It’s Not Running Right

By Ltjg. Raymond Gambel

It was another scorching day in the desert. In what had become a necessity, two members of the line division hooked a trailer-mounted air-conditioning unit (A/M32C-17) to a P-3 in preparation for preflight. This additional responsibility to our daily routine kept both crew and equipment cool during preflight in the oppressive heat. Driving down our line, I Proper fuse layout VP-8 bypassed fuse panel saw two junior maintainers connecting the air cart with befuddled looks on their faces. I stopped and asked if panel, which normally holds two fuses wired in paralI could help. As I approached the cart, I heard its comlel, wasn’t only missing a fuse; it had been re-routed to pressor surging and its engine struggling to make power. bypass the second fuse assembly altogether. Without a Because of this sound and the sight of the air hose confuse to protect the electrical components from power nected to the aircraft lying flat on the concrete, I could surges, unrestricted voltage had coursed through the tell that the cart was not putting out any air. The whole wiring and started an electrical fire. unit was bogged down. It was fortunate that I had stopped to help my

I questioned the maintainers about the problem. fellow “Tigers” check the unit that day. Had the airOur AOAN, who was training the other maintainer on conditioning cart been put on the aircraft and left runthe air-conditioning cart, said, “I don’t know what’s ning, it could have endangered both the aircraft and the wrong with it. It’s not running right.” After a quick aircrew on board. The first indications to the flight crew once-over, I saw that she had left the door to the air duct would have been thick black smoke as it was discharged closed, which would explain the chugging noise. The through the aircraft’s air-conditioning system. cart was gasping for incoming air to push through the This incident made me think about the numerous cooling unit to the aircraft. I opened the door to remedy times throughout my career where someone had menthe situation, but the engine that drove the compressor tioned “attention to detail.” I’m glad I was maintaining continued its noisy protest. I turned off the unit so I my situational awareness that day and could recognize could inspect the engine compartment. when something was not quite right.

I smelled electrical burning, and I saw dark, black Ltjg. Gambel flies with VP-8. smoke pouring from the air duct. I opened an access panel to find the source of the fire, but this action only Analyst comment: The fuse was bypassed? Where was increased the amount of smoke. I saw a burnt-wiring QA? Was special authorization given to jump this fuse? Was bundle on the interior side of the cart, with some wires there a MAF for the repair? These parts are not hard to that still were on fire. I immediately reached inside and replace, and I question the thought process here regarding the disconnected the battery to kill the source of the fire. maintenance on the SE. Once it was out, the smoke slowly dissipated.

I called our flight-deck coordinator to survey the Senior Chief Tangney is a maintenance analyst at the damage. What we found was astounding. The wiring Naval Safety Center.