STARS Air Rescue - Non-injury incident

Date: 23 March 08 2200 MDT

Program: STARS Air Rescue
	1441 Aviation Park NE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Type: MBB BK-117
Tail #: C-FIOM
Operator/Vendor: STARS Air Rescue

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: 2 x Pilots. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	STAR-5 was conducting NVG currency training at the Grande Prairie
	Airport at approximately 2200 hrs. While on the downwind leg, the
	pilot flying remarked that a significant amount of force was required
	to center the cyclic and that the cyclic would not respond to fore and
	aft pitch trim inputs. The controls were transferred to the PNF and
	the results were duplicated. Centering the cyclic required
	approximately 10 lbs of force and the cyclic trim button did not
	affect a longitudinal change. Continual positive forward pressure was
	required on the cyclic to prevent an abrupt "spring-loaded" full aft
	input. The cyclic trim button did permit normal lateral trimming and a
	corresponding input was noted in the main rotor system. The aircraft
	was landed and the computerized stability augmentation system (CSAS)
	and stick position augmentation system (SPAS) were troubleshot as the
	malfunction was not apparent. No caution lights or other failure
	indications were present. Both the CSAS and SPAS test results
	indicated that the systems were operational. The training flight was
	terminated and the aircraft was repositioned from the runway to the
	hangar without incident. Aircraft operation required two pilots to
	ensure that the appropriate force was maintained on the cyclic to
	prevent an abrupt full aft input. Engineering was contacted regarding
	the malfunction and the Emergency Link Center (Comm Ctr) was notified
	that the aircraft was unserviceable pending further investigation.
	
	

Additional Info: 
	Engineering conducted extensive troubleshooting procedures and a power
	circuit board was found to be unserviceable.

Source: Scott Young, Operations Manager

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