Safety Notice SN005 – Factory Installed Magnetic Plugs
Safety Notice – 005
Main Transmission and Tail Rotor Assemblies shipped in the last several years had a two piece magnetic plug installed in each of these components. They are intended to remain in use during the “break in” period, and then be replaced with the two chip detectors provided in the Instrument Sub-Kit.
We have had a failure of this magnetic plug. The broken pieces of the magnet caused damage to the tail rotor gear box. This event occurred on a new ship which had been brought to the factory for track and balance and initial hover testing. The ship was not in flight, and damage was limited to the tail rotor gear box.
Having this failure occur during flight could be catastrophic. In the future, all Safari Helicopters will be shipped with a different type of one piece magnetic plug. If you are still using the magnetic plugs installed on the Main Transmission and Tail Rotor Assembly at the factory, please contact the factory for replacements. If you have already replaced the magnetic plugs with chip detectors, there is no action needed.
email: gm@safarihelicopter.com 850-482-4141