CHAPTER 6
NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTIONS, WELDING, AND
HEAT TREATMENT
limited to, visual or optical, liquid penetrant, magnetic
INTRODUCTION
particle, eddy current, ultrasonic, and radiographic.
The basic principles and procedures of
The success in their use depends heavily upon
nondestructive inspections, welding, and the heat
intelligent application and discriminating interpretation
treatment of metals are covered in this course. These
of results.
three areas require special training, and in the case of
NDI is performed only by qualified and currently
nondestructive inspections (NDI) and welding, they
certified NDI personnel, and in accordance with NA
require special certification prior to performing these
01-1A-16, Nondestructive Inspection Methods manual.
two functions. While not all AMs are required to
This is a general manual covering the theory and
become NDI operators, aeronautical equipment
general applications of the various methods of NDI.
welders, or have the need to perform heat treatment of
metal, there is the need to be familiar with these
The Aircraft Nondestructive Inspection School,
procedures and how they apply to the AM rate. The
located at NATTC Pensacola, Florida, provides NDI
information in these areas is being presented in a broad
technician training for both military and civil service
nature. For a more detailed discussion of these
personnel. Career designated (grade E-4 and above)
procedures, refer to the applicable technical manuals.
Navy aviation structural mechanics (AMs), Marine
Corps structural mechanics, and equivalent civil
NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION
service personnel are eligible for the course. In
PROGRAM
addition, NDI operator training in liquid penetrant,
magnetic particle, and eddy current methods; refresher
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the
training; and recertification of NDI technicians are
background and personnel training required for
provided by the Naval Aviation Depot (NADEP) and
the NDI program. Identify various NDI
aircraft con- trolling custodian or type commander
personnel qualifications.
(ACC/TYCOM) designated NDI specialists. Requests
In the hands of a trained and experienced tech-
for NADEP training and authorization for
nician, nondestructive inspection (NDI) methods allow
recertification of NDI technicians who have been
detection of flaws or defects in materials with a high
inactive in NDI for more than 1 year must be made, via
degree of accuracy and reliability. It is important that
the chain of command, to the cognizant ACC/TYCOM.
you become fully knowledgeable of the capabilities of
If the request is approved, the ACC/TYCOM will
each NDI method, but it is equally important that you
advise which NADEP is to be used.
recognize the limitations of these methods. The non-
destructive inspection methods covered in this chapter
NDI PERSONNEL
serve as tools of prevention, which allow defects to be
detected before they develop into serious failures.
Before candidates are selected for NDI technician
or operator training, and annually thereafter, they are
During the inspection of aircraft, it is essential that
required to have an eye examination. Military and
faults are found and corrected before they reach
civilian NDI personnel are identified as NDI
catastrophic proportions. In applicable areas, NDI can
specialists, technicians, or as operators.
provide 100-percent sampling with no affect upon the
use of the part or system being inspected. The effective
NDI Specialists
use of NDI will result in increased operational safety,
and in many instances, dramatically reduce
NDI specialists are authorized by the ACC to
maintenance man-hour expenditures.
provide training and certification/recertification of NDI
NDI is the practice of evaluating a part or sample of
technicians/operators. They also provide technical NDI
material without impairing its future usefulness. The
services.
methods used in naval aviation include, but are not
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