Service difficulty report · Flex Coupling · Pilats PC1245

Difficulty date
May 13, 2003
Submitted
May 27, 2003
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Pilats PC1245
Aircraft time
618 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A67B
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4A3D
Part
Flex Coupling
Condition
Damaged
Location
Te Flaps
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F, J
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) ON APPROACH THE FLAP CAWS LIGHT CAME ON WHEN FLAPS WERE SELECTED DOWN FOR APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITH 0 FLAP SETTING. MAINTENANCE WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE AN ASSYMETRIC FLAP CONDITION ON THE GROUND THRU THE USE OF THE FLAP MAINTENANCE SWITCH. INSPECTION REVEALED THE LT INBOARD FLAP FLEX DRIVE SHAFT SHEARED IN TWO PIECES INSIDE THE HOUSING. A NEW DRIVESHAFT WAS INSTALLED AND FLAP SYSTEM RIGGED. FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE 3 REMAINING DRIVESHAFTS FOUND EXCESS CORROSION ON THE CABLE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS GROUNDED UNTIL REPLACEMENT DRIVESHAFTS WERE INSTALLED.