<< >> NASA ASRS Report 482032, August 2000

A cessna 414 in cruise at 12000 ft diverted due loss of avionics and communications and smoke filled cockpit to caused by a shorted avionics master switch.

Attributes
ACN	482032
Time
Date	200008
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hxd.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl single value : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Chancellor 414A & C414
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1950 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	482032
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

IFR cruise at 12000 ft. (Ctld by ZJX). Avionics master switch caught on fire and shorted out. Large amount of smoke in cockpit, small fire. I shut down the avionics master switch, squawked 7700 and descended VFR to a lower altitude. I landed at bnl. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated when the switch started to smoke and ars, the switch was moved to the 'off' position and this corrected the smoking and arcing problem. The reporter said with the switch 'off', experienced loss of avionics and communications. The reporter said the failed switch was discovered to be rated at 40 amps current rating and the replacement switch was rated at 50 amps current rating. The reporter stated the manufacturer's specifications require a 50 amp switch and not a 40 amp switch.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CESSNA 414 IN CRUISE AT 12000 FT DIVERTED DUE LOSS OF AVIONICS AND COMS AND SMOKE FILLED COCKPIT TO CAUSED BY A SHORTED AVIONICS MASTER SWITCH.

Narrative: IFR CRUISE AT 12000 FT. (CTLD BY ZJX). AVIONICS MASTER SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SHORTED OUT. LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE IN COCKPIT, SMALL FIRE. I SHUT DOWN THE AVIONICS MASTER SWITCH, SQUAWKED 7700 AND DSNDED VFR TO A LOWER ALT. I LANDED AT BNL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED WHEN THE SWITCH STARTED TO SMOKE AND ARS, THE SWITCH WAS MOVED TO THE 'OFF' POSITION AND THIS CORRECTED THE SMOKING AND ARCING PROBLEM. THE RPTR SAID WITH THE SWITCH 'OFF', EXPERIENCED LOSS OF AVIONICS AND COMS. THE RPTR SAID THE FAILED SWITCH WAS DISCOVERED TO BE RATED AT 40 AMPS CURRENT RATING AND THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH WAS RATED AT 50 AMPS CURRENT RATING. THE RPTR STATED THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECS REQUIRE A 50 AMP SWITCH AND NOT A 40 AMP SWITCH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.