N123RA
Registered owner: ROYAL AIR FREIGHT INC, MI (owner ≠ operator)
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROYAL AIR FREIGHT, INC. (BUHA) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
Accident & incident history
Maintenance disclosures
PILOT REPORTED THE HEATER WAS INOPERATIVE. TROUBLESHOOTING FOUND THE HEATER FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED, AND THAT IT WAS PUMPING FUEL OUT AROUND THE PUMP SHAFT. (X)
DURING ROUTINE ELT CHECK, FOUND THE ELT HAD A WEAK SIGNAL. ELT WAS REPAIRED, RECERTIFIED, AND NEW BATTERY BY NARCO ON 12-21-95. BATTERY DUE OFF DATE IS JANUARY 17, 1998. A REPLACEMENT BATTERY WAS TRIED, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
THE FIRST COIL EXPLODED BREAKING OFF THE TOP OF THE IGNITOR AND BREAKING WIRES IN THE IGNITION UNIT SPEWING 'OIL' FROM INSIDE THE COIL THROUGHOUT THE HEATER BAY. THE REPLACEMENT COIL SHORTED OUT, LEAKED OIL, AND THE COVER CAME LOOSE.
HEATER FOUND INOPERABLE. FOUND THE IGNITION COIL HAD EXPLODED. THE END CAP HAD COME OFF WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT IT BENT THE IGNITER OVER; THE OPPOSITE REACTION CAUSED THE COIL CAN TO GO AFT AND BREAK WIRES OFF MISCELLANEOUS PARTS IN THE COIL COVER. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POINT WAS THAT FUEL WAS STILL BEING PUMPED INTO THE HEATER, BUT NOT BEING IGNITED.
THESE MCCAULEY PROPELLERS COME PLACARDED TO LUBE TORQUE TO 40-45 FEET/POUNDS. THE CESSNA MM SPECIFIES 80-85 FEET/POUNDS DRY TORQUE. THE CESSNA TECH SAID BOTH ARE ACCEPTABLE, BUT DO NOT MIX THE TWO. TECH SAID 80 POUNDS LUBE TORQUE WILL PULL THE STUD OUT OF THE HUB. THIS COULD BE CONFUSING, AND HAS CAUSED EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS.