Service difficulty report · Bulkhead · Bell 204B

Difficulty date
September 2, 2002
Submitted
October 2, 2002
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Bell 204B
Aircraft time
22,449 hours
Engine
Lyc T5313B
Part
Bulkhead
Part number
204030749017
Condition
Cracked
Location
Tail Boom
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
B, A

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

What was found

(CAN) T/R FLIGHT CONTROL BELLCRANK SUPPORT ATTACHES TO BULKHEAD. THE BULKHEAD IS REINFORCED BY LOWER ANGLE AND UPPER ANGLE, SUSPECT THAT THE LOWER ANGLE CRACKED PROBABLY DUE TO CORROSION (NOT VERIFIED). THIS ALLOWED THE SUPPORT TO MOVE AND EVENTUALLY CRACKED THE BULKHEAD. WHEN THE BULKHEAD CRACKED,IT ALLOWED FOR THE T/R CHAIN PITCH CHANGE MECHANISM TO BECOME DISENGAGED DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOVEMENTOF THE BELLCRANK SUPPORT. THE PITCH CHANGE MECHANISM RE-ENGAGED BUT WAS NOW COMPLETELY OUT OF RIG RESULTING IN LOSS OF T/R AUTHORITY.

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