Service difficulty report · Jackscrew · Dhav DHC8301

Difficulty date
November 8, 2007
Submitted
January 21, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Dhav DHC8301
Engine
Pwa PW123
Propeller
Hamstd 14SF23
Part
Jackscrew
Part number
82760174005
Condition
Contaminated
Location
Elevator Trim
Part time
7,816 hours
Stage of operation
CR
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) ADVISORY MESSAGE DISPLAY INDICATED (MISTRIM NOSE DN) WITH AUTOPILOT ENGAGED. DISENGAGED AUTOPILOT - FWD CONTROL COLUMN FORCE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT, ATTEMPTED TO TRIM FWD BUT TRIM WHEEL WAS JAMMED WITH TRIM INDICATOR AT FWD OF THE TAKEOFF RANGE. TRIM MOVED REARWARDS OF THAT POSITION BUT NOT FWD OF IT. PAN DECLARED AND SERVICES REQUESTED, NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING COMPLETED. FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE ELEVATOR TRIM SYS CARRIED OUT ON THE GROUND. UNABLE TO REPLICATE REPORTED CONDITION. BOTH THE LT AND RT HAND SCREW JACK ASSEMBLIES, ELEVATOR TRIM WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE SUFFICIENT GREASE LUBRICATION, BUT THE GREASE WAS DETERMINED TO BE WATER CONTAMINATED DUE TO THE DISCOLORATION OF THE GREASE AND PRESENCE OF WATER BOTH AROUND THE SCREW JACK ASSEMBLIES AND EVIDENT ON THE GREASE DURING PURGING BY MAINTENANCE. THE SCREW JACK ASSEMBLIES WERE BOTH LUBRICATED BY MAINTENANCE TO PURGE ALL EXISTING GREASE AND MOISTURE FROM THE ACTUATORS. LEVATOR TRIM SYS WAS LUBRICATED AND TESTED IAW MRB TASK CARD 2730/04 AND AMM 27-36-00. THE AC HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO HEAVY RAIN WHILE PARKED ON THE RAMP PRIOR TO FLIGHT WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A BUILD UP OF WATER IN THE SCREW JACK ACTUATOR INSTALLATION CAVITIES AND SUBSEQUENT ICE BUILD UP IN FLIGHT CAUSING ELEVATOR TRIM TRAVEL TO BE RESTRICTED. ADDITIONALLY ONE OF THE ACCESS HOLES WAS FOUND TO BE INCORRECTLY SEALED WHICH MAY HAVE PERMITTED WATER TO ENTER THE SCREW JACK ACTUATOR CAVITY. THIS ACCESS HOLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RESEALED DURING THE DEFECT RECTIFICATION / INVESTIGATION. (TC NR 20071211001)