Service difficulty report · Trim Tab · Bell 407

Difficulty date
September 4, 2001
Submitted
September 21, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft time
2,519 hours
Engine
Allsn 250C47B
Part
Trim Tab
Condition
Debonded
Location
M/R Blade
Part time
400 hours
Component
Blade · Bell · 407015001117
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING SCHEDULED AIRFRAME PERIODIC INSP TRIM TAB ON PARTICULAR MAIN ROTOR BLADE FOUND TO HAVE SEVERE DEBONDING WHICH INITIALLY SHOWED UP AS CRACKS IN FILLER MATERIAL AROUND TRIM TAB EDGES. CLOSER INSP REVEALED SEVERE DEBONDING & COMPROMISE OF TRIM TAB ATTACHMENT SECURITY. MAIN ROTOR BLADE REPLACED WITH NEW FROM BELL HELICOPTER. MAIN ROTOR BLADE S/N A-348 HAD TOTAL TIME SINCE NEW OF 2052.5. IT HAD BEEN INSP & REPLACED AT BELL HELICOPTER AT TOTAL TIME SINCE NEW OF 1652.2 AT WHICH TIME TRIM TAB REPLACED. (TIME SINCE REPAIR & TRIM TAB REPLACED 400.3). IT IS QUITE COMMON TO SEE MINOR CRACKING IN FILLER MATERIAL SURROUNDING TRIM TAB.

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