Citation Summer 2001

• Troubleshooting with PC Boards
• Finger Hot Pads!
• Citation Test Light Usage
• CD-ROM Information
• Quick Antidote for Skydrol

Troubleshooting with PC Boards

— Joe Austin

When troubleshooting a system with a PC board, the easiest step is to “rerack” the PC board. In many instances, we have found that “reracking” the board cures the problem. Be careful to follow all precautions when dealing with static sensitive components.

See chapter 20 of the maintenance manuals for the precautions. This procedure is also true of black boxes.

Finger Hot Pads!

— Joe Austin

Soldering wires is a task that takes practice to perfect. Often, wires seem too short to connect to the terminal or repairs are in an area that’s difficult to access. Many people resort to using a tool to hold the wire because it gets so hot during the soldering process.

A method that has proven successful for us is to wear adhesive bandages on the fingers that are holding these wires. The best “Band-Aids” are the cloth type normally found in the first-aid cabinet in the hangar. Bandages insulate fingers from the heat during the soldering process, and the wire insulation is not damaged from the holding tool.

Make sure to presolder the wire and connector before the permanent connection is made. This will ensure a long-lasting connection.

Citation Test Light Usage

— Joe Austin

Duncan Aviation Tech Rep, Bill Schroeder recently wrote an article for the Lear Duncan Intelligence newsletter concerning test lights. The article provides good information for Citation operators as well.

During troubleshooting of an electrical system, using a volt/ohm meter is not always the best choice when checking for power. The new style digital meters set on “Voltage DC” can read potential but will not indicate if the connection is good enough to carry enough current to operate the component. Using a test light in place of a digital voltmeter is the better choice when checking for power and current availability at a connector. A test light requires both voltage and current to make the bulb illuminate. A test light can be purchased from an auto parts store; however, the bulb must be changed from a 12-volt bulb to a 24-volt bulb to be used on an aircraft system.

If you have difficulty locating a 24-volt bulb to fit the test light, call us and we will help you.

CD-ROM Information

— Joe Austin

New airframe models are being delivered with a CD-ROM that includes Wiring Manuals and an Interior Components Illustrated Part Catalog for the unit number of that aircraft. It is important that this information is readily accessible to your service facility.

CD-ROMs can be just as important as logbooks when checking an aircraft’s maintenance history. Having both the CD-ROMs and the logbooks available for research when going in for maintenance will greatly assist technicnians and keep your downtime to a minimum.

Quick Antidote for Skydrol

— Joe Austin

When working around Citations that use Skydrol in the main hydraulic system, it is very easy to get a light film on yourself and not realize it until it’s too late. At Duncan Aviation, most of our technicians keep a small 4-oz. bottle of castor oil in the top drawer of their toolboxes.

If Skydrol gets in your eyes, the top drawer of a toolbox is the easiest location to find the bottle and the quickest way to administer the castor oil. Castor oil will quickly take the pain away. Then flush the area affected with water to remove any remaining traces of Skydrol and castor oil.

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