Service difficulty report · Starflex · Snias AS350B2

Difficulty date
July 9, 2009
Submitted
July 10, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N455AE
Make and model
Snias AS350B2
Aircraft serial
3509
Aircraft time
4,888 hours, 8,840 cycles
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1D1
Engine time
6,528 hours, 7,078 cycles
Part
Starflex
Part number
350A31191701
Part serial
M3644
Condition
Chipped
Location
Rotor Head
Part time
949 hours, 1,293 cycles
Component
Rotor Head
Component part number
355A31000201N
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 A DAILY INSP CRACKS WERE NOTED ON THE MAIN ROTOR STARFLEX IN THE ADHESIVE BOND FILLET THAT BONDS BUSH ONTO STARFLEX ARM AND PIECES OF THE ADHESIVE FILLET WERE MISSING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A BOND SEPARATION OR GAP BETWEEN BUSH AND STARFLEX. UTILIZING PROCEDURE FROM MM IN CHAPTER 62.20.00.601 PARAGRAPH 7A. TEST WAS PERFORMED BY APPLING ROTOR BRAKE AND FLAPPING THE BLADE AND LEADING AND LAGGING THE BLADE TO CHECK FOR BOND SEPARATION BETWEEN BUSH AND STARFLEX ARM. WITH NO MOVEMENT OR DISBONDING NOTED TO BUSH THE SLEEVE ASSY WAS THEN REMOVED TO FURTHER INSPECT BUSH. BY GRIPPING BUSH WITH HAND IT COULD NOT BE ROTATED WHICH CONFIRMED THE BUSH WAS NOT DISDONDED. BUT IAW MM CHAPTER 62.20.00.601. THERE IS A CAUTION THAT READS PRESENCE OF A GAP EVEN IF NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A DISPLACEMENT OF THE BUSH UNDER LOAD OR IF A GAP IS ONLY LOCATED ON ONE PART OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS A CAUSE FOR REMOVAL. LOCAL LOSS OF THE ADHESIVE JOINT IS INDICATIVE OF A BUSH DISPLACEMENT AND THEREFORE SHALL ALSO BE CONSIDERED AS A CAUSE FOR REMOVAL.