AS 350 D, B, BA, B1, and B2

Initial Pilot Ground School

Chapter 5
Tail Rotor Drive System
 Tail Rotor Drive Shaft

Aluminum
Alloy
Fwd. Drive Drive Shaft 2,090 rpm
Shaft D, B 2048 rpm
(Stainless
Steel)

Tail Rotor
Gear Box
6,125 rpm
D, B 6000 rpm Grease Injected
Hanger Bearings

5.2
 Forward Tail Rotor Drive Shaft

• Made of stainless steel because it is located under the hot

engine exhaust nozzle.
• Flexible couplings provide flexibility for absorbing vibrations
and slight misalignments

5.3
Rear Aluminum Drive Shaft

5.3
 Tail Rotor Gear Box
Filler cap
should face Angle Reduction Gear is
rearward cooled by ambient air

Expandable Bolt
 TGB Chip Detector/Drain Plug

The tail rotor gear box

incorporates an
electric chip detector
which is installed in the
gear box drain plug.
Pitch Change Spider

Check swashplate
outer seal for
tightness and
slippage mark
 Spider Bearing

New Grease Nipple

Spider Bearing

Retaining nut should be

secured with a safety wire
and one tang should be
bent.
 End of the Day Post-Flight

During pre-flight or post-flight,

from the pilot’s perspective,
absolutely zero
lateral or axial play is permitted with
the tail rotor pitch change links!
 HYD GEN M.G.B.T. BAT
M.G.B.P.
HORN F.FILT FUEL BAT.T

DOORS ENG PITOT

CHIP
FIRE
CHIP CHIP ENG.P FUEL P
TGB MGB

Metal Particles Detected in Tail Gear Box

Avoid prolonged hovering and continue the flight.

What is the tail rotor drive shaft connected
to on the aft end?

The tail gearbox via flex-couplings.

What is the tail rotor drive shaft connected
to on the forward end?

Engine output shaft via flex-couplings.

What is the forward drive shaft constructed
of?

Stainless steel
What is the rear long shaft constructed of?

Aluminum alloy
How many stages of reduction are used
in the tail rotor gear box?

Single stage angle reduction.

What oil monitoring devices are used in the
tail rotor gearbox?

CHIP TGB light and oil level sight glass.

What component allows a pitch change of
the tail rotor blades?

Pitch change spider.

During the pre-flight or post-flight
inspection, how much “play” is permitted
in the tail rotor pitch change links, from
the pilot’s perspective?

None.
 End of Chapter 5
Tail Rotor Drive System