Service difficulty report · Skin · Bell 206B3

Difficulty date
June 1, 2012
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 206B3
Part
Skin
Condition
Cracked
Location
Tail Boom
Part time
4,160 hours
Component
Tailboom · Bell
Component part number
206031004
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) DURING THE 300 HR AIRFRAME INSPECTION, A CRACK ON THE TAIL BOOM UPPER SKIN NEAR THE AREA WHERE THE T/R GEARBOX SUPPORT FRAME IS ATTACHED TO THE TAIL BOOM WAS FOUND. CRACK SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED FROM 1 OF THE T/R GEARBOX FAIRING ATTACHMENT ANCHOR NUT HOLE ON THE RT SIDE OF THE T/R GEARBOX FRAME AND THEN PROPOGATED THROUGH THE UPPER SKIN ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BOOM TO ALMOST THE JUNCTION POINT OF UPPER AND LOWER SKIN ON THE LT SIDE. THE LENGTH OF THE CRACK IS 10". THE LAST INSPECTION OF THE TAILBOOM WAS CARRIED OUT APPROXIMATELY 50 HRS EARLIER AND NO CRACK WAS NOTICED. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORTED ANY VIBRATION OR SOUND AND FLYING WAS SMOOTH. A WORKING RIVET IS SUPECTED TO HAVE INITIATED THE CRACK. TAILBOOM WAS REPLACED.

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