N397AL

BELL 412 · 1990 · Rotorcraft · 2 engines · 15 seats · Valid Registration

Registered owner: VERTOL SYSTEMS CO LLC, DE (owner ≠ operator)

Operators of this aircraft

Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.

OperatorRolePeriodBasis
Pathfinder Aviation, LLC. (P3TA)Certificate holderMatched by certificate designator

Accident & incident history

No NTSB accidents or incidents on file for this aircraft.

Maintenance disclosures

Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA for this airframe. Filing is largely voluntary — the number of reports is not a measure of reliability. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.

13 reports on file, 1995-03-27 – 2012-10-18.

FLUID LOSS · 2012-10-18 Matched by certificate designator
ATA 7261

Part: HOUSING — CRACKED (CHIP DETECTOR) · airframe 14,084 hrs · 37,098 cycles

ON INSPECTION, AN OIL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE COMBINED GEARBOX AREA. ON FURTHER INSPECTION THE NR 1 ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR HSG ATTACHED TO THE GEARBOX WAS FOUND CRACKED.

Source: SDR EOPA20121022397
Earlier reports · 1995–2011 · 12 reports

2011

OTHER · 2011-02-02 Matched by certificate designator
ATA 5302

Part: FRAME — CRACKED (TAILBOOM) · airframe 13,421 hrs · 36,448 cycles

FRAME WAS FOUND CRACKED AT APPROX STA 78 IN TAILBOOM ABOVE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT.

Source: SDR EOPA020211397AL
OTHER · 2011-01-28 Matched by certificate designator
ATA 6210

Part: BLADE — DELAMINATED (MAIN ROTOR) · airframe 13,421 hrs · 34,448 cycles

M/R BLADE T/E "WEDGE" CAME DEBONDED. REMOVED REMAINING PORTION OF WEDGE AND TOUCHED UP PAINT IAW MFG PRODUCT SUPPORT ENGINEERING.

Source: SDR 2011F00024
OTHER · 2011-01-28 Matched by certificate designator
ATA 5302

Part: BULKHEAD — CRACKED (TAILBOOM) · airframe 13,421 hrs · 36,448 cycles

FOUND .5 IN CRACK IN BULKHEAD ASSY LOCATED AT APPROX STA 185 IN TAILBOOM. CRACK WAS IN THE CTR RT PORTION OF THE FRAME.

Source: SDR EOPA012811397AL

2010

FLT CONT AFFECTED · 2010-09-03 Matched by certificate designator
ATA 6710

Part: CONTROL CABLE — BINDING (COLLECTIVE STICK) · airframe 13,129 hrs

ON APPROCH, THE COLLECTIVE STUCK AT APPROX 50 PERCENT TORQUE. PILOT WAS ABLE TO FORCE COLLECTIVE TO BREAK IT FREE. PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BT A N2 CONTROL CABLE SEIZEING UP CAUSING THE SHEAR RIVET TO SHEAR.

Source: SDR ALGA2010F00206

1998

OTHER · 1998-08-13 Unresolved
ATA 3213

Part: CROSSTUBE — CORRODED (MLG)

DURING 12-MONTH INSPECTION, FOUND CORROSION PITTING IN CROSS TUBE BEYOND LIMITS.

Source: SDR 98ZZZX3601

1995

OTHER · 1995-07-06 Unresolved
ATA 5412

Part: FIREWALL — CORRODED (SEAL RETAINER)

DURING REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE DECK/WORK DECK, FOUND SEAL RETAINERS CORRODED. ALUMINUM RETAINERS RIVETED TO STAINLESS STEEL PARTS.

Source: SDR 95ZZZX4098
OTHER · 1995-07-06 Unresolved
ATA 5412

Part: FIREWALL — CORRODED (STRAPS)

DURING REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE SERVICE DECK, FOUND THE STRAPS ON UPPER FIREWALL WHERE THE AIR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BOLTS ON, HAD SEVERE CORROSION. CAUSED BY ALUMINUM BEING SANDWICHED BETWEEN STAINLESS STEEL. SUSPECT CAUSED DISSIMILAR METAL CORROSION.

Source: SDR 95ZZZX4096
OTHER · 1995-07-06 Unresolved
ATA 5320

Part: WORK DECK — SEPARATION (RIGHT HAND)

DAILY INSPECTION FOUND WORK DECK PANELS TOP SKIN SEPARATED OVER A LARGE AREA. ALSO, UNDERSIDE OF PANEL IS SWELLED. SUSPECT CAUSED BY PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES.

Source: SDR 95ZZZX4095
OTHER · 1995-07-06 Unresolved
ATA 5412

Part: FIREWALL — CORRODED (SEAL RETAINER)

DURING REPLACEMENT OF WORK DECK/ENGINE DECK, FOUND SEAL RETAINERS CORRODED. ALUMINUM RETAINERS ON STAINLESS STEEL PARTS.

Source: SDR 95ZZZX4097
OTHER · 1995-05-10 Unresolved
ATA 6220

Part: RACE — WORN (M/R HUB)

ON DISASSEMBLY FOR REPAIR, FOUND BEARING RACE WORN BEYOND LIMITS. BEARING PN 412010216105, SN RE299. ARM PN 412010263101.

Source: SDR 95ZZZX2792
OTHER · 1995-05-10 Unresolved
ATA 6220

Part: BEARING RACE — WORN (M/R HUB)

ON DISASSEMBLY FOR REPAIR, FOUND BEARING RACE WORN BEYOND LIMITS. BEARING PN 412010216105, SN RE493. ARM PN 412010263101.

Source: SDR 95ZZZX2791
WARNING INDICATION · 1995-03-27 Matched by certificate designator
ATA 2822

Part: BOOST PUMP — FAILED (RT FUEL TANK)

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT NR 2, ENGINE FUEL BOOST PUMP PRESSURE FLUCTUATED AND THEN PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO. REPLACED BOOST PUMP. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

Source: SDR 95ZZZX1851