Service difficulty report · Nut · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
March 20, 2009
Submitted
April 1, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N550H
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
4563
Aircraft time
14 hours, 25 cycles
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL2B1
Engine time
14 hours, 26 cycles
Part
Nut
Part number
350A37116421
Condition
Misinstalled
Location
M/R Shaft
Part time
14 hours, 25 cycles
Component
Shaft · Urocop
Component part number
355A37000600
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

WHILE PERFORMING AN AFTER LAST FLIGHT (ALF) OF THE DAY INSP OF THE DESCRIBED HELICOPTER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RING NUTS, (PN 350A37-1164-21, QTY 12 ) OF THE MAIN ROTOR (M/R) HEAD BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, THEY HAD BEEN INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN AND THE CLIP, CABLE (PN E0043-6C0, A LARGE ZIP TIE) WAS ABSENT FROM AROUND THE YOKE ASSY STOPS. MFG TECH SUPPORT WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY AND MADE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THIS HELICOPTER AND IN REVIEW OF THE ACFT RECORDS AS RECEIVED, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE M/R SHAFT ASSY WAS ASSEMBLED THIS WAY AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE. WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF MFG THE M/R SHAFT ASSY WAS REPLACED IN ITS ENTIRETY ALONG WITH THE 12 RING NUTS AND 12 M/R HEAD BOLTS BEFORE FURTHER FLIGHT. AS A RECOMMENDATION, INSPECT THE RING NUTS OF THE M/R SHAFT ASSEMBLIES OF ALL NEW HELICOPTERS CLOSE TO THE S/N OF THIS HELICOPTER WHICH IS S/N 4563 OR MANUFACTURED 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THIS HELICOPTERS DATE OF MANUFACTURE, WHICH IS DEC. 2008 AND OF ANY MANUFACTURED SINCE THIS DATE FOR THE CORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE RING NUTS AND THE PRESENCE OF THE CLIP, CABLE AROUND THE YOKE ASSY STOPS.