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

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

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

June 22, 2011 Michael Traskos

This is the second in a series of articles addressing the concepts associated with an Electrical Wire Interconnection System (EWIS) analysis of aging aircraft. In other words, when to consider an aircraft wire life extension program. The last article addressed the reasons to consider implementing EWIS assessment as part of a wire life extension program. This article […] Read more

FAA wire incidents report: March 2009

September 1, 2009 Lectromec Team

The following are the wire incidents reported in the FAA’s March 2009 Circular 43-16A – Alert Number 368. Incident # 1 Aircraft Make: Cessna Aircraft Model: A150K Part Name: Air Intake Part Condition: Water Block From the perspective of FAA Wire Incidents, a mechanic provides this excellent analysis of his customer’s aircraft problems: “The owner […] Read more

Arc damage modeling tool and damage at a distance

July 4, 2008 Lectromec Team

The amount of damage that can be caused by electrical arcing events continues to be an important question for both new and legacy aircraft. Many factors can affect the damage done by arcing events. For example, events occurring a short distance from a power bus can have much higher currents and power than those a long distance […] Read more

Physical and functional EWIS issues included in Rule 25.1709

January 1, 2008 Lectromec Team

The recent set of FAA rules deal with physical and functional EWIS issues. The rules were released for the Enhanced Airworthiness Program for Airplane Systems/Fuel Tank Safety (EAPAS/FTS) places new requirements on system safety and certification of aircraft Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS). These new rules were effective as of December 2007. They are the culmination […] Read more

Damage at a distance on aircraft wire systems

August 1, 2007 Lectromec Team

What is the effective distance in wire systems that electrical arcing can cause? Both lab tests and in-service incidents have shown that arcing is hot enough to cause significant damage when in direct contact with an object, but there is far less information on the damage that can be caused at a distance. Read more

The scope of chafing on aircraft wire and its impact on wire reliability

June 1, 2006 Lectromec Team

Wire chafing can have an impact on wire reliability. The U.S. Navy found as part of a review for the allocation of labor and general wiring practices, roughly $94 million is spent annually in time and materials for the removal of equipment due to undiagnosed wiring problems. This is often referred to as equipment being returned […] Read more

Improving aircraft wire management systems: The entanglement of separation standards

November 1, 2005 Lectromec Team

Separation standards are starting to emerge to help improve wire management systems. A number of airworthiness directives have been recently issued dealing with the wire hazards that result from lack of separation, either from other wires or structure. Read more

Importance of aircraft electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) analysis

March 1, 2005 Lectromec Team

A United Airlines B767-300 on a Jan. 9, 1998 flight, from Zurich to Washington DC, was forced to execute an emergency landing at London’s Heathrow airport because of a food chiller unit improperly installed in the electronic and equipment bay. A jagged edge on the chiller scraped wire insulation as the chiller was pushed into position […] Read more

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