Service difficulty report · Pipe · Snias AS350BA

Difficulty date
September 26, 2010
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Snias AS350BA
Aircraft time
5,312 hours
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1B
Part
Pipe
Part number
0301007710
Condition
Cracked
Location
Injector
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) AFTER 1 START, SLOWER THAN USUAL, THE HELICOPTER TAKESOFF TO TAKE POSITION AT THE CLIENT`S FACILITY, VERY CLOSE TO THE DEPARTING POINT, 2 MINUTES OF FLIGHT. THE ENGINE IS STOPPED TO ALLOW LOADING OF THE HELICOPTER AND BOARDING OF PASSENGERS. THE PILOT INSPECTS THE ENGINE AREA AND NOTES PRESENCE OF FUEL ON AND BELOW THE ENGINE. A VISUAL INSPECTION IS PERFORMED BY AN AME, BUT NO DAMAGE IS FOUND. A START ATTEMPT IS MADE, AND AS SOON AS THE PILOT PUSHES THE THROTTLE, A JET OF FUEL IS SEEN, COMING FROM THE L/T START INJECTOR SUPPLY PIPE. THIS PIPE IS FOUND CRACKED AT THE START ELECTRO VALVE SIDE. BOTH LT AND RT START INJECTOR SUPPLY PIPES ARE REPLACED BY UNITS ORDERED. RUN-UP, LEAK CHECK, NO OTHER DEFECT, ACFT RELEASED.