Marsh Brothers Aviation (MBA), a leading manufacturer of advanced polymer seal and bearing solutions for the aviation industry, has received Transport Canada approval for its innovative new King Air Flap Roller Bearing.
The revolutionary new product – the first polymer bearing solution Marsh Brothers Aviation has developed for commercial aircraft – solves a critical maintenance issue faced by operators of the popular Beechcraft King Air series of aircraft.
OEM greased needle flap rollers are prone to seizing up over time as the grease ages and stiffens. This then causes the flap rollers to slide in the track instead of rolling, leading to abnormal track wear and damage resulting in unscheduled downtime and costly repairs.
“The style of roller currently used is a traditional sealed grease packed needle roller that relies on supplemental lubrication,” says Director Business Development at Marsh Brothers Aviation, Nicholas Choo-Son. “Grease does not respond effectively to the lower outside air temperatures at flight altitudes, so the rollers can slide in the track rather than roll.”
Choo-Son says this is a well-known problem amongst the King Air community, with mandatory 3,000-hour inspections frequently revealing bearing wear and aluminum track damage. “Unscheduled maintenance from a seized flap roller can easily cost operators in excess of US$20,000 in parts and labor, plus substantial revenue losses from aircraft downtime,” he said.
MBA’s proprietary AeroTough® material, the self-lubricating polymer on which the new roller bearing is cited as having greater durability than other materials, including Teflon®. What’s more, compared to the original greased metal bearings used in these and other aircraft, the rollers last considerably longer. The single-piece design of the King Air Flap Roller Bearing also simplifies installation compared to the OEM system.
For U.S. registered King Air 200/300 series aircraft, pending an FAA STC, the Field Approval (FAA Form 337) process may be used to secure aircraft serial number specific approval for installation of the Marsh Brothers Aviation Grease-Free flap rollers.