Robinsons R66 - 5-30 Standard Inspection Criteria; 5-31 Ball and Roller Bearings; 5-32 Push-Pull Tubes; 5-33 Rod Ends and Spherical Bearings

5-30 Standard Inspection Criteria
This section contains standard inspection criteria for 100-hour/annual maintenance and
inspection.
5-31 Ball and Roller Bearings
The first indication of bearing failure is usually an increase in bearing noise. Noise will almost
always start several hours prior to bearing failure. Listen to drive system during start-up
and shutdown. A failing bearing will produce a loud whine, rumble, growl, or siren sound.
Upon hearing an unusual noise, thoroughly inspect all bearings before further flight.
A failing bearing may have a distorted seal or be exuding a large amount of grease. Monitor
bearings for increase in temperature, but do not rely on Telatemps to detect failing bearings
as temperature increase may occur only seconds before bearing disintegrates.
5-32 Push-Pull Tubes
1. Nicks, cuts, or scratches in tube not more than 0.010 inch deep and not more than 1/4
of tube circumference may be polished out in lengthwise direction using 320-grit or finer
wet-or-dry abrasive paper to 1 inch minimum blend radius. Replace push-pull tube if
depth exceeds these limits.
2. Replace push-pull tube if tube is dented or flattened more than 5% of its diameter in
unswaged area; dents or flattening is not permitted in swaged (tapered and threaded)
ends of tubes.
5-33 Rod Ends and Spherical Bearings
1. Maximum axial play: 0.020 inch
Maximum radial play: 0.010 inch
2. Looseness between bearing outer race and rod end housing is not permitted.
3. Rod ends not riveted in place must block passage of 0.020-inch diameter wire through
witness hole. Refer to Figure 5-1 for maximum rod end extension when no witness hole
is provided.
4. Rod end jam nuts and palnuts must be torqued per Section 20-32 and torque striped
per Figure 5-1 at the most visible position for pre-flight inspection. Torque stripe must
extend across nuts to both rod end shank and push-pull tube (or pitch link barrel, yoke,
support, strut, etc.). Torque stripes are subject to deterioration and must be periodically
renewed.
5. Refer to Figure 5-2. Rod ends must be centered, or positioned, to allow as much push-
pull tube or link rotational movement as possible without binding.
CAUTION
Teflon-lined bearings must not be lubricated or solvent cleaned.
WARNING
Assembly of flight controls is critical and requires inspection
by a qualified person. If a second person is not available,
RHC recommends the installer take a 5-minute break prior to
inspecting flight control connections he has assembled.
SEP 2012 R66 Maintenance Manual Chapter 5 Inspection Schedule Page 5.5