NUMBER : 11-02 (Acceptance Inspection Vigilance – Continued ) 5 May 2011

1. NUMBER: 11-02 (Acceptance Inspection Vigilance – Continued) 5 May 2011 ISSUE: Aircraft are arriving in the ARNG fleet with key maintenance functions that may have been performed incorrectly. DISCUSSION: A growing body of evidence suggests that aircraft are being accepted into the ARNG fleet that may have key components installed incorrectly – and some of these mis-installations have been found as contributing to some notable Aircraft Accidents! An Aircraft Accident Investigation Board recently found that a UH-60 collective travel rate appeared to be restricted, although the friction tested satisfac- torily during the RESET Station Acceptance Test Flight, the follow-on Maintenance Test Flights, and more than 80 hours of flight time. Disassembly of the collective friction assembly revealed the seal, which should be seated in the inner diameter groove of the collective friction, was mis-installed above the blocks on the collect- ive shaft, effectively pinching the seal. The lives of those who fly aboard our air- craft demand the time it takes to perform adequate inspections of the aircraftthem- selves – as well as a full and complete review of the maintenance records. • RECOMMENDATIONS: • 1. Commanders and Operations Officers – give your Maintenance teams enough time • in their acceptance trip plans to do a thorough scrub of the records, and a sharp • look at the aircraft they’re accepting – be flexible in extending these trip plans, if • necessary. • 2. Acceptance Maintenance Crews – give your acceptance inspections the time they • deserve – the aircraft now belongs to the ARNG, and no one will “take it away”if you have to leave it at the acceptance site for further maintenance! 3. Home Station Maintenance and Flight Crews – don’t be bashful about taking extra time to look-over an aircraft that was recently accessed into your fleet, and released by Mainten- ance for your use – you’ll find out all too quickly if something slipped by the last Maintainers and Flight Crews! Seal found installed incorrectly above the blocks here Correct seal position within the inner-diameter groove With half of the friction collet block set removed, it’s easy to see how this mis-installed seal can be hidden from routine inspection, and causing a hindered collective-rate travel.