LAX07IA115

While in cruise flight at 2,800 feet mean sea level (msl) approximately 100 knots airspeed, the pilot experienced an uncommanded left yaw. The pilot pressed each rotor pedal and "found they were not functioning." The pilot turned back to the airport and declared an emergency. The pilot attempted a run-on landing. During the landing, the helicopter "wanted to turn left as the airspeed slowed." Subsequently, the helicopter twice spun to the left and came to rest upright partially on the runway and adjacent grass. The loss of tail rotor control was due to the lower support yoke arm bushing being loose in the lower support yoke arm. During operation of the tail rotor controls, the looseness transferred the cyclic operational stresses, via the expansion pin assembly, to the upper support yoke arm, which failed in fatigue. Under continued operation, the pitch control input rod then translated upwards into the path of the rotating tail rotor gearbox input flange. The pitch control rod wore down until the input rod no longer transmitted operational forces and it separated with the sequential loss of tail rotor control. During a recent 500-hour inspection, a visual check on the expansible pin was performed; however, only one end of the expansion pin assembly appeared to have been visually checked. The manufacturer's maintenance manual does not specify how the installation check should be performed.

On March 28, 2007, at 1145 Hawaiian standard time, a Eurocopter AS 350 BA single engine helicopter, N4010K, experienced a loss of tail rotor control in cruise flight and sustained minor damage during a hard landing at Kahului Airport, Kahului, Hawaii. The helicopter was operated by Mauiscapes Helicopters, Inc., under the call sign HOWZIT3, as a tour flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135. The commercial pilot and six passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area tour flight, and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The helicopter departed Kahului Airport at 1140.

The pilot reported the helicopter was in cruise flight at 2,800 feet mean sea level (msl) heading southwest toward the front entrance of the Iao Valley. Approximately 100 knots airspeed, the pilot felt a "sharp yaw of the nose to the left. The aircraft then yawed back straight." The pilot pressed each rotor pedal and "found they were not functioning." The pilot turned back to Kahului Airport and declared an emergency with the Maui air traffic control tower. The pilot attempted a run-on landing at Kahului Airport. During the landing, the helicopter "wanted to turn left as the airspeed slowed." Subsequently, the helicopter twice spun to the left and came to rest upright partially on the runway and adjacent grass.

A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector from the Honolulu Flight Standards District Office responded to the site. He reported that the tail rotor gearbox upper arm of the support yoke had fractured. The tail rotor gearbox assembly was removed and shipped to the National Transportation Safety Board Material Laboratory for further metallurgical examination.

Maintenance History

The tail rotor gearbox was a 15,000-hour total time component with overhauls every 3,000 hours plus 10 percent, and an inspection every 500 hours. The tail rotor gearbox log card indicated the gearbox was new in 1988, and had been overhauled in 1997, after 3,038.2 hours of operation, in 2000, after 3,287.9 hours of operation, and in 2005, after 3,293.8 hours of operation. The helicopter status sheet indicated that the gearbox had operated for 3,188.1 hours since last overhaul.

A review of the documentation received from the overhaul facility revealed that the gearbox had been received for the 2005 overhaul without a pitch control arm and a new one had been installed. A list of replaced parts was part of the documentation received and indicated that a new expansible pin had been purchased for that gearbox. No bushings were listed on the parts list.

A review of the master servicing recommendations revealed that the tail rotor gearbox was to be inspected every 500 hours or 2 years in accordance with the maintenance manual (MET). The MET work card describes and requires the following during the inspection: installation of expansible pin be checked; installation and removal of the tail rotor transmission system; removal and installation of tail rotor hub; removal and installation of the pitch change spider; description of the installation of the various modification states of the expansible pins, which includes assembly of the expansible pin, torque loading and resealing.

A review of the maintenance records revealed the helicopter was scheduled for a 500-hour inspection at 15,605.7 hours; however, the 100/200/500-hour inspection was completed on February 22, 2007, at a total time of 15,657.3 hours. The helicopter underwent a 100-hour inspection on March 15, 2007, at a total time of 15,745.8 hours. The helicopter had accumulated approximately 15,795.2 hours at the time of the incident.

Tail Rotor System Description

The input flange is connected to, and driven by, the tail rotor drive shaft. The flange drives the gears inside the gearbox, which drive the shaft and the attached yoke. The tail rotor assembly is bolted to the yoke, and the tail rotor blades are connected to the clevis at the outer end of the rotating cylinder by pitch change links. The pitch change links drive the rotating cylinder, which contains self-lubricating bushings and is free to slide on the shaft. The tail rotor controls operated the input rod, which is located below the tail rotor drive shaft and connects to the forward end of the pitch control bellcrank. The aft end of the pitch control bellcrank is connected to a stationary cylinder. The pitch control bellcrank rotates about its fulcrum where it attaches to the support yoke upper and lower arms. When operated by the input rod pitch control bellcrank imparts linear motion to the stationary cylinder, which imparts linear motion to the rotating cylinder. Linear motion of the rotating cylinder changes the pitch of the tail rotor blades via the pitch change links, providing left and right yaw control of the aircraft.

Gear Box Examination

The Safety Board Material Laboratory examination revealed that the upper arm of the support yoke was fractured and the lower arm was intact. The pitch control bellcrank was manipulated to reveal that movement was evident below the sealant that covered hardware on the underside of the lower arm. The sealant on the underside was removed to reveal hardware consistent with the installation of the expansion pin assembly illustrated as "mod 07-8525" in MET work card 65.20.00.401.

The radii between the support yoke arms and the reinforcing rib located between them had been smoothed, blended, and the surface resealed. This work was performed in 1991 in accordance with Service Bulletin 01.33.

Support Yoke Lower Arm Examination

Measurements of the expansion pin hole revealed that the diameters were larger than the specified diameter of the hole. Examination of the surface in the hole revealed a dimpled surface consistent with fretting. Prior to removing the lower arm bushing for examination, the torque applied to the locking nut was determined. The torque required to loosen the nut was measured at 29.5 inch/pounds, and the torque required to tighten the nut to realign the scratched lines was measured at 27 inch/pounds. The MET work card specifies that the self locking nut is to be torque loaded to 88.5 to 141.6 inch/pounds.

Examination of the lower arm bushing revealed a non-uniform smear pattern on the surface normally in contact with the bellcrank bushing. The lower arm bushing also revealed fretting on the outer surface, which is normally press fit in the lower arm.

Examination of the expansion pin components revealed a dark lubricant smeared on the taper washers and the expansible rings. Mechanical manipulation revealed the taper washers and expansible rings could be compressed and returned to their original condition when the compressive force was removed. A functional test was performed on the expansive pin by reassembling it and measuring the diameter of the expansible rings at different torque loadings. The test revealed the expansion pin functioned correctly.

Support Yoke Upper Arm Examination

Examination of the upper arm bushing also revealed a non-uniform smear pattern on the surface normally in contact with the bellcrank bush. The bush was not located centrally in the forward end of the upper arm as indicated by the width of the surrounding material, but the minimum width of material did satisfy the minimum width specified in the manufacturer's wear criteria work card.

The upper arm bushing was pressed out of the upper arm for examination. The inner surface normally in contact with the expansible ring was found to be in a pristine condition. Document review revealed that the manufacturer drawing required that the bushings be insulated with Mastinox (used to prevent corrosion) prior to installation in the gearbox. Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) analysis spectra revealed that the deposits found on the lower and upper arm bushes were similar material, but di