Narrative:

I received an inquisition from our regional maintenance manager that a main rotor pitch change (P/C) link was found to be installed backwards on a mbb-bk 117C eurocopter. He informed me that the PIC (pilot in command) found it on his preflight and the base mechanic was informed and made the proper logbook entries and the discrepancy was corrected at that time. The aircraft was just released out of the fixed base hangar after heavy maintenance was performed. I investigated the work order records and found that mechanic 'X'; with over 20 years experience but new employee to the company; installed and signed-off the P/C link installation. It was inspected by inspector 'X'; a veteran employee of the company.I then read the maintenance manual procedures. I initially found there to be no written instruction of the correct orientation of the P/C link in the installation procedures. Upon further review; I found a 'note' that appears in the removal procedures for the removal of the P/C links. The P/C links were already removed and therefore mechanic 'X' was following the installation procedures only and would not have read the 'note' for P/C link orientation which is written in the removal section. The P/C link had the proper torque and had the proper safeties. This installation would not have caused a malfunction of the flight control system and only would have affected the track and balance adjustments of the corresponding main rotor blade.my recommendation to avoid recurrence of this event: first: have eurocopter move the 'note'; which contains only installation information; out of the removal section and into the proper section in the installation procedures.second: I had a meeting with the fixed base maintenance staff and made them aware of the situation. I explained that the whole procedure should be read and all information needs to be taken into account. I stressed the inspection procedure that the fixed base hangar has in place and that it needed to be executed with perfect precision to prevent these occurrences.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A helicopter repair station Maintenance Manager reports on the lack of information in the Eurocopter MBB-BK-117 Maintenance Manual detailing proper orientation of the main rotor pitch change links during installation. Pilot had noticed a difference in one of the four links during his preflight.

Narrative: I received an inquisition from our Regional Maintenance Manager that a Main Rotor Pitch Change (P/C) link was found to be installed backwards on a MBB-BK 117C Eurocopter. He informed me that the PIC (Pilot in Command) found it on his preflight and the Base Mechanic was informed and made the proper logbook entries and the discrepancy was corrected at that time. The aircraft was just released out of the fixed base hangar after heavy maintenance was performed. I investigated the work order records and found that Mechanic 'X'; with over 20 years experience but new employee to the company; installed and signed-off the P/C link installation. It was inspected by Inspector 'X'; a veteran employee of the company.I then read the Maintenance Manual procedures. I initially found there to be no written instruction of the correct orientation of the P/C link in the installation procedures. Upon further review; I found a 'note' that appears in the removal procedures for the removal of the P/C links. The P/C links were already removed and therefore Mechanic 'X' was following the installation procedures only and would not have read the 'note' for P/C link orientation which is written in the removal section. The P/C link had the proper torque and had the proper safeties. This installation would NOT have caused a malfunction of the flight control system and only would have affected the track and balance adjustments of the corresponding main rotor blade.My recommendation to avoid recurrence of this event: First: Have Eurocopter move the 'note'; which contains only installation information; out of the removal section and into the proper section in the installation procedures.Second: I had a meeting with the fixed base maintenance staff and made them aware of the situation. I explained that the whole procedure should be read and all information needs to be taken into account. I stressed the inspection procedure that the fixed base hangar has in place and that it needed to be executed with perfect precision to prevent these occurrences.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.