Service difficulty report · Antenna · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
March 13, 2024
Submitted
March 18, 2024
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N651C
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
8868
Aircraft time
1,721 hours, 1,904 cycles
Part
Antenna
Part number
SLANT2224DPVH201
Part serial
353237C1
Condition
Detached
Location
Downlink
Part time
236 hours, 214 cycles
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

AIRCRAFT ARRIVED AT HOME STATION AND UPON A POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE LEFT HAND REAR DOWNLINK ANTENNA POLE SECTION WAS MISSING--DETACHED FROM THE ANTENNA'S BASE. DEPARTURE OF THE ANTENNA POLE HAPPEN SOMETIME DURING THE AIRCRAFT'S 6.8 HOUR FLIGHT. MANUFACTURING OF THE ANTENNA POLE IS ATTACHED TO THE BASE WITH SOME KIND OF GLUE AND IS CLEARLY THE WEAK POINT OF THE ASSEMBLY. RESEARCH INTO THIS AIRCRAFT AND OTHER OPERATOR SAME MODEL TYPES FOUND THAT THIS INCIDENT IS THE SIXTH SIMILAR HAPPENING.