Service difficulty report · Drive Shaft · Snias AS350B

Difficulty date
August 13, 2003
Submitted
March 1, 2004
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Snias AS350B
Aircraft time
6,260 hours
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1B
Part
Drive Shaft
Part number
350A32392301
Condition
Broken
Location
Oil Pump
Component
Oil Pump
Component part number
350A32040000
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
E

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

What was found

(CAN) AFTER FIRST START OF THE DAY THE TRANSMISSION OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF. ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE NEWLY OVERHAUL OIL PUMP WAS NOT DELIVERING ANY PRESSURE. ON REMOVAL OF MAIN TRANSMISSION AND OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY, THE DRIVE PINION SHAFT OF OIL PUMP WAS FOUND BROKEN IN TWO PIECES. NOTE THAT THE AIRCRAFT FLEW THE DAY BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL. CONCLUSION OF THE OVERHAUL FACILITIES STATE THAT THE SHAFT FAILED IN A TORSIONAL MODE OF INSTANTANEOUS OVERLOAD. DAMAGE FOUND ON THE PINION GEAR TEETH INDICATE THAT AN OBJECT PASSSED THROUGH THE MESH OF THE PUMP AND JAMMED OFF THE INTERMESHING OIL PUMP GEAR.