Service difficulty report · Gearbox · Bell 407

Difficulty date
September 5, 2017
Submitted
November 14, 2017
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N402SH
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft serial
53118
Part
Gearbox
Condition
Making Metal
Location
Main
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A WHINE IN THE ENGINE AND DECIDED TO LAND THE ACFT. UPON LANDING, THE ENG CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN MX ARRIVED ENG OIL WAS PRESENT ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE ACFT. THE PT SUPPORT OIL PRESSURE FITTING LINE WAS FOUND COMPLETELY SHEARED FROM THE BASE OF THE FITTING, CAUSING ALL OF THE ENG OIL TO EXIT THE ENG. THE FWD GEARBOX CHIP PLUG HAD A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF METAL ON IT AS WELL DUE TO OIL STARVATION. PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE FAILED FITTING COULD BE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THERE WERE NO EARLY SIGNS OF FATIGUE OR FAILURE WITH THE PART AND THE FAILURE DID SEEM TO HAPPEN ALL AT ONE TIME.

More about the Bell 407