Service difficulty report · Stinger · Bell 407

Difficulty date
November 1, 2008
Submitted
November 13, 2008
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N409UH
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft serial
53422
Part
Stinger
Part number
206020110103
Condition
Bent
Location
Tailboom
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

WHILE IN A STABILIZED HOVER, ABOVE THE HOSPITAL LANDING PAD, THE PILOT REACHED UP TO SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT RADIO AND THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED TAIL DOWN AND THE TAIL STINGER IMPACTED THE CONCRETE PAD. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT AND CONDUCTED A NORMAL SHUTDOWN. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY CALLED DISPATCH, TOOK THE AIRCRAFT OUT OF SERVICE, AND CALLED MAINTENANCE AND REQUESTED AN INSPECTION. MAINTENANCE INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND RETURNED IT TO SERVICE. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE HANGER AT KSLC AT THE END OF THE PILOTS SHIFT [ON THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER] AND FLEW IT TO AND FROM TIMPANOGOS [OREM BASE] THE NEXT DAY [NOVEMBER SECOND]. MAINTENANCE DETERMINED [ON NOVEMBER THIRD] THAT THE TAIL STINGER APPEARED TO BE BENT AND DECIDED TO CONDUCT A MORE DETAILED INSPECTION. TAIL STINGER TOUCHED ON LANDING ON INITIAL INSPECTION DID NOT SEE THE BEND ON THE TAIL STINGER. FOUND THE TAIL STINGER BENT ON 11/03/08. REMOVED AND REPLACED TAIL STINGER.

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