA800 accident involving wire damage: SFAR-88

November 1, 2011 Michael Traskos

The SFAR88 requirements and related regulations (66 Fed. Reg. (May 7, 2001)) was the immediate FAA response to the TWA800 accident investigation involving wire damage. The investigation, conducted by the NTSB, indicated that the probable cause was a wire failure that resulted in additional energy being transferred to the fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS). This […] Read more

Understanding wire failure risk levels for aircraft EWIS

October 19, 2011 Michael Traskos

To determine the risk level for each EWIS component, one needs to look at the combination of failure probability and failure severity. This article will review the different levels for of failure probability and failure severity. Read more

Aircraft wire failure and incident investigation, Part I

October 13, 2011 Michael Traskos

The hazard of aircraft wire failure and electrical arcing will exist for as long as there is a need to deliver electrical power through wires. While electrical arcing is a common occurrence, the factors that impact an arcing event are often not well understood. This article reviews each step involved in electrical arcing, from what […] Read more

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