Service difficulty report · Blower · Bell 429

Difficulty date
December 21, 2021
Submitted
August 8, 2024
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 429
Aircraft serial
57408
Aircraft time
228 hours
Part
Blower
Part number
S6085EC3
Part serial
1D4686253
Condition
Failed
Location
Zone 200
Part time
571 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS RUNNING AT GROUND IDLE, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION COWLS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN AND ON INSPECTION, THE AIR-CONDITIONER DRIVE BELT WAS FOUND SNAPPED. THE AIR-CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS FOUND TO BE SEIZED AND BADLY HEAT EFFECTED. DURING FAULT FINDING, THE POSITIVE WIRE TO THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH WAS FOUND BROKEN AT THE TERMINATED SPLICE, PN CTM-16-513. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN INCORRECTLY TERMINATED RESULTING IN THE WIRE BREAKAGE. THE BINARY SWITCH WAS FOUND TO READ 10 OHMS WITH THE SYSTEM CHARGED – THE REPLACEMENT BINARY SWITCH READS 0.3 OHMS, AS EXPECTED. THE BINARY SWITCH WAS ALSO FOUND HAND TIGHTENED TO THE AIR-CONDITIONER SYSTEM LINES. DURING A GROUND RUN, WE FOUND THE SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE READINGS REACHED 410 PSI. THE REPLACED BINARY SWITCH WOULD THEN CUT THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH OUT AS DESIGNED. THIS LEAD US TO CHECK THE CONDENSER BLOWER FAN OPERATION, AND WHILE FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTION DETAILED IN THE SERVICE MANUAL (429EC-200M-1), THE CONDENSER BLOWER FAN WAS FOUND TO BE U/S. THE CONDENSER BLOWER FAN WAS REPLACED AND THE AIR-CONDITIONER SYSTEM MADE SERVICEABLE.

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