The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued an urgent safety recommendation to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerning unsafe wiring on Piper PA-31T-series airplanes that may lead to arcing and cause fires. NTSB said the recommendation is based on preliminary findings in the ongoing investigation of the July 29, 2016, in-flight breakup of a Piper PA-31T medical transport flight in California. Urgent safety recommendations are issued in advance of the completion of an investigation when the NTSB believes “an imminent threat to life and safety exists” based on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
According to NTSB, investigators in the July accident found evidence of thermal damage near the airplane’s main electrical bus circuit breaker panel. “This enclosed space also includes hydraulic lines that run directly below the panel. Further examination of the wiring in this area showed evidence of electrical arcing, and sections of the adjacen…
