Service difficulty report · Gearbox · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
September 19, 2012
Submitted
September 20, 2012
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N490H
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
4539
Aircraft time
2,677 hours, 4,284 cycles
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL2B1
Engine time
1,613 hours, 2,446 cycles
Part
Gearbox
Part number
350A33020007
Part serial
MA1392
Condition
Making Metal
Location
Tail Rotor
Part time
838 hours, 809 cycles
Stage of operation
AA
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

WHILE TRANSITIONING OVER AIRPORT, TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED. ON FINAL, CHIP LIGHT EXTINGUISHED. LANDING WAS WITH OUT INCIDENT. FELT NO UNUSUAL PRESSURE OR VIBRATION IN THE CONTROLS. MECHANIC FOUND AN INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF METAL SHAVINGS ON THE CHIP DETECTOR WHEN IT WAS INSPECTED. FLUSHED THE GEARBOX, PERFORMED THE REQUIRED HOVER CHECK AND RETURNED TO SERVICE.