N161CA
Registered owner: AERODYNAMIC LLC, OR (owner ≠ operator)
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
No operator established for this aircraft.
Accident & incident history
No NTSB accidents or incidents on file for this aircraft.
Maintenance disclosures
Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA for this airframe. Filing is largely voluntary — the number of reports is not a measure of reliability. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.
44 reports on file, 1995-01-10 – 2010-09-21.
Part: DATA CARD — FAILED (GPS)
GPS IFR DATA CARD FAILED IN FLIGHT. THE G430 USES A DATA CARD REFRESHED BY THE OPERATOR EVERY 28 DAYS. THE GPS UNIT ACCESSES THE CARD CONTINUOUSLY. IF THE CARD IS REMOVED OR FAILS, THE UNIT PROVIDES LAT/LONG ONLY. NO OTHER GPS NAVIGATION FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT. THE CARD IN QUESTION HAD BEEN REFRESHED BY THE AUTHOR A WEEK PRIOR, WITH A NORMAL UPDATE SEQUENCE: ERASE CARD, PROGRAM CARD, VERIFY DATA ON CARD. THE PROGRAMMING ROUTINE SUPPLIED BY THE DATA PUBLISHER FINISHED THE PROCESS WITH A "SUCCESS" MESSAGE. THE CARD FAILED IN VMC, NOT ENDANGERING LIFE OR PROPERTY. THE AUTHOR CALLED THE DATA PUBLISHER FOR ASSISTANCE. TECH SUPPORT TOLD HIM "FLASH MEMORY FAILS." THE TECH SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT WITHOUT THE CARD, NO TROUBLESHOOTING COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. THE AUTHOR ASKED FOR AN ADDRESS TO SEND THE CARD FOR TROUBLESHOOTING. AFTER ALL, IF THE CARD (OR ANY SIMILAR CARD) WERE TO FAIL IN IMC, IT WOULD POTENTIALLY BE A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. TECH SUPPORT REFERRED THE AUTHOR TO CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO PROVIDED AN RMA AND OFFERED A REPLACEMENT CARD AT NO COST. WHEN THE AUTHOR ASKED IF THE CARD WOULD BE DELIVERED TO THE TECH SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FAILURE ANALYSIS, HE WAS TOLD, "OH NO, WE RECYCLE ALL THE DEFECTIVE CARDS." "WHEN YOU RETURN THE CARD TO US, WE WILL REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE." FROM A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW, THAT'S FINE, BUT IT ALLOWS THE EVIDENCE OF ANY FAILURE, OR ANY PATTERN OF FAILURE TO BE DESTROYED WITHOUT EXAMINATION.
Earlier reports · 1995–2001 · 43 reports
2001
Part: CONTROL ARM — MALFUNCTIONED (NLG) · airframe 29,585 hrs · 35,535 cycles
NOSE WHEEL STEERING PULLS LEFT WITH OR WITHOUT TILLER ENGAGED. ABORTED TAKEOFF BELOW 80 KNOTS. CENTERED FEEDBACK POT AND REPLACED NOSE WHEEL STEERING TILLER. OPS CHECK GOOD ON TAXI.
Part: SELECTOR SWITCH — MALFUNCTIONED (TE FLAPS) · airframe 29,449 hrs · 35,350 cycles
ON TAXI CHECK, WHEN FLAPS 15 DEGREES WERE SELECTED THE MAP LIGHT ''FLAPS'' AND ''ADV SWS'' ILLUMINATED WITH AN ASSOCIATED CONTROL FAULT ON FLAP WARNING PANEL WITH FLASHING NACELLE BARS.RESET FLAP SYSTEM. RE-RACKED FCU. REPLACED FLAP SELECTOR. OPERATED FLAP SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES. OPS CHECK GOOD. S/N ON: 244495 S/N OFF: 120090.
Part: BOOT — DAMAGED (DEICE SYSTEM) · airframe 28,915 hrs · 34,546 cycles
DURING FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS RIGHT OUTBOARD DEICE BOOT FAILED TO INFLATE AFTER ASSOCIATED INOP LIGHT. INSTALLED BOOT PATCH ON RIGHT OUTBOARD WING IAW BF 74-451-AA.
Part: STRAP — BROKEN (NLG) · airframe 28,826 hrs · 34,424 cycles
AFTER TAKEOFF AND GEAR SELECTED UP, HAD A HIGH FREQUENCY THUMPING NOISE. RETURNED TO SFO. WHEN SELECTED GEAR DOWN NOISE WENT AWAY. FOUND NOSE LANDING GEAR STRUT BONDING STRAP BROKEN. INSTALLED NEW TERMINAL END ON NLG BONDING STRAP AND RE-SECURED.
2000
Part: INDICATOR — MALFUNCTIONED (COCKPIT) · airframe 27,160 hrs · 32,071 cycles
IN CRUISE FLIGHT, BOTH SYSTEM A LIGHTS (GREEN AND RED) FOR NOSE GEAR ILLUMINATED. GEAR CYCLE ATTEMPTED, ALL RED LIGHTS ILLUMINATED EXCEPT RED NOSE A DISAGREEMENT. NO GREEN LIGHTS. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, PROBLEM CLEARED. PROBLEM OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AND THEN CLEARED. PERFORMED GEAR SWINGS (NO DEFECTS). SWITCHED DOWN A AND B PROX SENSORS FOR TEST FLIGHT. TEST FLIGHT SUCCESSFUL. COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.
Part: WIRE — BROKEN (STATIC DISCHARGE) · airframe 26,787 hrs · 31,566 cycles
BONDING STRAP LOOSE AFTER TAKEOFF. RETURNED TO PDX. REPLACED BROKEN BOND WIRE PER WIRE MANUAL 20-30-00.
Part: CONTROLLER — MALFUNCTIONED (AUTOPILOT) · airframe 26,542 hrs · 31,224 cycles
AIRCRAFT CONDITIONED TO PITCH UP WITH AUTOPILOT OFF PULLED DISCONNECT TO CONTROL AIRCRAFT TROUBLESHOT AUTO PILOT AND TRIM SYSTEM FOUND BAD APP 65A. REMOVED AND REPLACED APP 65, RECONNECTED ELEVATOR DISCONNECT SYSTEM AND PERFORMED OPS CHECKS OF AUTO PILOT AND TRIM SYSTEMS. OPS CHECKS GOOD PER MM 221004.
Part: BOOT — FAILED (LT WING DEICE) · airframe 25,929 hrs · 30,344 cycles
AFTER DEPARTURE MIDDLE LEFT WING DEICE BOOT FAILED TWICE. RETURNED TO SFO. OPERATED LEADING EDGE DEICE THROUGH SEVERAL CYCLES, COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. SWAPPED LEFT AND RIGHT MIDDLE BOOT DEICE PRESSURE SWITCHES FOR TROUBLESHOOTING, OPS CHECK GOOD.
1999
Part: SENSOR — FAILED (MLG)
AFTER TAKEOFF, CYCLED GEAR AND IT DID NOT RETRACT. CYCLED GEAR 4 TIMES AND IT STILL DID NOT WORK. RETURNED TO SEA. INSTALLED NEW LEFT MAIN GEAR A UPLOCK SENSOR PER EMB 120 MM 32-61-01. PERFORMED GEAR SWING, OPS CHECKS GOOD.
1998
Part: DE-ICE BOOT — FAILED (LT & RT WING)
LEFT OUTBOARD AND RIGHT OUTBOARD WINGS DEICE BOOTS FAILED. RETURNED TO FAT. REPLACED OUTBOARD WING EJECTOR FLOW CONTROL VALVE, OPS CHECKS GOOD.
Part: TQ SIGNAL COND — MALFUNCTION (LT ENGINE)
AUTO FEATHER SYSTEM DOES NOT TEST. REPLACED THE LEFT ENGINE TORQUE SIGNAL CONDITIONER.
1997
Part: ANNUNCIATOR PNL — MALFUNCTION (COCKPIT)
FLAP CONTROL FAULT, ASYMMETRY AND DISAGREEEMENT WARNINGS. REPLACED THE FLAP ANNUNCIATOR PANEL.
Part: ACTUATOR — MALFUNCTIONED (RT TE FLAP)
FLAP DISAGREEMENT WARNING AFTER TAKEOFF. COULD NOT DUPLICATE DISCREPANCY. REPLACED RIGHT HAND OUTBOARD FLAP ACTUATOR FOR TROUBLESHOOTING.
Part: FLAP CONTROL — MALFUNCTION (E/E COMPT)
FLAP DISAGREEMENT WARNING AFTER TAKEOFF. REPLACED THE FLAP CONTROL UNIT.
Part: SOLENOID — FAILED (LAV OXY DOOR)
UPON COMPLIANCE OF C TASK 35-09, THE PAX OXYGEN MASK IN THE LAVATORY FAILED TO DROP. INVESTIGATION FOUND THE OXYGEN MASK DOOR LATCH SOLENOID FAILED. THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW PART. SYSTEM TESTED OK.
Part: ELECTRIC LATCH — SHORTED (LAVATORY)
WHILE PERFORMING A C-1 CHECK ZONE 200 TASK NR 35-09 (VERIFY LATCH MECHANISM) IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER CB0067 WAS POPPING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRIC LATCH WAS SHORTED IN THE LAVATORY. THE LATCH WAS REPLACED WITH A SERVICEABLE LATCH. AFTER SAID REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED, CIRCUIT BREAKER NO LONGER POPPED AND TASK NR 35-09 WAS CARRIED OUT SATISFACTORILY.
Part: WIRE — LOOSE (ELEV TRIM TAB)
TAKEOFF TRIM WARNING DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. REPAIRED LOOSE WIRING AT THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB PROXIMITY SENSORS.
Part: PROX SENSOR — FAILED (RT MLG)
NOSE WHEEL STEERING INOP DURING LANDING. REPLACED THE RT MLG WEIGHT ON WHEELS PROXIMITY SENSOR.
Part: ACTUATOR — MALFUNCTION (RT TE FLAP)
FLAP CONTROL FAULT WARNING DURING TAXI. REPLACED THE RT OUTBOARD FLAP ACTUATOR.
Part: FCU — MALFUNCTION (TE FLAPS)
FLAP CONTROL FAULT WARNING DURING TAXI. REPLACED THE FLAP CONTROL UNIT.
Part: ROLLER — INOPERATIVE (LT TE FLAP)
FLAP DISAGREEMENT AFTER TAKEOFF. REPLACED LEFT OUTBOARD FLAP ROLLERS.
1996
Part: WARNING — ACTIVATED (CARGO DOOR)
CARGO DOOR WARNING DURING TAKEOFF. FOUND TO BE FALSE WARNING. WARNING SYSTEM PLACED ON DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LIST.
Part: SWITCHES — OUT OF ADJUST (CARGO DOOR)
CARGO DOOR WARNING DURING TAKEOFF. ADJUSTED DOOR MICRO SWITCHES.
Part: LATCH — BROKEN (LT MLG DOOR)
LT MLG FORWARD DOOR LATCH IS BROKEN, DOOR HANGS OPEN. REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH ASSY.
Part: ACTUATOR — LEAKING (RT PROPELLER)
RT ENGINE NACELLE, WING AND PROPELLER ARE COVERED WITH OIL. REPLACED THE PROPELLER ACTUATOR ASSY.
Part: SEALS — LEAKING (LT PROP)
THE GROUND FEATHER TEST REQUIRED 11 SECONDS FOR PROP TO TRANSITION FROM FEATHER TO BETA RANGE. REPLACED THE LT PROPELLER TRANSFER TUBE OIL SEALS.
Part: ACTUATOR — MALFUNCTION (RT TE FLAP)
FLAP CONTROL FAULT WARNING DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. REPLACED THE RT INBD FLAP ACTUATOR.
Part: FLAP CONTL UNIT — MALFUNCTION (TE FLAPS)
FLAP CONTROL FAULT WARNING DURING TAKEOFF. REPLACED THE FLAP CONTROL UNIT. PART TOTAL CYCLES, 8,211.
Part: SKIN — LIGHTNING STRIKE (RT ELEVATOR)
DURING A LIGHTNING STRIKE INSPECTION FOUND RIGHT ELEVATOR TRAILING EDGE TO HAVE DAMAGE AT THE OUTBOARD TIP. CUT OUT THE DAMAGED AREA OF THE RIGHT ELEVATOR TRAILING EDGE. FABRICATED FILLERS AND DOUBLERS AND INSTALLED IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION. ALL WORK DONE I/A/W EMB 120 SRM CHAP 55-20-01 PG 205-206.
Part: BATTERY — DISCHARGED (CABIN)
EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM IS INOP. REPLACED THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS BATTERIES.
Part: ROLLERS — WORN (LT TE FLAP)
AFTER LANDING, OUTBD FLAPS WOULD NOT RETRACT FULLY. REPLACED THE LT OUTBD FLAP ROLLERS.
Part: SENSOR — FAILED (LT WINDSHIELD)
BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL NOTED IN COCKPIT WHEN WINDSHIELD HEAT SELECTED ON. REPLACED THE LT WINDSHIELD CURRENT SENSOR.
Part: WARNING LIGHT — ILLUMINATED (SERVICE DOOR)
SERVICE DOOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING TAKEOFF. ALL DOORS CONFIRMED CLOSED, COULD NOT DUPLICATE DISCREPANCY. ALL DOORS INSPECTED FOR SECURITY AND FUNCTION.
Part: BRACKET — CRACKED (LT WING)
THE LEFT AILERON WAS STRUCK BY A GROUND VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND ON THE AILERON. HOWEVER, THE BRACKET ON THE WING REAR SPAR, THAT THE AILERON SERVO TAB RODS ARE CONNECTED TO, WAS FOUND CRACKED. THE BRACKET WAS REPAIRED PER AERODESIGN REPORT NR 1783-1 REV IR, DATED 2-6-96.
Part: CIRCUIT BREAKER — TRIPPED (AURAL WARNING)
TAKEOFF TRIM WARNING DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. FOUND THE AURAL WARNING CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPPED. RESET BREAKER AND ACFT CONTINUED SERVICE.
1995
Part: PCU — DEFECTIVE (LT PROP)
LEFT PROPELLER BETA INDICATOR IS FLASHING ON AND OFF AND PROP IS LURCHING. REPLACED THE PROPELLER PITCH CONTROL UNIT.
Part: ENGINE — FAILED (LEFT)
THE LEFT ENGINE NH AND OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO DURING FLIGHT. INFLIGHT SHUTDOWN PERFORMED AND DIVERTED TO MCO. REPLACED THE LEFT ENGINE ASSEMBLY.
Part: BRACKET — CRACKED (RT TE FLAP)
RT OUTBOARD FLAP MOVABLE PANEL, ROLLER SUPPORT BRACKET IS CRACKED. REPLACED CRACKED SUPPORT BRACKET.
Part: SUPPORT — CRACKED (LT/RT WINGS)
THE FOLLOWING P/N WING SKIN SUPPORTS WERE FOUND CRACKED DURING INSPECTION TASK 5720-552/652-01I AND 5720-551/651-01I. THE SKIN SUPPORTS WERE REPAIRED IAW AERO DESIGN REPORT NR 1327.2. P/N 120-17056-007, 4 EA; 120-17056-011, 1 EA; 120-17056-013, 1 EA; 120-17056-015, 2 EA; 120-17056-017, 1 EA; 120-17056-019, 1 EA; 120-17062-013, 1 EA; 120-17063-009, 3 EA; 120-17062-005, 1 EA; 120-17060-007, EA.
Part: FDU 70 — DEFECTIVE (NR 2)
YELLOW HEADING FLAP ON COPILOT'S EHSI, RED OFF FLAG ON PILOT'S RMI. REPLACED THE NR 2 FDU-70.
Part: SWITCH — DEFECTIVE (NLG)
AFTER TAKEOFF THE LANDING GEAR CONTROL HANDLE COULD NOT BE MOVED TO RETRACT THE GEAR. REPLACED NLG PROXIMITY WOW SWITCH AND HARNESS ASSY.
Part: ACTUATOR — DEFECTIVE (LT TE FLAPS)
OUTBD FLAP ASYMMETRY WARNING AFTER LANDING. REPLACED LT OUTBD FLAP ACTUATOR.
Part: FRAME — CRACKED (NACELLE)
DURING INSPECTION FOUND THE FRAME 10 WEB IN LEFT NACELLE INBOARD SIDE TO HAVE AN APPROX .625 INCH CRACK RUNNING THROUGH THE FRAME FLANGE RADIUS JUST UNDER THE CUTOUT FOR THE STRINGER. STOP DRILLED THE CRACK AND ADDED A DOUBLER MADE OUT OF AN ORIGINAL FRAME 10 WEB OF SAME PART NR. ALL WORK WAS DONE IAW AERODESIGN REPORT NR 869-1, REV IR, 10-02-93 DATED 1-9-95.