Service difficulty report · Bolt · Swrngn SA226TC

Difficulty date
February 2, 2014
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Swrngn SA226TC
Aircraft time
28,035 hours
Engine
Garrtt TPE33110UA
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4N3
Part
Bolt
Part number
NAS6604D34
Condition
Failed
Location
Elevator
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN ELEVATOR MALFUNCTION ON LANDING. IN THE FLARE THE CREW LOST ALL ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE ELEVATOR LEAVING THE CONTROL COLUMN WITH NO RESISTANCE AT ALL. THIS HAPPENED ON TOUCHDOWN WITH THE RESULT OF THE ACTUAL LANDING UNAFFECTED. INITIAL INSPECTION FOUND THE BOLT, WHICH SECURES THE CONTROL ROD AT THE ELEVATOR WALKING BEAM FROM THE CONTROL COLUMN HAD FAILED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE NUT ON THIS BOLT WAS THREAD BOUND ON THE BOLT SHANK, SUGGESTING AN INCORRECT HARDWARE STACK-UP. A FAILURE ANALYSIS ON THE BOLT ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THE BOLT WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE FRETTING WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE. THIS DIFFICULTY WOULD INDICATE A HUMAN FACTORS CAUSE. THE MFG ISSUED A SB WHICH HAS A HARDWARE STACK-UP WHICH DIFFERS FROM THAT WHICH IS LISTED IN THEIR IPC. THE SB ADDS A LONGER BOLT TO THE STACK-UP. THE BOLT THAT FAILED WAS THE LONGER BOLT CALLED FOR IN THE SB, THE IPC DOES NOT REFERENCE THE SB. A TECH PUBS CHANGE REQUEST HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE MFG TO INCLUDE A REF TO THE SB.