SDR S9HA265YA

Service difficulty report · Spar · Snias AS350BA

Difficulty date
December 1, 2003
Submitted
December 22, 2003
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N352NT
Make and model
Snias AS350BA
Aircraft serial
2553
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1
Part
Spar
Condition
Cracked
Location
Tail Rotor
Part time
2,046 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
O

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

What was found

PILOT HEARD USUAL NOISE WHILE FLEXING TAIL ROTOR BLADES DURING PREFLIGHT. MAINTENANCE REPLACED THE TAIL ROTOR WITH A SERVICEABLE TAIL ROTOR FROM A ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. UPON TEAR DOWN INSPECTION A CRACK IN THE SPAR 10MM WIDE BY 150MM IN LENGTH ON THE LEADING OF THE SPAR. PILOT REPORTED THAT NO UNUSUAL NOISES WERE HEARD DURING PREFLIGHT ON THE PREVIOUS DAY AND NO UNUSUAL VIBRATIONS FELT IN THE PEDALS OR AIRFRAME DURING FLIGHT THE PREVIOUS DAY. TAIL ROTOR SENT TO THE MANUFACTURE FOR EVALUATION.