Service difficulty report · Horn · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
July 23, 2012
Submitted
August 3, 2012
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N551AM
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
4311
Aircraft time
2,652 hours, 5,795 cycles
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL2B1
Part
Horn
Part number
350A12136004K
Part serial
ML0666
Condition
Cracked
Location
T/R Pitch Change
Part time
2,651 hours, 5,795 cycles
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

TAIL ROTOR PITCH CHANGE HORN CRACKED: VISIBLE FROM THE OTBD FACE OF THE TAIL ROTOR PITCH CHANGE HORN, RUNNING TANGENT FROM THE BOLT HOLE, ALONG THE EDGE THICKNESS, TO THE EDGE OF THE CONICAL INSERT ON THE INBD FACE. WITH THE ROTOR BRAKE SET AND APPLYING FORCE THROUGH THE TAIL ROTOR ASSY IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS, I COULD SEE THE CRACK OPEN UP SLIGHTLY AND INSERT A .002" FEELER GAUGE. AFTER REMOVING THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE, I NOTICED THE END OF THE INSERT WAS NOT FLUSH WITH THE OTBD FACE OF THE PITCH CHANGE HORN. THE INSERT WAS NOT LOOSE IN THE HOLE AND APPEARS SEATED AGAINST THE INBD FACE.