Service difficulty report · Seal · Bell 407

Difficulty date
May 31, 2012
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 407
Engine
Allsn 250C47B
Part
Seal
Part number
406340104101
Condition
Leaking
Location
Accessory G/B
Part time
41 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
K
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) CUSTOMER REPORTED AN INCREASE IN ENG OIL LEVEL & A DECREASE IN HELICOPTER FREEWHEELING UNIT OIL LEVEL DURING OPERATION, OIL TRANSFER FROM ONE UNIT INTO THE OTHER. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY ROUTINE PRE-FLIGHT OIL LEVEL CHECKS SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLATION. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A PTO DOUBLE LIP OIL SEAL LEAK. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OIL SEAL WAS NOT INSTALLED TO THE REQUIRED AXIAL DEPTH IN THE HOUSING, RESULTING IN THE SEAL RUNNING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE PTO GEAR SHAFT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE TOOL USED TO INSTALL THE SEAL WAS MISS-IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN THE DISCREPANCY IN THE SEAL INSTALLATION HEIGHT. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE PTO DOUBLE LIP OIL SEALS INSTALLED IN THE CORRECT LOCATION, OCCASIONALLY LEAK DUE TO SEAL WEAR OR DAMAGE WITH SAME EFFECT & MODE OF DETECTION.

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