Service difficulty report · Heater · Bell 407

Difficulty date
February 2, 2025
Submitted
February 3, 2025
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N531PA
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft serial
53876
Aircraft time
6,098 hours, 20,679 cycles
Part
Heater
Condition
Blocked
Location
Cabin
Part time
6,098 hours
Stage of operation
AA
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM MONTICELLO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT FOR A PATIENT TRANSPORT. 10 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE CREW REPORTED FUMES IN THE CABIN AREA. THE PIC DECIDED TO MAKE AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING AT MCGEHEE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TO HAVE THE AIRCRAFT CHECKED OUT BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. WHEN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL ARRIVED, RAGS WERE FOUND IN FRONT OF THE HEATER OUTLET DUCTS. THE RAGS WERE REMOVED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED AND A COMPLETE FUNCTIONAL TEST OF THE HEATER SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED ON THE GROUND WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FUMES WERE THE RAGS IN FRONT OF THE HEATER DUCTS. NO OTHER DEFECTS WERE FOUND. THE AIRCRAFT HAS FLOWN 2.6 HOURS SINCE THIS INCIDENT WITH NO REPEAT/RECUR OF THE FUMES IN THE CABIN AREA.

More about the Bell 407