Service difficulty report · Swashplate · Snias AS350B3

Difficulty date
March 11, 2011
Submitted
March 19, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N490H
Make and model
Snias AS350B3
Aircraft serial
4539
Aircraft time
1,497 hours, 2,396 cycles
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL2B1
Engine time
1,497 hours, 1,926 cycles
Part
Swashplate
Condition
Dirty
Location
Main Rotor
Stage of operation
HO
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

PILOT EXPERIENCED A BINDING OR HARD POINT PREVENTING CYCLIC TRAVEL IN THE AFT LT QUADRANT OF TRAVEL DURING HOVER TAXI/FWD FLIGHT IN GROUND EFFECT. THE PILOT PERFORMED A RUN ON LANDING. THE PILOT SELECTED IDLE AND PERFORMED A CONTROL FREEDOM CHECK WITH CYCLIC FRICTION REMOVED AND THE SYMPTOMS WERE STILL PRESENT. NO "SERVO" LIGHT, HYD LIGHT OR ANY OTHER SECONDARY INDICATIONS WERE PRESENT. IN COLLABORATION WITH MFG TECH SUPPORT, DISCONNECTED THE INPUT RODS AT THE SERVO CONTROLS OF THE MAIN ROTOR, CLEANED CYCLIC FRICTION CUP, INSPECTED CONTROL RODS OF CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE FROM CONTROLS TO SERVOS FOR ANY BINDING, VISUALLY AND BY FEEL. RECONNECTED RODS TO MAIN ROTOR SERVOS. NO MECHANICAL BINDING WAS FOUND. VISUALLY INSPECTED SWASH PLATE, MAST TAPE AND SURROUNDING AREAS FOR ANY SIGNS OF BINDING, NONE NOTED. PERFORMED GROUND RUN FOR OPS CHECK OF MAIN ROTOR CONTROLS. OPS CHECK WAS GOOD. PERFORMED FLIGHT CONTROL CHECK FOR CONTINUED SERVICE ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS OPERATED NORMAL NO SIGNS OF ANY BINDING OR RESTRICTION OF MOTION. SUSPECT DIRTY SWASHPLATE FRICTION CUPS AS THE CULPRIT FOR UNUSUAL CONTROL FEEL.