Service difficulty report · Attach Fitting · Bell 412

Difficulty date
December 19, 2007
Submitted
December 19, 2007
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N107X
Make and model
Bell 412
Aircraft serial
33113
Aircraft time
19,997 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6*
Part
Attach Fitting
Condition
Gouged
Location
Cyclic Stick
Part time
19,997 hours
Component
Cyclic Stick
Component part number
204001357005
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

DURING INSPECTION FOR BHT ASB-412-07-127 (CYCLIC STICK BEARING INSPECTION) IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LATERAL CONTROL TUBE PN 412-001-307-101 FIXED (OB) CLEVIS PN 212-001-059-001 OR -103 HAD GOUGED THE CYCLIC LEVER ASSEMBLY BEYOND REPAIRABLE LIMITS AND THE BEARING GREASE SEAL RETAINER WAS DISLODGED. THIS DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY ANGULAR MISSALIGNMENT OF THE FIXED CLEVIS WITH RELATION TO THE ADJUSTABLE (IB) CLEVIS. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT BOTH CLEVIS'S WERE A DIFFERENT DESIGN THAN THE OTHER CLEVIS'S INSTALLED ON THE CYCLIC OF THIS AND OTHER 412 AIRCRAFT AVAILIABLE FOR INSPECTION. THIS DESIGN WAS A STRAIGHT (TUNNING FORK) DESIGN AS APPOSED TO THE OTHER CLEVIS DESIGN WITH AN ELONGATED (C) SHAPE WHICH ALLOWED FOR MORE CLEARANCE. MFG SUPPORT WAS CONTACTED TO VERIFY THIS DESIGN CLEVIS WAS APPROVED FOR USE IN THIS LOCATION. REPLACED LEVER ASSEMBLY, REALIGNED CLEVIS AND FOUND ASSEMBLY TO HAVE MINIMAL TO NO CLEARANCE AT EXTREME CYCLIC STOPS.

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