Broken T/R Shaft
R44 Tail Rotor Shaft.
10/07/2003
The tail rotor shaft on a R44 severed in half, just behind the hanging bearing, located about half way up the tail. Fortunately the Engineer/Pilot managed to get it on the ground. The flight was after the owner had complained of poor handling and took the ship in for an inspection.
The obvious “Tail Rotor Seizure” was initially suspected, but that was found to be okay (so far).
The AAIB representative was with the ship yesterday, and is taking the parts to Farnborough for further investigation.
Not an obvious fault, which could have been spotted on the Check A.
Anyone have any thoughts as to why this may have happened?