Original Issue/Acceptance The original issue inspection is performed at the time a parachute is placed into service. The original issue inspection consists of a visual inspection of the assembly and a repack of the parachute assembly in accordance with the applicable work package. When a parachute assembly is an aircraft inventory item, the acceptance inventory inspection serves as the original issue inspection. In this case, the packed parachute assembly is visually inspected for damage, and the records concerning the parachute are examined for discrepancies or missing in- formation. If any discrepancy is found, a conditional inspection, which includes a repack of the parachute assembly, is performed. Calendar/Phased The regular inspection cycle of a parachute assembly should correspond either to the aircraft calendar inspection or to the phased maintenance inspection cycle program, as directed by NAVAIR 13-600-4-6.3. You should ensure the parachute assembly inspection period does not expire before the scheduled maintenance period of the aircraft. To meet unusual situations and facilitate work- load scheduling, a plus or minus 1 week, or portion thereof, may be applied to the authorized inspection interval. To enable a ferry flight to return to home station/ship after an away from home grounding discrepancy of such duration that inspection interval expired, necessary additional days maybe added. However, in each instance deviations apply only to the immediate inspection due. If unusual circumstances dictate deviations of succeeding inspection intervals, each deviation must be computed from the date on which the inspection would have been due if the preceding deviation had not been granted. Conditional Inspection When a parachute assembly must be inspected as the result of a specific situation or set of conditions unrelated to the normal inspection interval, a conditional inspection is performed. Postcombat Inspection Organizational-level maintenance inspects parachute assemblies for external damage or abnormal condition after each combat mission. When an aircraft has been subjected to gunfire, all parachutes are examined for damage prior to the next flight. If bullets or fragments have entered the parachute assembly, you must remove it from service and perform a conditional inspection. Aircraft Accident Report Inspection Any personnel parachute, along with related subassemblies or equipment (pilot parachutes, stabilization parachutes, containers, harnesses, cushions, automatic parachute ripcord release assemblies, ballistic spreading guns), that has been recovered following use in an emergency bailout or ejection must be returned to the nearest naval supply activity for shipment to the Commanding Officer, Naval Weapons Center (NWC), China Lake, California. The parachute must be in the same condition that it was when recovered. Do not chain the lines. You do this in the event that an engineering investigation is necessary by NWC. Stencil on the outside of the shipping container in 1-inch letters the following: “THIS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN USED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.” These items are required so that a design deficiency can be detected, or to establish requirements for product improvements. OPNAV 3750.6 gives procedures you must follow to provide the Naval Weapons Center with sufficient information to properly evaluate and improve these parachutes for service use. In accordance with this instruction, you will give NWC the following information: 1. Name of submitting activity and AAR number 2. Date, time, and place of use 3. Name, rank/rate, serial/service number of user 4. Model aircraft, altitude, attitude, airspeed, and sink rate at time of ejection or bailout (if known) 5. Type of parachute and serial number of canopy assembly 6. Type and model designation of ejection seat (if applicable) 7. Type of automatic parachute ripcord release and serial number 8. A brief narrative summary of any difficulties with the personnel parachute equipment and/or automatic actuator or other additional information that may be applicable 1-23