NAS74A3-002P - Textron Aviation OEM Bushing Sleeve

NAS74A3-2 – Textron Aviation OEM Flanged Aluminum Bushing (3/16" ID)

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Overview

The NAS74A3-2 is a high-quality, flanged (or "headed") sleeve bushing, manufactured to the National Aerospace Standard and supplied with the full certification and traceability of Textron Aviation as an OEM component. This precision bushing is engineered to be press-fit into a component, such as a flight control bellcrank, to provide a durable, replaceable, low-friction bearing surface for a pivot pin or bolt.

This component is manufactured from high-strength 2024 aluminum alloy and anodized for corrosion and wear resistance. The integral flange serves as a thrust-bearing surface, controlling axial movement and preventing wear on the parent component. As a sacrificial part, it is designed to wear over time, protecting the more expensive and complex structural component into which it is installed. Using the genuine OEM part ensures the correct material and precise dimensions required for a proper interference fit and airworthy repair.

Note: The user-provided part number NAS74A3-002P corresponds to the standard NAS74A3-2 size and specification.

Key Features

• Genuine Textron Aviation OEM Part: Guarantees the part is the factory-specified and fully certified component, ensuring correct performance and airworthiness.

• NAS74 Standard Compliance: Manufactured in strict accordance with the National Aerospace Standard for headed, press-fit bushings.

• Flanged (Headed) Design: The integral flange provides a positive stop during installation and acts as a built-in thrust washer to accommodate axial loads.

• High-Strength 2024 Aluminum Alloy: Machined from certified 2024 aluminum alloy, offering an excellent combination of strength, light weight, and bearing properties for this application.

• Press-Fit Installation: The outside diameter is precision-ground to a tolerance that creates a secure interference fit when pressed into a correctly sized hole.

• Sacrificial Wear Component: Intentionally designed to be the primary wear item in a pivoting joint, protecting more costly flight control components from wear and elongation.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: NAS74A3-2

• Component Type: Flanged Sleeve Bushing (Headed, Press-Fit)

• OEM Authority: Textron Aviation

• Governing Specification: NAS74

• Material: 2024 Aluminum Alloy (e.g., 2024-T4 or 2024-T3).

• Finish: Anodized per MIL-A-8625. May include a supplementary dry film lubricant.

• Nominal Inside Diameter (for pin/bolt): 3/16 inch (0.1875 inches).

• Length (under flange): 1/8 inch (0.125 inches).

Aircraft Compatibility

As a Textron Aviation OEM part and a NAS standard, this bushing is used in numerous pivoting joints on their aircraft fleet and across the general aviation industry.

• Primary Textron Aviation Platforms:

  • Cessna Piston Aircraft (100, 200 Series)

  • Beechcraft Piston Aircraft (Bonanza, Baron)

  • Other models as specified in the IPC.

• General Aerospace Usage: Common in the flight control systems of many general aviation aircraft.

Note: Verification of applicability is the responsibility of the installer. Always consult the current version of the aircraft's Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) to confirm part number eligibility for a specific location.

Applications

• Sole Application: To provide a replaceable, low-friction bearing surface in flight control system components, such as:

  • Aileron, elevator, and rudder bellcranks.

  • Push-pull rod ends.

  • Control surface hinges and linkages where a 3/16" bolt or pin is used.

Why Choose this NAS74A3-2?

The feel and responsiveness of an aircraft's flight controls are directly related to the precision of its linkages. Worn bushings create "slop" or free play, which can lead to control surface flutter and unsafe handling characteristics. The genuine OEM NAS74A3-2 bushing is the only part guaranteed to have the precise outside diameter for a proper press-fit and the correct material properties. Using a non-certified bushing can result in a loose fit, leading to rapid wear of the parent component, or an overly tight fit, which can damage the component during installation.

The installation of a press-fit bushing like the NAS74A3-2 is a precision structural task. The outside diameter of the bushing is manufactured to be slightly larger than the hole into which it is installed, creating a specified "interference." This interference is critical for creating a high radial pressure that locks the bushing in place via friction, preventing it from rotating within the parent material. However, this installation process elastically and plastically deforms the bushing, causing its inside diameter to shrink slightly. Therefore, the final, critical step after pressing the bushing into place is to use a precision, piloted reamer to machine the inside diameter to its final, exact dimension (e.g., 0.1900" +/- .0005"). This reaming process ensures the hole is perfectly round, concentric with the parent component's hole, and provides the correct close-tolerance running fit for the pivot bolt or pin, which is essential for eliminating play from the flight control system.

Note: This is a flight-critical component. It is a wear item subject to periodic inspection for looseness and excessive wear. Removal of the old bushing and installation of the new one are press-fit operations that require specialized tooling (arbors and a press) and must be performed by a certified A&P mechanic in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual. The inside diameter must be reamed to its final specified dimension after installation.

Documentation

The base standard for this part is the National Aerospace Standard NAS74. This is a controlled document. OEM-specific application and installation data is contained within the Textron Aviation maintenance and parts manuals.