Service difficulty report · Cradle · Bell 429

Difficulty date
April 24, 2014
Submitted
March 12, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 429
Engine
Pwc PW207D
Part
Cradle
Condition
Unsecure
Location
Extinguisher
Part time
79 hours
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

(CAN) SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, A CLIMB WAS INITIATED FULLY COUPLED FROM 1500 FT -2400 FT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB AND WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING AT 200 FPM. RECEIVED SEVERAL CAS MESSAGES INDICATING BOTH AUTOPILOT CHANNELS WERE DEGRADED. REVERTED TO MANUAL CONTROL BUT WAS UNABLE TO INCREASE COLLECTIVE PITCH PAST THE CURRENT POSITION. AFTER A BRIEF SCAN OF THE COCKPIT NOTICED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER HAD COME OUT OF ITS CRADLE AND LODGED ITSELF BETWEEN THE COLLECTIVE AND THE OPTIONAL 12V POWER SWITCH BRACKET. AFTER CAREFULLY REMOVING THE OBSTRUCTION THE FLIGHT WAS CONTINUED.

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