DURING A TEST FLT FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE MAINT; FLT CREW IS UNABLE TO RESTART R ENG OF PA31 AFTER A TEST OF THE FEATHERING MECHANISM.
Synopsis
DURING A TEST FLT FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE MAINT; FLT CREW IS UNABLE TO RESTART R ENG OF PA31 AFTER A TEST OF THE FEATHERING MECHANISM.
Narrative
WE TOOK THE AIRPLANE ON A TRAINING FLT/TEST FLT (FAMILIARIZATION AND FUNCTIONAL TEST) AS PART OF A NEW AVIONICS INSTALLATION. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN RELEASED BACK TO SVC FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. AFTER DOING SOME AIR WORK WE CHKED THE AVIONICS AND EVENTUALLY DECIDED TO ALSO CHK THE R-HAND PROP OP BY FEATHERING THE ENG. MAINT HAD MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE R-HAND PROP GOVERNOR; FOLLOWING AN EARLIER TEST FLT. THIS AIRPLANE IS SOON TO BE EXPORTED TO EUROPE AND IT WAS FELT THAT ALL ISSUES MUST BE RESOLVED TO CUSTOMER'S SATISFACTION PRIOR TO FLYING OVER THE TREACHEROUS NORTH ATLANTIC ENVIRONMENT. AMONGST OTHER THINGS; A NEW BATTERY AND NEW STARTERS HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE R-HAND STARTER WAS ACTIVATED FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS; BUT NOT ENOUGH CRANKING WAS OBSERVED. AFTER A 2 MIN COOLING PERIOD; A SECOND ATTEMPT TO START WAS MADE. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 15-20 SECONDS OF SIMILAR CRANKING; THE STARTER CEASED TO WORK. NASHVILLE APCH WAS ADVISED OF OUR SITUATION AND A REQUEST FOR A STRAIGHT-IN ON RWY 20R WAS MADE. OUR ARPT OF ORIGIN HAS A 3500 FT RWY SO WE OPTED TO OVERFLY IT AND USE AN ARPT WITH A LONGER RWY AND ARFF CAPABILITY (BNA). THE ENG WAS SECURED ACCORDING TO THE CHKLIST AND A SMOOTH LNDG WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT. MECHS WERE UNABLE TO ENERGIZE THE R-HAND STARTER ON THE GND. A NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN BACK.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.