Service difficulty report · Skin · Bell 407

Difficulty date
May 15, 2015
Submitted
August 5, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft time
2,977 hours
Engine
Allsn 250C47B
Part
Skin
Part number
407023003105
Condition
Unserviceable
Location
Tailboom
Part time
2,987 hours
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) AFTER A TRAINING FLIGHT, IT WAS NOTED THAT BOTH LT AND RT FIN ASSEMBLIES. VERTICAL FIN AT THE END OF HORIZONTAL STABILIZER ASSEMBLIES, PN 407-023-003-105 AND PN 407-023-003-107, WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY MAIN ROTOR BLADES IN FLIGHT. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO MAIN ROTOR BLADES ARE SMALL PAINT CHIPS ON THE UNDERSIDE. A PORTION OF THE FIN BROKE OFF AND STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT COVER PERFORATING THE COVER AND CONTACTING THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ITSELF, CAUSING PAINT TO CHIP.

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