Two captains report about a sikorsky S61N helicopter that had been flying for a week after a pitch l...

Attributes
ACN	965814
Time
Date	201108
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	S-61A/B/L/N/R or SH-3 Sea King
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Compressor Stator/Vane
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Rotorcraft Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 6500 Flight Crew Type 2000
Person 2
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 8300 Flight Crew Type 6500
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Maintenance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

I was assigned a sikorsky sk-61N helicopter for a passenger/cargo flight. I checked the logbook and noticed that four days earlier; maintenance had replaced a control rod on the stator vanes. I asked maintenance if an engine topping check (etc) had been completed on the functional check flight; they informed me none was required. [Approximately seven days later]; our company check airmen was assigned the same helicopter and he asked the same question; the mechanic said 'yes;' a topping check was required. The pilots and mechanics got together and our quality control (qc) became involved. After researching in the manuals; we came to the conclusion that; yes; a topping check was required. We need to have better communications between the flight crew and maintenance. Also; our mechanics need to have better training on 'when' and 'what' is required on a functional check flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Two captains report about a Sikorsky S61N helicopter that had been flying for a week after a pitch link had been changed on the #1 engine stator gang assembly without a topping check being accomplished.

Narrative: I was assigned a Sikorsky SK-61N helicopter for a passenger/cargo flight. I checked the logbook and noticed that four days earlier; Maintenance had replaced a control rod on the stator vanes. I asked Maintenance if an engine topping check (ETC) had been completed on the functional check flight; they informed me none was required. [Approximately seven days later]; our company Check Airmen was assigned the same helicopter and he asked the same question; the Mechanic said 'yes;' a topping check was required. The pilots and mechanics got together and our Quality Control (QC) became involved. After researching in the manuals; we came to the conclusion that; yes; a topping check was required. We need to have better communications between the flight crew and Maintenance. Also; our mechanics need to have better training on 'when' and 'what' is required on a functional check flight.

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.

Two captains report about a sikorsky S61N helicopter that had been flying for a week after a pitch link had been changed on the #1 engine stator gang assembly without a topping check being accomplished.