SA 330 Puma/332 Super Puma
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 48.9; Flight Crew Total 14420.2; Flight Crew Type 1082.6
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Company Policy; Aircraft
During the preflight of a AS332L1 Super Puma Helicopter this morning; prior to the mission with a takeoff; I noted that the upper right access panel was missing on the vertical tail rotor driveshaft cover. I have flown this aircraft several times this rotation as well as many other individuals have flown it on this shift. I; as well as many other pilots; have flown this helicopter on previous rotations. I asked one of our mechanics here at ZZZZ; where the cover was and went over to another AS332L1 to verify what the cover looked like. I was told by the Mechanic; that the cover had been missing for over a year and in further discussion learned that this was not a required panel. Given this information that the Maintenance department had known about the discrepancy for a year and that many others had taken the machine; I took the machine on the mission with the intention of noting the fault in the logbook to correct the deficiency upon landing. I accepted the helicopter and I made a write-up about the missing cover in the logbook upon mission completion. This has caused a maelstrom of activity both within the Maintenance department as well as with my Lead pilot and the Corporate Office.
Pilot of a Super Puma AS332L1 Helicopter reports he found an upper right access panel missing on the vertical tail rotor driveshaft cover. Technician informed him their Maintenance Department knew the panel had been missing for over a year with multiple missions completed during that time period.