[Orv Neisingh]

On a recent condition inspection I found the collective scissor bracket on that 162f had been fabricated incorrectly. The builder fabricated this bracket out of 4130 flat bar stock by bending the tabs 90



degrees to the base with a sharp bend. This bracket bolts to the top of the frame hood bracket and supports the collective scissor assembly. If this bracket broke loose the collective would be impaired or non functional depending on the severity of the break.

In this particular case the builder fabricated the bracket too wide causing the up bent tabs to not fit between the cast aluminum scissor yoke. They anlso made sharp bends instead of a smooth radius bend as shown in the installed bracket photo. Instead of making a new bracket they ground away a little more than half of each tabs thickness to make it fit into the casting. Of course this reduced the strength of the bracket and you would not want to be flying your helicopter with any part of your rotor control system compromised. Above are posted a photo of a properly fabricated installed bracket to compare with the improperly fabricated one laying on my workbench.

[Homer Bell]

All the ships I’ve built in the last 25 years have that bracket made with a fixture that allows that to come out just right first time Everytime . Guy I was building for up in NH made it for me many years ago.
Chances are those sharp bends in that bracket also had cracks in them, too.

[Geno Mancini]

When that type of workmanship is present there, the entire helicopter would need to be checked.

[Orv Neisingh]

I 100 percent agree with you both Homer and Geno.