Service difficulty report · Epicyclic · Snias AS350B2

Difficulty date
February 13, 2013
Submitted
February 22, 2013
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N29LW
Make and model
Snias AS350B2
Aircraft serial
4485
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1D1
Part
Epicyclic
Part number
350A32011000
Part serial
M7651
Condition
Loose
Location
Main Rotor
Part time
3,272 hours
Component
Shaft · Urocop
Component part number
350A37129004
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

ACFT HAS FLOWN 3272.2 HRS SINCE NEW, MAST/ EPICYCLIC HAS NEVER BEEN APART SINCE NEW, PILOTS EXPERIENCED DROOPING ROTOR SPEED INDICATION, NO ACTUAL ROTOR DROOP WAS FELT OR EVIDENT, THE DROOP WOULD BE LOW ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE NR WARNING HORN (BELOW 365 RPM). SYS WAS TROUBLESHOT SEVERAL TIEMS, SB 63.00.18 WAS COMPLIED WITH FOR THE INSTALLATION OF NEW STYLE NR SENSOR. PROBLEM PERSISTED. WHEN ADVISED BY MFG TECH REP, WE LIFTED THE ACFT FROM THE MAST AND WERE ABLE TO TURN THE COGWHEEL (THROUGH THE HOLE ON THE SIDE OF THE MAST WHERE THE NR SENSOR IS INSTALLED THE COGWHEEL SHOULD NOT ROTATE. WE FOUND OUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, SEVERAL OTHER ACFT OF THIS MFG AND MODEL HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE MAST/EPICLYCLIC WAS ASSEMBLED AT THE FACTORY, THERE ARE 6 MAIN ATTACH BOLTS WHICH ARE LOCKED BY LOCK TABS, ALL 6 WERE UNDER TORQUED, MEASURED TORQUE WAS ZERO TO 10 INCH LBS. THE CORRECT TORQUE IS 195 IN LBS. THE 7TH BOLT INSTALLED IN THE CENTER OF THE 6 MAIN BOLTS WAS PROPERLY TORQUED. THIS IS A SAFETY OF FLIGHT ISSUE.