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A quality control supervisor describes how a shredded washer; found during a turn-around check by a mechanic on a eurocopter AS350-B3 helicopter; led to the discovery of three untorqued and unsecured bolts that connect the short shaft and flex-coupling between the main rotor transmission and engine. Maintenance practices at their contract maintenance facility were also noted.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1010666 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201205 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Eurocopter AS 350/355/EC130 - Astar/Twinstar/Ecureuil |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Power Drive System |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Quality Assurance / Audit |
| Qualification | Maintenance Inspection Authority |
| Experience | Maintenance Inspector 17 Maintenance Technician 25 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
After completion of a 600-hour airframe and engine inspection that had the engine removed for a turbine wheel change; the track and balance was completed with all test flights accomplished. The aircraft received a turn-around inspection which revealed a shredded piece of a washer on the forward transition deck. While removing components to look for any missing parts; it was discovered [that] the aft section of the short shaft had three bolts holding the forward side of the flex-coupling [that] were not safetied. Further investigation revealed that the bolts/nuts were not torqued. The engine change was signed-off by an airframe and powerplant (a/P) mechanic; an inspection authority (ia) and I did the quality control (qc) final. I am in charge of the qc department and did not personally witness the work performed; but I am ultimately responsible for safety and did not perform my job in ensuring the safety of my men and my flight crews.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A Quality Control Supervisor describes how a shredded washer; found during a Turn-Around Check by a Mechanic on a Eurocopter AS350-B3 helicopter; led to the discovery of three untorqued and unsecured bolts that connect the short shaft and flex-coupling between the main rotor transmission and engine. Maintenance practices at their Contract Maintenance facility were also noted.
Narrative: After completion of a 600-Hour Airframe and Engine Inspection that had the engine removed for a turbine wheel change; the Track and Balance was completed with all test flights accomplished. The aircraft received a Turn-Around Inspection which revealed a shredded piece of a washer on the forward transition deck. While removing components to look for any missing parts; it was discovered [that] the aft section of the short shaft had three bolts holding the forward side of the flex-coupling [that] were not safetied. Further investigation revealed that the bolts/nuts were not torqued. The engine change was signed-off by an Airframe and Powerplant (A/P) Mechanic; an Inspection Authority (IA) and I did the Quality Control (QC) Final. I am in charge of the QC Department and did not personally witness the work performed; but I am ultimately responsible for safety and did not perform my job in ensuring the safety of my men and my flight crews.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.