Service difficulty report · Doubler · Enstrm 280C

Difficulty date
May 19, 2004
Submitted
July 9, 2004
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N646H
Make and model
Enstrm 280C
Aircraft serial
1099
Engine
Lyc HIO360*
Part
Doubler
Part number
281123011CS
Condition
Cracked
Location
Tailboom
Part time
2,053 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
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

BULKHEAD DOUBLER UNDER NR 3 TAILROTOR DRIVESHAFT PILLOW BLOCK FOUND CRACKED. CRACKS WERE PROPAGATING FROM THE RADIUS AREA ON BOTH UPPER TABS WERE THE NUT PLATES ARE RIVETED ON. BOTH NUT PLATES HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ROUNDED IN THE RADIUS AREA TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF CRACKING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE OUTSIDE RADIUS ON THE DOUBLER IS TOO LARGE TO FIT IN THE INSIDE RADIUS OF THE BULKHEAD, CREATING AN AREA BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES THAT IS COMPRESSED WHEN THE BOLT IS TIGHTENED INTO THE NUT PLATE AND THERE BY CAUSING THE DOUBLER TO CRACK.