Service difficulty report · Control Chain · Swrngn SA226TC

Difficulty date
February 2, 2004
Submitted
March 1, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Swrngn SA226TC
Aircraft time
35,405 hours
Engine
Garrtt TPE33110UA
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4N3
Part
Control Chain
Part number
2771026001
Condition
Worn
Location
Aileron
Stage of operation
DE
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING DECENT THE FLIGHT CREW NOTICED THE AILERONS BINDING AND VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. UPON SLOWING DOWN THE AIRCRAFT THE AILERON CONTROL RETURNED TO NORMAL. INVESTIGATION BY MAINTENANCE REVEALED THAT THE 27-71026-001 CONTROL CHAIN WAS SEIZED AND ALMOST WORN THROUGH ON A COUPLE OF CHAIN LINK SEGMENTS. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH DURING HIGH SPEED FLIGHT THE AIR LOAD ON THE AILERONS CAUSED HIGHER TENSION LOADS ON THE CONTROL CABLES PUTTING MORE FORCE ON THE CHAIN WHICH THEN BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE CHAINS (27-71026-001) AND SPROCKETS (26-71010-3) ON BOTH CONTROL COLUMN WHEELS WERE REPLACED AND THE AIRCRAFT RELEASED FOR FLIGHT.