Hmmm...
http://www.amtonline.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=2050
Believe it or not, tie wraps cause damage... I'm sure Boeing, Rolls Royce, GE and most other manufactures have done their homework and still choose to use string tie in place of plastic tie wraps for good reason
PLASTIC ?TY-WRAPS? AGAIN!!... SDR # 20020122003
SDR # 20020122004
Upon descent, the pilot of the Beech 1900D noticed that he had no aural warnings for decision height, altitude, alert,
overspeed, gear warning, or stall warning. Maintenance personnel inspected plugs for aural amplifiers, and nothing
appeared to be wrong. Wiring was inspected and one wire (Code 24A22) for 28VDC input of the aural annunciator
amplifier (P/N 207), and another wire at plug W314P8 for co-pilot speakers, had been chafed by large plastic ty-wraps.
The wires in question were ?ty-wrapped? at a point where the bundle was bending. If the ty-wraps were 1 cm on
either side of the bend, this would not have happened.
In another incident, an ELT remote switch indicator light was on in the hangar with no aural signal being received on
comm frequency 121-5. The ELT and the wiring were inspected at Zone 312, and the wires 3150-12, 3150-13,
3150-15 were found chafed and were grounding out. Plastic ty-wraps, and plastic clamps cutting into the wiring
were the cause of the problem.
Transport Canada continues to receive SDRs on plastic wire ties that, due to incorrect installation, have damaged
adjacent wiring, structure, or components. Plastic wire retention devices, although more convenient that the lacing
method for certain installations, often are installed quickly and as a result, not in the optimum position, leading to
the chafing of adjacent wires or structures.
Manufacturers? Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness and/or AC 43.13 2B, Chapter 11, Aircraft Electrical
Systems, covers wire installation and inspection, and includes information on the use of wire ties.