Quick connect fittings

FAA Aircraft Certification Service SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/SAIB

SAIB: SW-07-33 Date: May 2, 2007 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners and operators of Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.-manufactured UH-1H surplus military helicopters, of failures of the quick connect fittings.

Background

There have been reports of failures of the quick connect system involving the engine and transmission quick connect flexible hose lines. It is believed that the quick connect fittings, which have no life limit, may become worn over time due to vibration and fatigue and allow either an internal mechanism failure or inadvertent disconnection. The consequence of an inadvertent engine oil line coupling disengagement is a sudden high oil temperature and pressure indication followed by possible damage or failure of the engine bearings. If a transmission oil line quick connect becomes disengaged, complete loss of transmission oil pressure would occur. This could lead to damage and possible failure of the transmission.

Recommendations

During scheduled maintenance, we strongly recommend inspecting the engine and transmission quick connect fittings for functionality per the referenced maintenance manual and correcting any noncompliance. These inspections allow measuring wear on the breakaway pins of the quick connect couplings to determine if the coupling is serviceable.

Reference

Army Technical Manual TM-55-1520-210-23-1, Chapter 4, Section V, pages 4-46 (Change 42) and Chapter 6, Section III, page 6-72 (Change 19)

For Further Information Contact

Ed Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA Safety Management Group, ASW-112, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76137; phone: (817) 222-5355; e-mail: [email protected].