Nick :
I have flown early model S76 and Bell helicopters that used Kapton wiring. I have not experienced any bad outcomes from Kapton wires. The maintenance technicians [engineers] used to complain about Kapton wiring and said it was crap [Crapton] because of its brittleness and it would frequently break with helicopter associated vibrations.
Transport Canada recognizes the hazard of resetting trip circuit breakers regardless of the type of wiring used and has put out a policy letter on the subject.
In part:
“Historically, crew members, maintenance personnel, and aircraft ground servicing personnel, (e.g., aircraft cleaners, aircraft fuelers, and baggage loading personnel) have viewed the resetting of a tripped CB as a relatively common occurrence in operations. Generally, resetting a tripped CB is met with no adverse results.
However, there are occasions where smoke, burned wires, electrical odors, arcing, and loss of related aircraft systems have been reported as a result of resetting tripped CBs. Aircraft manufacturers normally provide guidance in the AFM, MM, and aircraft servicing manuals that enables crew members, maintenance personnel, and aircraft ground servicing personnel to perform their tasks with a high degree of safety.
There is a widely held view that one reset of any tripped CB is acceptable. Locating and eliminating any associated fault is required prior to considering resetting any CB remembering that both high and low ampere CBs could readily ignite a fire.
Transport Canada provided information on this issue in the Aviation Safety Letter 1/2001 titled "The Deliberate Weak Link in the Electrical Chain" which clearly recommends that organizations develop and incorporate a comprehensive policy on CB. The Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) Canada section AIR 4.11 Circuit Breakers and Alerting Devices also provides guidance on this subject. “
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/co...licy/PL161.htm