Steve Pierce
BENEFACTOR
Graham, TX
Doing an annual inspection on a 2011 CC18-180 Top Cub. Get to the ELT inspection and using Artex manual to check the G-switch by shorting pins 5 and 12 and trying to set it off by throwing it like a football and it doesn't activate. A few bounces off the Bushwheel didn't help either. Though maybe I was missing something so I called Artex. After leaving messages I finally get someone to answer and find out there is a flat rate for a stuck G-Switch. As quick as they came back with that response to my question I knew they had seen this before. Sure enough New Zealand issued an AD against their ME406 ELTs in that country.
https://www.acrartex.com/media/1267396/artex_sn_31.pdf
http://www.caa.govt.nz/Publications/Vector/Vector_2010-4_JulAug.pdf
Tried to get an RMA to send it in for repair on Thursday and Friday to no avail so I called just after they opened this morning and got a person who promised to send me an RMA shortly. When asked about this being the same issue the service notice and AD were against he said it was the same and that the flat rate repair will install the new style g-switch. Only $450 to the customer plus shipping. So if you have a ME406 Atrex ELT you might want to test the G-Switch more than once a year. All other tests were fine. Would hate to be slammed into the ground somewhere and this $1200 box in the back doesn't work.
https://www.acrartex.com/media/1267396/artex_sn_31.pdf
http://www.caa.govt.nz/Publications/Vector/Vector_2010-4_JulAug.pdf
Tried to get an RMA to send it in for repair on Thursday and Friday to no avail so I called just after they opened this morning and got a person who promised to send me an RMA shortly. When asked about this being the same issue the service notice and AD were against he said it was the same and that the flat rate repair will install the new style g-switch. Only $450 to the customer plus shipping. So if you have a ME406 Atrex ELT you might want to test the G-Switch more than once a year. All other tests were fine. Would hate to be slammed into the ground somewhere and this $1200 box in the back doesn't work.