Service difficulty report · Clutch · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
October 12, 2011
Submitted
October 17, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N350AM
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
3996
Aircraft time
2,942 hours
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL2B1
Engine time
2,942 hours
Part
Clutch
Part number
590008
Condition
Broken
Location
A/C Compressor
Part time
2,942 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
H

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

What was found

DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS FLIGHT CREW STATED THAT WHEN THEY ENGAGED THE AIR CONDITIONING THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL AND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS DISENGAGED THE SMELL WOULD DISIPATE . THE ACFT DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNINGS OR CAUTIONS SO THEY PROCEEDED TO HOME BASE. DURING FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE TECH ON DUTY IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR CLUTCH WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING A MOMENTARY SEIZURE OF THE BELT WHICH WAS COUSING THE BURNING SMELL. THE ITEM WAS PLACED ON MEL AND A NEW COMPRESSOR ASSY ORDERED.