AIRCRAFT INSPECTIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Define the types of
aircraft inspections required for proper
maintenance and safety of naval aircraft.
Aircraft are subject to a variety of stresses, strains,
vibrations, and detrimental environments. If not
inspected regularly, the aircraft would soon become
inoperable. Maintenance is performed in conjunction
with inspections. This enables the aircraft to be flown
safely until the next inspection. The types of
inspections that are performed by activities
responsible for the maintenance of naval aircraft are
defined in the following paragraphs.
Acceptance inspection. This inspection is
performed at the time a reporting custodian accepts a
newly assigned aircraft, and upon receipt of or return
of an aircraft from standard depot level maintenance
(SDLM) or other major depot level work. It includes
an inventory of all equipment listed in the Aircraft
Inventory Record (AIR), a configuration verification,
hydraulic fluid sampling, and a full systems functional
check flight (FCF). It also includes an inspection of
emergency systems and egress equipment. This should
include functionally checking such items as fuel, oil.
hydraulic shutoff valves, and prop feathering, as well
as the verification of cartridge-actuated devices
(CADS) and aircrew escape propulsion systems
(AEPSs). In addition, a daily inspection, as required
by the applicable Planned Maintenance System (PMS)
publication, should also be done. Activities may elect
to increase the depth of inspection if the equipment
condition indicates such action is warranted.
Transfer inspection. This inspection is performed
at the time a reporting custodian transfers an aircraft,
including transfers to SDLM. It includes an inventory
of all equipment listed in the AIR, verification of
CADS and AEPS, a configuration verification,
hydraulic fluid sampling, and a daily inspection as
required by the applicable PMS publication. Activities
may elect to increase the depth of inspection if the
equipment condition indicates such action is
warranted.
Daily inspection. Daily inspections are
accomplished between the last flight of the day and the
next scheduled flight. The daily inspection is valid for
a period of 72 hours, provided no flight occurs during
this period and no maintenance other than servicing
has been performed. If more than 72 hours elapse
between the inspection and the next flight, the
inspection must be repeated. This inspection is
performed to check equipment that requires a daily
verification of satisfactory functioning. It also
involves the search for and correction of relatively
minor problems to prevent their progressing to a state
that would require major work to remedy the
problems. Other items that require inspection at
intervals more frequent than prescribed for calendar
inspections are also included on the daily inspection,
and thus are done along with the daily inspection on
the day they become due.
Conditional inspection. Conditional maintenance
requirements are unscheduled events required as the
result of a specific overlimit condition, or as a result
of circumstances or events that create an
administrative requirement for an inspection. A
logbook entry is required for a conditional
maintenance requirement that prescribes inspections
to determine equipment condition; for example,
airframe hard landing, precarrier/predeployment,
aircraft ferry, acceptance/transfer, or engine
overspeed/overtemp inspections. Those conditional
requirements that specify servicing or fluid sampling
need not be logged.
Preflight inspection. The preflight inspection
consists of checking the aircraft for flight readiness by
performing visual examinations and operational tests
to discover defects and maladjustments that, if not
corrected, would cause accidents or aborted missions.
This inspection is conducted before each flight to
ensure the integrity of the aircraft for flight and to
verify proper servicing. It is valid for a period of 24
hours, provided no flight and no maintenance other
than servicing occurs during this period. When all
preflight requirements are contained within the daily
card set, accomplishment of the daily requirements
before the first flight of the day satisfies the preflight
inspection requirements. When all preflight
requirements are not included in the daily card set, the
preflight inspection must be performed before flight.
The application statement contained on the applicable
model weapons system MRC introduction card states
specific requirements.
Postflight inspection. The postflight inspection is
accomplished after each flight or ground operation of
the aircraft. The postflight inspection is mainly a check
for obvious defects (hydraulic, fuel, and oil leakage or
structural damage) and the installation of the
necessary safety locks and pins.
Turnaround inspection. Turnaround inspections
are conducted between flights to ensure the integrity
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