SB-GA8-2012-77 

Issue 3 

PO Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia MANDATORY

Ph + 61 (0) 3 5172 1200 

Fax + 61 (0) 3 5172 1201 

www.gippsaero.com

Service Bulletin 

SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 1 of 9 

Subject:

Pitot Heat Connector at wing tip. 

Applicability: 

All GA8 serial numbers which have a heated pitot fitted. This Service Bulletin is not applicable to GA8 

aircraft modified by GippsAero Engineering Release ER-GA8-950216. 

Amendments: 

1: Initial Issue. 

2: Alleviation in compliance time if no damage found. Install kit added. Part number and 

illustration of ring terminals corrected. Dimensions for terminal strip and cover added. 

3: Part number errors corrected for items 1,12,13 &14. 

Background: 

GippsAero has received reports of a burnt 2 way connector used for the pitot heater in the left hand 

wing tip. The heat resulting from such a failure may damage the pitot or static tubes. 

Compliance: 

Compliance with this Service Bulletin is required at the next 100 hourly inspection. However if there is 

no evidence of charring associated with the connector, compliance with Parts 2 to 4 of this Service 

Bulletin may be delayed until the next subsequent 100 hourly inspection, providing the modification is

completed before the 7th of February 2013. 

Weight and Balance: 

Negligible effect on weight and balance. 

Approval: 

This modification has been approved pursuant to Regulation 21.095 of CASR (1998). 
SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 2 of 9 

Parts: 

Kit SB-GA8-2012-77-1 may be purchased from GippsAero. It contains: 

Item Part Number Description Qty 

1 GA8-243017-11 Terminal Cover Assembly 1 

2 GA8-243027-23 Barrier Terminal 1 

3 MS35206-216 Screw 2 

4 AN960-4 Washer 4 

5 AN960-6 Washer 4 

6 MS21044N04 Nut 2 

7 MS21045-06 Nut 2 

8 RT2-4 Ring Terminal 4mm Blue 4 

9 LHMS-S5-D Standoff 1 

10 Commercial Placard, “T50”, Black lettering on 

white background. 1 

11 TLED440 Pop Rivet 1 

The following items may be used in lieu of items 1 & 2. Items 13 and 14 are to be modified in 

accordance with the instructions contained within this Service Bulletin. Items 12,13 and 14 are not 

available from GippsAero. 

Item Part Number Description Qty 

12 MS18029-21 Nut/Snap 6-32 2 

13 MS18029-1S-20 Terminal Cover 1 

14 MS27212-1-20 Terminal Strip 1 
SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 3 of 9 

Parts Availability: 

New parts can be purchased directly from GippsAero.

Tel: +61 (0)3 5172 1200 

Fax: +61 (0)3 5172 1201 

Email: spares@gippsaero.com 

Labour: 

4 hours should be allocated to the incorporation of this Service Bulletin. 

Warranty: 

Aircraft within the warranty period may claim from GA-warranty@gippsaero.com 

Installation: 

Part 1. Inspection of the connectors P50 & J50 

1. Remove the left hand wing tip from the aircraft. Wing tip removal instructions are provided in 

Section 57-30-00 of the Service Manual. NOTE: Take care as wiring to the Strobe/Nav light is still 

connected. 

2. The electrical connection of P50 & J50 (Figure 1) must not be disconnected at this point in 

time. Look for signs of charring or discolouration of the connector housing. Inspect for signs of 

damage to the pitot or static lines in the near vicinity of the electrical connector. 

3. In accordance with the directions stated in the Compliance statement of this Service Bulletin, 

Part 2 of this Service Bulletin is to be carried out. If carrying out Part 2 of this Service Bulletin

immediately, proceed to Part 2, Step 2. 

Figure 1 – View of connector P50. 
SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 4 of 9 

Part 2. Wiring modification

1. Remove the left hand wing tip from the aircraft. Wing tip removal instructions are provided in 

Section 57-30-00 of the Service Manual. NOTE: Take care as wiring to the Strobe/Nav light 

is still connected. 

2. The standard aircraft wiring to the heated pitot is shown in Figure 2. The modified wiring is 

shown in Figure 3. 

Figure 2 – Unmodified wiring to the pitot static tube assembly.

Figure 3 - Modified wiring to the pitot static tube assembly.
SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 5 of 9 

3. Discard connector housings P50 and J50, and cut-off the spade terminals. 

4. Fit item 2. Alternatively item 14 may be modified in accordance with Figure 4. This can be 

done by using a hacksaw. File away any “plastic” burring. 

Figure 4 - Dimensions of modified terminal strip. 

Figure 5 - Terminal Strip installed (item 2). 
SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 6 of 9 

Figure 6 - Ring terminals fitted. 

5. Crimp the ring terminals (item 8) to the wire leads. 

6. Screw wire FH1C14 and wire FH1B14 to one stud. 

7. Screw wire FH1D14 and wire FH1E14N to the second stud. 

8. Placard “T50” to be fixed in near vicinity of the terminal strip. 

9. Fit the terminal cover as shown in Figure 7. Use either item 1 or items 12 and 13 cut to length 

as shown in Figure 8. 

Figure 7 - Terminal Cover fitted (item 1). 

T50
SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 7 of 9 

Figure 8 – Dimensions for modified cover. 

10. The wiring to the navigation light and strobe is to be checked. To ensure there is no possibility

of chaffing as the wire passes through the lightening hole to the lamps a nylon stand-off, item 

9, is to be fitted using item 11 Refer to Figure 9. 

Figure 9 

Part 3. Testing the Pitot-Heater & Pitot-Heat Caution Light System

WARNING: 

REMOVE ANY PROTECTIVE COVERS FITTED TO THE PITOT STATIC TUBE. 

1. The pitot-heat caution system is functionally tested as follows: 

(i) Switch on Bus 1 Master ensuring the CAUTION SYS 1 circuit breaker is pushed in. 

(ii) With the pitot-heat switched off, check that the amber pitot-heat caution light is 

illuminated. 

(iii) Observe the current draw for Bus 1. Switch on pitot-heat. The current draw for Bus 1 

should rise and indicate an increase of approximately 10A. 

(iv) Check that amber caution light extinguishes. 

(v) Immediately check the heater tube. It will begin to warm if operating correctly. 
SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 8 of 9 

CAUTION: 

ENSURE CAUTION WHILE TOUCHING THE TUBE TO AVOID BURNING OF 

HAND. 

2. If however the amber light remains on when the tube is operating correctly, the sensor board 

located in the electrical overhead panel or the wiring from that board to the Caution Unit is 

likely to be faulty. 

3. Switch off the Pitot Heat. Check that the amber pitot-heat caution light illuminates 

Part 4. Testing the Strobe and the Nav Light 

CAUTION: 

AVOID LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE STROBE LAMP. 

1. The Strobe and Nav lights are to be checked for operation after installing the nylon stand-off. 
SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue: 3 Date of Issue: 23/03/2012 Page 9 of 9 

Documentation:

Update the aircraft log book to reflect incorporation of this Service Bulletin. 

Continuing Airworthiness:

There are no additional continuing airworthiness requirements as part of the implementation of this 

Service Bulletin. 

Section 34-10-00 of the Service Manual as amended prior to the approval date of this Service Bulletin 

is to be altered in the future. Until a revision note is issued by GippsAero, the directions contained 

within this Service Bulletin for the testing of the pitot heater and heat caution light system shall be 

followed. 

Compliance Notice:

Complete the Document Compliance Notice and return to GippsAero by mail, fax or email. 
DOCUMENT COMPLIANCE NOTICE 

Document: 

SB-GA8-2012-77 

Issue 3

Aircraft Serial Number: GA8-______________ 

Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2012-77 Issue 3 has been incorporated in the above aircraft. 

Date: ______________________________________ 

 ___________________________________________ 

 Signed 

Print Name: _________________________________ 

Please post or fax this compliance notice to: 

GippsAero 

Attn: Technical Services 

P.O. Box 881 

Morwell Victoria 3840 

Australia 

Fax.: +61 03 5172 1201