Service difficulty report · Connector · Bell 429

Difficulty date
February 5, 2013
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 429
Aircraft time
9 hours
Engine
Pwc PW207D
Part
Connector
Condition
Disconnected
Location
Elt Antenna
Part time
66 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
W
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) MIDWAY THROUGH NEW SHIP DELIVERY PROCESS, TECHS REMOVED THE AFT EXHAUST FAIRING PN 429-061-601-103, DESIGNATOR NR 700H, AND FOUND THAT THE ELT COAX CONNECTOR AND GROUND LANYARD WERE NOT CONNECTED AND WERE LAYING ON AND CONTACTING THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT JUST AFT OF THE FORWARD SNUBBER. THE COAX CONNECTOR SLEEVE HAD CONTACTED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SLEEVE, THAT IS FOR THE SNUBBER CONTACT, AND SPUN UNTIL IT WORE ENOUGH AWAY IT FELL OFF AND WAS FOUND LAYING FORWARD OF THIS AREA, THE REST OF THE COAX CONNECTOR CONTINUED TO REST AGAINST THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SLEEVE. THE DRIVE SHAFT SLEEVE IS LIGHTLY MARKED WITH MATERIAL FROM THE COAX CONNECTOR, THERE IS NO WEAR MARKS THAT CAN BE FELT WITH A FINGER NAIL ON THE SLEEVE, NOR CAN YOU FEEL THE MATERIAL THAT PASSED ONTO THE SLEEVE. THE GROUNDING LANYARD CONTACTED AND VERY LIGHTED SCUFFED THE SURFACE OF THE CARBON FIBER AREA JUST AFT OF THE METAL WEAR SLEEVE, AGAIN YOU CANNOT FEEL ANY WEAR MARKS OR STEPS WITH A FINGER NAIL. CSE REQUESTS PSE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THIS CONTACT TO THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT AND DRIVESHAFT SLEEVE AREA, PLEASE ADVISE IF FURTHER INFORMATION IS REQUIRED. THE NEW SHIP DELIVERY IS IN PROGRESS BUT NOT YET COMPLETED.

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