Service difficulty report · Spindle · Beech B300

Difficulty date
November 20, 2007
Submitted
November 20, 2007
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N350JB
Make and model
Beech B300
Aircraft serial
FL213
Aircraft time
3,510 hours, 2,140 cycles
Engine
Pwa PT6*
Part
Spindle
Part number
505245799
Condition
Broken
Location
Rudder
Part time
3,510 hours, 2,140 cycles
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

DURING TAKEOFF THE PILOT NOTICED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO PUT APPROX 4 DEGREES OF RT RUDDER TRIM IN ORDER TO HAVE THE AIRPLANE FLY STRAIGHT DURING TAKEOFF WITH MINIMAL APPLICATION OF RUDDER. THE PILOT THEN NOTICED AFTER LANDING THAT WHEN THE RUDDER TRIM WAS INDICATING 4 DEGREES OF RT RUDDER TRIM, THE RUDDER TRIM APPEARED TO BE IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE PILOT REQUESTED THAT MAINT CHECK AND VERIFY THE RUDDER TRIM WAS RIGGED PROPERLY. MAINTENANCE VERIFIED THAT THE RUDDER TRIM TRAVEL WAS PROPER FOR BOTH THE LT AND RT DEFLECTION, BUT NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR WAS SHOWING AN INCORRECT VALUE. FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING RESULTED IN FINDING THE SHAFT THAT INTERFACES WITH THE TRIM INDICATOR HAD BROKEN. DUE TO THE FRICTION OF THE BROKEN SHAFT IT DID ALLOW THE INDICATION TO MOVE, BUT AND DISPLACED ITSELF ENOUGH TO PROVIDE AN INCORRECT VALUE. THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW UNIT AND THE SYSTEM RIGGING WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO WORK PROPER WITH THE NEW SHAFT INSTALLED. NOTE: FAILURE TO PROVIDE A PROPER INDICATION COULD RESULT IN TOO MUCH RUDDER TRIM BEING IN PLACE DURING TAKEOFF. IF THIS IN COMBINATION WITH AN ENGINE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A VARY SERIOUS SITUATION FOR THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING SINGLE ENGINE OPERATION.

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