Forward-angle coincident electroproduction cross sections of charged pions from 3 He have been measured at electron energies E 0 855, 675, 600, and 555 MeV. The overall features of the data for energy transfers of v 370 to 430 MeV with pions detected along the momentum transfer axis are reproduced in terms of a microscopic model, including pole terms, final state rescattering and produced and preformed D resonances. Separation of the cross section into its longitudinal and transverse parts was performed at Q 2 0.045 ͑GeV͞c͒ 2 . The longitudinal part of the cross section in the p 1 channel does not contradict with the assumption of a preformed D 11 . [S0031-9007(96)01208-2]