Service difficulty report · Bolt · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
August 10, 2015
Submitted
October 23, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Filed by
FF6R533N
Nampa Valley Helicopters Inc
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
4348
Aircraft time
992 hours, 1,515 cycles
Part
Bolt
Condition
Failed
Location
Bevel Gear
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
B
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

FAILURE FOUND AT OVERHAUL FOLLOWING CUSTOMER COMPLAINT. DURING A BORESCOPE INSPECTION, FOUND TWO RING GEAR BOLTS SHEARED, AND THE REMAINING BOLTS LOOSE. THE HEADS OF THE BOLSTS WERE VISIBLE AND LAYING ON TOP O FHTE RING GEAR. REMOVED THE INPUT PINION AND BOLT PIECES. THE RECORDED BACKLASH WAS JC = 2.2 MM. DISASSEMBLED THE GEARBOX, COLLECTED THE METAL PARTICLES AND BOLT PIECES. FOUND ALL REMAINING BEVEL WHEEL / VERTICAL SHAFT BOLTS, NUTS, AND LOCKS NOT TORQUED. THE VERTICAL SHAFT, BEVEL WHEEL, AND BEARINGS WERE ALL REJECTED DUE TO CORROSION AND DAMAGE. NDI WAS PERFORMED AND NOT ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FOUND.