Service difficulty report · Structure · Bell 407

Difficulty date
September 14, 2011
Submitted
September 23, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N377RS
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft serial
53584
Engine
Allsn 250C47B
Part
Structure
Condition
Cracked
Location
Tailboom
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
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

PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE ACFT. INVESTIGATION FOUND THE RIVETS WORKING AT TAILBOOM TO TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX CASTING MOUNT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND A CRACK IN THE TAIL BOOM AT THE 11:00 POSITION, APPROX 1.5 INCHES LONG AT THE ROW OF RIVETS ATTACHING THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX CASTING TO THE TAILBOOM. AN EVENT 4 INSPECTION HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH 64 HOURS PRIOR WITH NO DEFECTS NOTED. THE LAST BALANCE AT EVENT 1 INSPECTION 163.6 HRS PRIOR WITH NO DEFECTS NOTED. AN EVENT 5 INSPECTION HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED 17.7 HOURS PRIOR AND NO DEFECTS NOTED. THE TAIL ROTOR WAS REMOVED AND A STATIC BALANCED PERFORMED. THE STATIC BALANCE WAS FOUND TO BE OUT OF TOLERANCE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE TAIL ROTOR TRUNNION WAS FOUND TO HAVE SHIFTED . 065.

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