Airbus Undifferentiated UAS
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Maintenance did a tail rotor inspection that morning; and needed me to do the run up to check the balance afterwards. They had done an RII (Required Inspection Item) inspection on the work. I did my preflight walk around and looked at the cowlings; latches; tape; wires; and track and balance equipment. I climbed in and started it up; running engine #1 up to idle. Since it was a track and balance; I expected it to not be a normal feeling tail rotor; but this was more vibrations than I would have expected. The maintainer said to shut it down and not even start the other engine. We shut the helicopter down; and used the brake to stop the blades. Upon inspection; one of the tail rotor blades had been installed facing the wrong directionIn the future; I will do more than a normal preflight walk-around following maintenance even if it had an RII. I knew the blades had come off; I held the blade while he was on the ladder. Why I didn't look at the directional of the rotors when I looked at them; I don't know aside from complacency and reliance on the RII. To ensure this won't happen again; I will be sure to verify all aspects of the work that was done with verbal confirmation with the maintainer present.
Captain reported that during a post maintenance engine run up the helicopter experienced excessive vibration and was shut down. It was discovered that the tail rotor blades had been installed backwards.