Service difficulty report · Antenna · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
April 23, 2024
Submitted
April 24, 2024
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N203Z
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
8811
Aircraft time
1,829 hours, 2,047 cycles
Part
Antenna
Part number
SLANT2224DPVH201
Part serial
353238C1
Condition
Detached
Location
Downlink
Part time
112 hours, 136 cycles
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
O
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

UPON A POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION, PILOT FOUND THAT THE LEFT-HAND REAR DOWNLINK ANTENNA POLE SECTION WAS MISSING--DETACHED FROM THE ANTENNA'S BASE. 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 SEVENTH SIMILAR HAPPENING.