Service difficulty report · Window · Bell 407

Difficulty date
February 9, 2011
Submitted
September 9, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft time
2,147 hours
Engine
Allsn 250C47B
Part
Window
Part number
407561214
Condition
Separated
Location
Cabin
Stage of operation
DE
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

RIGHT REAR EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW BLEW OUT AND CONTACTED THE TAIL ROTOR. ON DESCENT, PILOT HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A WINDOW OPEN. AS HE LOOKED BACK OVER HIS SHOULDER, SAW THE RT REAR EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW BLOW OUT. LANDED AND INSPECTED THE ACFT. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION, NOTICED THE WINDOW CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR AND SCRATCHED THE PAINT ON THE TAIL BOOM. IMMEDIATELY GROUNDED THE ACFT. ACFT PRONOUNCED UNSERVICEABLE. BELIEVE THAT A SKI GUEST ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE WINDOW TO DISLODGE THE SEAL FROM THE DOOR FRAME. AFTER DEPARTING THE DROP OFF POINT THERE WAS ENOUGH PRESSURE DIFFERENCE ON THE WINDOW TO FORCE THE REMAINING SEAL OUT OF THE FRAME.

More about the Bell 407