Landing Lights at NAPA

Mike Spera wrote:

A couple of points made during the thread worth mentioning. First, even
if the part number is the same, technically the part has no traceable
history evidenced by paperwork. Hence, installing it in an airplane
without paperwork/pedigree may render the airplane unairworthy.


I have bought the 4509 landing lights at my FBO as well as at the auto
parts store. There's no paper trail from the FBO for that light. It
comes in the same box sometimes. The only paper I get is the standard
purchase receipt printed on the FBO's standard receipt they give for any
sale. I never keep these for small purchases like bulbs or other small
hardware I may buy. The thought is laughable. There is absolutely no
difference between the bulbs. If I put one in your hand from the FBO
and one from NAPA you can't tell which is which. And the insurance
company does not go looking for a part, any part, that isn't legal to
deny a claim. An unapproved part has to have played a likely role in
the wreck, your state insurance regulations see to that.

Mike Spera wrote:
A couple of points made during the thread worth mentioning. First, even
if the part number is the same, technically the part has no traceable
history evidenced by paperwork.

There's no paper trail on the vast majority of the parts I have installed in the
two aircraft I've owned, and (which is probably more important) there is
absolutely no requirement that I or anyone else maintain one.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

Mike Spera wrote:

A couple of points made during the thread worth mentioning. First,
even if the part number is the same, technically the part has no
traceable history evidenced by paperwork. Hence, installing it in an
airplane without paperwork/pedigree may render the airplane unairworthy.



I have bought the 4509 landing lights at my FBO as well as at the auto
parts store. There's no paper trail from the FBO for that light. It
comes in the same box sometimes. The only paper I get is the standard
purchase receipt printed on the FBO's standard receipt they give for any
sale. I never keep these for small purchases like bulbs or other small
hardware I may buy. The thought is laughable.
Do what you like. I keep ALL my receipts.

There is absolutely no
difference between the bulbs. If I put one in your hand from the FBO
and one from NAPA you can't tell which is which.
Which is precisely the point I made later in the posting


And the insurance
company does not go looking for a part, any part, that isn't legal to
deny a claim. An unapproved part has to have played a likely role in
the wreck, your state insurance regulations see to that.
Which is precisely the point I made later in the posting. I have no idea
of what the individual state regulations are, so I cannot speculate
whether there is any protection there.

Happy Flying,
Mike

Just to stretch you all a little more....

GE (and others) also make a similar Halogen Bulb, an H7604.

H7604
Candle Power 100,000
Watts 50
Beam 7 x 5 deg
LIfe 100 hrs

4509
Candle Power 110,000
Watts 100
Beam 12 x 6 deg
LIfe 25 hrs

Q4509
Candle Power 140,000
Watts 100
Beam 7 x 7 deg
LIfe 100 hrs

I have used some of the H7604's. The have a support inside the bulb
that is obvious that its not a 4509... They lasted fine but have a
narrower beam. Better for landing light, poor for taxi.

Mitch