SDR OMNIDMR03

Service difficulty report · Structure · Hughes 369E

Difficulty date
August 7, 2001
Submitted
December 21, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N440TJ
Make and model
Hughes 369E
Aircraft serial
0099990812
Aircraft time
8,169 hours
Part
Structure
Part number
421087905
Condition
Cracked
Location
Horizontal Stab
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

HORIZONTAL STABILIZER IS CRACKED ON TRAILING EDGE AND TRIM TAB IS CRACKED ON LEADING EDGE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FLUTTER.CRACKING IS CONCENTRATED AROUND AREA OF DAMPER WEIGHTS. TABS WERE TOO LONG AND ONLY SUPPORTED BY RIVETS LOCATED ON LEADING EDGE, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FLUTTER DURING FLIGHT; THE DAMPER WEIGHTS WERE ADDED TO CONPENSATE. THESE WEIGHTS ARE NOT FLUSH TO TAB, CREATING EXCESSIVE DRAG ON TABS AND FURTHER CONTRIBUTES TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THIS EXCESSIVE FLUTTER IS COMMON IS THE 369 SERIES. PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN SERVICE NOTICE EN-44

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