Safety Recommendation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that Cessna
Aircraft Company, revise its procedures in the Cessna 208 aircraft
maintenance manual to include the starter-generator manufacturer's
recommended brush inspection requirements.
Cessna Aircraft Company responded to this proposed safety
recommendation (draft recommendation G) in the ATSB draft report by
stating:
Cessna has discussed this recommendation with an APC repair
facility. Reservations have been voiced concerning the customers
checking of brushes, as they might chip the brushes, or put them
back incorrectly. If APC elects to change the current maintenance
procedures regarding the inspection or overhaul of their
starter-generators, Cessna will pass the information on to our
customers and consider changing the aircraft maintenance manual, if
deemed necessary.
ATSB comment:
The ATSB does not accept that Cessna's response to draft
recommendation G is adequate. The ATSB believes that Cessna should
incorporate the starter-generator manufacturer's inspection
requirement, APC Service Letter 132, as a minimum inspection
requirement in the Cessna 208 maintenance manual. Service letter
132 is a brush life calculation check which should be carried out
at 300 hours after a starter-generator is installed. As such, the
ATSB now formally issues the safety recommendation as
R20070019.
