Service difficulty report · Cone · Snias AS350B

Difficulty date
February 23, 2009
Submitted
April 9, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Snias AS350B
Aircraft time
6,504 hours
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1B
Part
Cone
Condition
Separated
Location
Engine
Part time
4,381 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D, C, R
Precautionary procedure
B

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

What was found

(CAN) A/C WAS IN CRUISE AT 5000 FT WHEN A LOUD POP WAS HEARD ACCOMPANIED BY A SINGLE TORQUE OSCILLATION. PILOT REDUCED HIS POWER TO LAND. A BURNING OIL ODOR WAS DETECTED ON THE DESCENT. THE PILOT LANDED NORMALLY WITH FULL POWER AVAILABLE ON LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIR INLET CONE OF THE AXIAL COMPRESSOR HAD COME UNDONE AND ENTERED THE COMPRESSOR CAUSING SERIOUS FOD. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS VIBRATIONS OR OTHER INDICATIONS PREVIOUS TO THE FAILURE. ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND SHIPPED TO MFG FOR EXAMINATION AND REPAIR.