Jay Honeck wrote:
Thanks to the stupid AD
against allowing cigarette lighters in Cessna 150s, the lighter had been
disconnected in the rental plane they flew.

The AD didn't make the lighter illegal. Cessna in their infinite wisdom
didn't put any circuit protection on the lighter so it was quite
possible to start a fire and never pop a breaker. The AD gave you a
choice. Either disconnect the lighter or put in a breaker.