Service difficulty report · Retaining Ring · Bell 407

Difficulty date
February 8, 2010
Submitted
March 1, 2010
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 407
Engine
Allsn 250C47B
Part
Retaining Ring
Part number
23064593
Condition
Cracked
Location
Compressor
Part time
2,166 hours
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
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) ENG PRODUCED A CHIP LIGHT DURING OPERATION AND METALLIC DEBRIS OF SIGNIFICANT SIZE WAS FOUND ON THE LOWER GEARBOX CHIP PLUG DURING LINE MX INVESTIGATION. ENG WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED FROM SERVICE. ON DISMANTLE TO INVESTIGATE CONDITION OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE FOUND: COMPRESSOR REAR SUPPORT RETAINING RING GROOVE CRACKED AND LIBERATED FROM THE REAR SUPPORT. GROOVE WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE PART. THE NR 2 RETAINING RING KEY WORE INTO THE SLOT. EACH OF THE GROOVES HAVE CRACKS COMING FROM THE RADIUS. ROOT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS UNKOWN AT THIS TIME. FAILURE ANALYSIS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN-HOUSE. FURTHER UPDATE TO FOLLOW. THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE OF THE RETAINING RING GROOVE THIS AMO IS AWARE OF. THE OTHER TWO ARE: ENGINE SN CAE 848073. ENGINE S/N CAE 848117. BOTH WERE NEW FROM MFG AND NO MX HAD BEEN PERFORMED TO THIS AREA OF THE COMPRESSOR. (TC20100209011)

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