Service difficulty report · Switch · Bell 407

Difficulty date
May 31, 2018
Submitted
May 31, 2018
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N408LN
Make and model
Bell 407
Aircraft serial
54433
Aircraft time
1,508 hours, 5,093 cycles
Engine
Allsn 250C47B
Engine time
1,333 hours, 3,535 cycles
Part
Switch
Part number
MS250894A
Condition
Malfunctioned
Location
Pilot'S Cyclic
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

SAS FORCE TRIM SWITCH ENGAGES UNCOMMANDED. WHEN SAS IS ENGAGED VIA CONTROL PANEL THE FORCE TRIM RELEASE SWITCH WILL OVERRIDE THE FORCE TRIM UNCOMMANDED RESULTING IN UNCOMMANDED PITCH AND ROLL CHANGES WHEN THE CYCLIC IS NOT GUARDED OR HELD. WHEN SAS IS OFF, THE FORCE TRIM RELEASE SWITCH WILL ENGAGE THE SAS UNCOMMANDED, BY WAY OF FAILING TO THE CLOSED CIRCUIT POSITION, RESULTING IN CYCLIC FEEDBACK AND A FEELING SIMILAR TO BINDING IN THE CONTROLS.

More about the Bell 407