BAD APPLES


Unfortunately, no matter the industry, there are individuals who play the system. Whether it’s a lack of ethical concerns or an outright disregard for flight safety issues, these crooks perform deeds strictly for a buck.


On the airplane side, there are a zillion examples. On the helicopter side, a couple instances come to mind. In one case, a person spliced extensions to a set of wooden M/R blades and sold them as serviceable. Luckily, the aircraft never flew


because the mechanics could never get the M/R to track or balance on the ground. Subsequent removal of the blade paint revealed the splices.


Another case, which ended tragically, involved the purchase of a mangled helicopter that had experienced a severe M/R blade strike. The buyer, a scrap/salvage dealer, elected to part out the main transmission and sold various internal parts complete with their component log cards.


Somehow through the complex chain of custody of the aircraft after the M/R strike, none of the transmission log cards or parts were marked to show they were involved in a blade strike. Sadly, the transmission sun gear made it into another helicopter. It failed in flight and killed several people.


The moral: be sure you know who you are buying your salvage parts from. However, things didn’t change simply due to a group of con men.


60


July/Aug 2019


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