Service difficulty report · Bolt · Amtr SH2R

Difficulty date
July 16, 2012
Submitted
August 8, 2012
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N71TC
Make and model
Amtr SH2R
Aircraft serial
490R
Aircraft time
601 hours
Part
Bolt
Part number
AN311A
Condition
Broken
Location
Nlg Fork
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

THE NLG FORK ATTACH BOLTS BROKE DURING LANDING ROLLOUT, CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO SHIMMY. THE SHIMMY HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER LANDING AND THE VIBRATIONS CAUSED THE NOSE WHEEL CASTER ASSY TO DEPART THE ACFT WHEN THE ATTACH BOLTS FAILED. THE ACFT NOSE CAME DOWN ONTO THE NOSE GEAR STRUT AND THE ACFT SKIDDED TO A STOP, EXPERIENCING A PROPELLER STRIKE AND SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE. SERVICE BULLETIN, SB75, REV A, ADVISING OWNERS TO DRILL OUT THE NOSE FORK ATTACHMENT HOLES FROM .1875" TO .2500" DIAMETER AND REPLACE THE 3 EACH, AN3-11A AND THE 3 EACH, AN3-10A BOLTS WITH AN4-11A AND AN4-10A BOLTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS SB BE COMMUNICATED TO OWNERS AND OPERATORS, ADVISING THEM TO COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE SB TO PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS INVOLVING FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR FORK ATTACHMENT BOLTS.