Service difficulty report · Chin Bubble · Bell 407

Difficulty date
September 7, 2020
Submitted
September 9, 2020
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N928CM
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft serial
53384
Aircraft time
3,066 hours, 8,333 cycles
Part
Chin Bubble
Part number
407542107
Condition
Separated
Location
Left
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
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

LT QUICK RELEASE REMOVABLE RUBBER MOUNTED CHIN BUBBLE WINDOW POPPED OUT WHEN AIRCRAFT LANDED IN REMOTE AREA. NO MAJOR DAMAGE ASIDE FROM ABRASION SCRATCHES OCCURRED TO WINDOW AND NO DEVIATIONS TO FLIGHT OCCURRED. AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT. WINDOW WAS RECOVERED AND REPAIRS IN PROGRESS. TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN UNUSUALLY HIGH AND APPROXIMATE OAT AT THE TIME WAS 93 DEGREES F. PREVIOUS DAY TEMPERATURES EXCEEDED 118 DEG F. AIRCRAFT IS PAINTED BLACK AND WINDOW OBSERVED TO BE EXCESSIVELY SOFT. WE DETERMINED THAT LATENT HEAT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO WINDOW POPPING OUT AS NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON THE WINDOW FRAME, SEAL OR WINDOW ITSELF ASIDE FROM INCREASED PLASTICITY DUE TO HEAT.

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