Service difficulty report · Evaporator · Snias AS350B2

Difficulty date
July 7, 2004
Submitted
July 12, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5204X
Make and model
Snias AS350B2
Aircraft serial
3099
Aircraft time
1,510 hours, 3,052 cycles
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1D1
Engine time
1,510 hours, 1,909 cycles
Part
Evaporator
Part number
900A4031
Condition
Cracked
Location
Air Conditioner
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

PILOT WAS OPERATING AC AIR CONDTIONING SYSTEM AND HEARD A NOISE COMMING FROM THE FWD EVAPORATOR UNDER INSTRUMENT PANEL. UPON RETURN TO BASE, MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMMING FROM THE FWD EVAPORATOR. THE EVAPORATOR WAS REMOVED AND IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE CRACKS IN THE HOUSING NEAR THE BLOWER ASSEMBLIES. THE CRACKS CAUSED THE BLOWERS TO BE MISALIGNED AND THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED AND THE SYSTEM SERVICED AND OPERATES NORMALLY. THIS OPERATOR HAS REPLACED FOUR (4) SUCH EVAPORATOR ASSEMBLIES IN THE PAST TWO (2) YEARS DUE TO CRACKS OF THIS TYPE. MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO LOOK INTO A BETTER HOUSING MATERIAL, THE HARD PLASTIC MATERIAL CURRENTLY USED IS NOT TOUGH ENOUGH.