3027280 - Pratt and Whitney PT6 Turbine Engine Igniter

3027280 – Pratt & Whitney PT6 Turbine Engine Igniter

Available now on the Airparts.aero Marketplace.

Overview

The Pratt & Whitney 3027280 is a genuine OEM, high-energy turbine engine igniter, a flight-critical component engineered for the legendary PT6A family of turboprop engines. This igniter is the final link in the ignition system, responsible for delivering a powerful, high-temperature spark directly into the combustion chamber to ensure reliable light-off of the fuel-air mixture during the engine start sequence. Manufactured to Pratt & Whitney's exacting standards, the 3027280 is built with advanced materials to withstand the extreme temperatures, pressures, and thermal shock of the turbine environment, guaranteeing the reliability required for commercial, corporate, and utility aircraft operations.

Key Features

• High-Energy Surface Gap Design: Utilizes a semi-conductor/surface gap firing tip. This design allows the high-energy (Joule) discharge from the exciter to ionize a path across the tip's surface, resulting in a massive, high-current spark that is highly effective at igniting atomized jet fuel under a wide range of atmospheric conditions.
• Advanced Alumina Ceramic Insulator: The core of the igniter is a high-purity alumina ceramic insulator. This material provides superior dielectric strength to prevent high-voltage flashover at altitude and offers exceptional thermal conductivity and resistance to thermal shock.
• High-Temperature Superalloy Construction: The body and shell of the igniter are machined from a high-strength, nickel-based superalloy, providing robust resistance to the extreme temperatures and corrosive environment of the turbine combustor.
• Hermetic Sealing: Features a proprietary hermetic seal, typically using glass and metal, to prevent the leakage of high-pressure combustion gases past the igniter. This is critical for protecting the ignition lead and exciter from damage and ensuring engine performance.
• Genuine P&WC OEM Part: As a genuine Pratt & Whitney Canada part, it guarantees the precise performance, service life, and material specifications required by the engine's original Type Certificate, ensuring the highest level of safety and reliability.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: 3027280
• Component Type: High-Energy Turbine Engine Igniter Plug
• Firing End: Surface Gap, Solid Electrode
• Insulator Material: High-Purity Alumina Ceramic
• Shell Material: High-Temperature Nickel-Based Superalloy
• Application: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A Series Engines
• Certification: FAA / TCCA Production Approval

*** This part was replaced by P&WC part: 3032096 ***
*** FAA PMA Alternative part available from Champion: CH34055 ***

Aircraft Compatibility

The 3027280 igniter is specified for use on an extremely wide range of aircraft powered by the ubiquitous Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine. It is essential to consult the specific engine's Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) for final verification.

• Common Aircraft Platforms:
  • Beechcraft: King Air 90, 100, 200 Series
  • Cessna: 208 Caravan, 425 Conquest I
  • Pilatus: PC-12, PC-6 Turbo Porter
  • De Havilland Canada: DHC-6 Twin Otter
  • Piper: Cheyenne, Meridian
  • Daher (Socata): TBM Series

Applications

The 3027280 has a singular, flight-critical application:

• Engine Start Ignition: Delivers the electrical spark from the ignition system directly into the engine's annular combustion chamber to initiate light-off. Two igniters are typically used per engine for redundancy and to ensure rapid and symmetrical flame propagation.
• Scheduled Maintenance Item: A life-limited component that must be inspected and replaced at specified service intervals to ensure continued ignition system reliability and prevent starting issues.

Why Choose 3027280?

The ability to reliably start a turbine engine, whether on the ground or for an in-flight relight, is a critical safety function. The Pratt & Whitney 3027280 is the OEM-certified component designed and tested by the engine manufacturer to perform this task flawlessly. Its advanced materials and surface-gap design are engineered to resist the fouling and erosion that would destroy lesser igniters. For a component this vital to engine operation, there is no substitute for the proven performance and certified quality of a genuine P&WC part.

Order Your 3027280 Igniters Now

Ensure reliable starts and protect your turbine engine with genuine, factory-certified components. Visit Airparts.aero to order your Pratt & Whitney 3027280 igniters today.

The 3027280 igniter operates as part of a high-energy capacitor discharge ignition system. An exciter box converts the aircraft's DC power into high-voltage DC to charge a storage capacitor. Upon command, this capacitor discharges its entire energy load (measured in Joules) through a specialized ignition lead to the 3027280 igniter. The igniter's surface-gap design features a low-resistance semiconductor material between the electrodes. The high-voltage pulse ionizes this material, creating a path for a very high-current, short-duration plasma arc. This arc is significantly hotter and more powerful than a conventional spark, ensuring it can reliably ignite the high-velocity, atomized fuel spray within the combustor, even under the adverse conditions of a high-altitude or cold-weather start.

Note: This is a high-voltage, flight-critical engine component. Installation and handling must be performed by a certified A&P or AME mechanic in strict accordance with the current Pratt & Whitney Canada engine maintenance manual. The ignition system carries lethal voltages and must be fully de-energized and grounded before any maintenance is performed.