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JAR 66 CATEGORY B1
uk MODULE 7
MAINTENANCE PRACTICES
engineering (mechanical)
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1
2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ................................................................. 1
2.1 Fire 1
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 2.1.1 The ‘Fire Triangle’ .............................................................. 2
2.1.2 Classes of Fire 2
2.1.3 Fire Extinguishants and their Uses ..................................... 3
Part-66 2.2 First Aid 5
2.3 Workshop and Hangar Safety........................................................ 5
2.3.1 Machinery 5
2.3.2 Electricity 6
2.3.3 Noise 7
2.3.4 High-Pressure Gases ......................................................... 7
2.3.5 Gas Bottle Identification ..................................................... 8
2.3.6 High-Pressure Gas Replenishing ....................................... 8
2.3.7 Oxygen Systems ................................................................ 9
2.3.8 Aviation Oils and Fuels ...................................................... 10
2.3.9 Chemical and Physiological Hazards ................................. 11
2.3.10 Lifting and Shoring ........................................................... 11
2.3.11 Slinging 12
2.4 Flight-Line Safety .......................................................................... 13
2.4.1 Towing and Taxying ........................................................... 14
2.4.2 Parking 15
2.4.3 Marshalling 16
2.4.4 Fuelling 17
2.4.5 Weather Radar 18
3 WORKSHOP PRACTICES ............................................................... 1
3.1 Care of Tools .................................................................................. 1
3.2 Control of Tools ............................................................................. 2
3.3 Calibration of Tools and Equipment ............................................. 3
3.3.1 General Notes on Calibration ............................................. 3
3.3.2 Procedures 4
3.4 Use of Workshop Materials ........................................................... 6
3.5 Standards of Workmanship ........................................................... 7
4 TOOLS .............................................................................................. 1
4.1 Common Hand Tools ..................................................................... 1
4.1.1 Engineer’s Rule.................................................................. 1
4.1.2 Scriber ............................................................................... 2
4.1.3 Key-Seat Rule .................................................................... 2
4.1.4 Fitter’s Square.................................................................... 3
4.1.5 Combination Set ................................................................ 4
4.1.6 Surface Plates and Tables ................................................. 5
4.1.7 V Blocks ............................................................................. 5
4.1.8 Surface Gauge (Scribing Block) ......................................... 6
4.1.9 Dividers .............................................................................. 7
4.1.10 Callipers ........................................................................... 7
4.1.11 Hammers ......................................................................... 8
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JAR 66 CATEGORY B1 JAR 66 CATEGORY B1
uk MODULE 7
MAINTENANCE PRACTICES uk MODULE 7
4.1.12 Punches .......................................................................... 9

5.2.3 Sectional Views .................................................................. 5

4.1.13 Metal-Cutting Chisels ...................................................... 10 5.2.4 Exploded Views ................................................................. 6
4.1.14 Bench Vice ...................................................................... 12 5.2.5 Drawing Lines, Symbols and Abbreviations ....................... 7
4.1.15 Hand Vice ........................................................................ 13 5.2.6 Conventional Representations ........................................... 9
4.1.16 Hacksaws ........................................................................ 14 5.2.7 General and Geometric Tolerances ................................... 9
4.1.17 Sheet Metal Shears and Snips ........................................ 15 5.3 Drawing Identification System ...................................................... 10
4.1.18 Files ................................................................................ 16 5.3.1 Title Block .......................................................................... 11
4.1.19 Filing Techniques ............................................................ 19 5.3.2 Drawing Number ................................................................ 11
4.1.20 Hand Brace (Hand Drill)................................................... 21 5.3.3 Handed Parts ..................................................................... 11
4.1.21 Twist Drills ....................................................................... 22 5.3.4 Sheet Numbers .................................................................. 11
4.1.22 Stop, and Press (Dimpling), Countersinking Tools ........... 27 5.3.5 Drawing Changes .............................................................. 11
4.1.23 Reamers.......................................................................... 29 5.3.6 Part Referencing ................................................................ 12
4.1.24 Internal Screw Thread, Cutting Taps ............................... 32 5.3.7 Validation of Modification/Repair Drawings ........................ 12
4.1.25 External Screw Thread, Cutting Dies ............................... 34 5.3.8 Summary of Recommended Drawing Information .............. 13
4.1.26 Screwdrivers.................................................................... 36
5.4 Auxiliary Diagrams and Charts ..................................................... 14
4.1.27 Pliers ............................................................................... 38
5.4.1 Electical Wiring Diagrams .................................................. 14
4.1.28 Wire Snips (Nippers) ....................................................... 39
5.4.2 Component Location Diagrams .......................................... 15
4.1.29 Spanners, Sockets and Wrenches ................................... 39
5.4.3 Schematic Diagrams .......................................................... 16
4.2 Common Power Tools ................................................................... 45 5.4.4 Block Diagrams .................................................................. 17
4.2.1 Electrically Powered Pillar Drills......................................... 45 5.4.5 Logic Flowcharts ................................................................ 17
4.2.2 Electrically Powered Hand Drills ........................................ 46
5.5 Microfilm, Microfiche and Computerised Presentations ............. 19
4.2.3 Pneumatically Powered Hand Drills ................................... 46
5.5.1 Microfilm ............................................................................ 19
4.2.4 Pneumatically Powered Riveting Hammers ....................... 48
5.5.2 Microfiche .......................................................................... 19
4.2.5 Pneumatic Miller (Microshaver) 49
5.5.3 Computer CD-ROM............................................................ 20
4.2.6 Nibblers ................................... 49
5.5.4 Supplementary Information ................................................ 20
4.2.7 Pneumatic Tool Maintenance .. 50
4.2.8 Abrasive Wheels ..................... 50 5.6 Aeronautical Standards ................................................................. 21
5.6.1 Air Transport Association Specification No. 100 ................. 21
4.3 Precision Measuring Instruments................................................. 52
5.6.2 International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) .......... 24
4.3.1 External Micrometers 52
5.6.3 British Standards (BS) ....................................................... 24
4.3.2 Internal Micrometers 56
5.6.4 Military Standard (MS) ...................................................... 24
4.3.3 Micrometer Depth Gauge 57
5.6.5 Air Force and Navy (AN) ................................................... 24
4.3.4 Vernier Micrometers 58
5.6.6 National Aerospace Standard (NAS) ................................. 24
4.3.5 Vernier Callipers 60
4.3.6 Vernier Height Gauge 61 6 FITS AND CLEARANCES ................................................................ 1
4.3.7 Vernier Protractor 62 6.1 Dimensions 1
4.4 Miscellaneous Measuring Tools ................................................... 63 6.1.1 Allowances ......................................................................... 1
4.4.1 Gauge Blocks 63 6.1.2 Tolerances ......................................................................... 2
4.4.2 Dial Test Indicator (DTI) 64 6.2 Drilling Sizes for Holes................................................................... 3
4.4.3 Feeler Gauges 64 6.3 Classes of Fits ................................................................................ 3
4.4.4 Screw Pitch and Radius Gauges ....................................... 65 6.3.1 Newall System ................................................................... 4
4.4.5 Go/No-Go Gauges 65 6.3.2 British Standards System ................................................... 5
4.4.6 Straight Edges 65 6.4 Schedule of Fits and Clearances ................................................... 5
4.5 Lubrication Methods and Equipment ........................................... 66 6.4.1 Limits for Wear ................................................................... 6
4.5.1 Lubrication Methods 66 6.4.2 Limits for Ovality................................................................. 6
4.5.2 Lubrication Equipment 69 6.4.3 Limits for Bow .................................................................... 7
5 ENGINEERING DRAWING, DIAGRAMS AND STANDARDS ......... 1 6.4.4 Limits for Twist ................................................................... 8
5.1 Types of Drawing 1 7 RIVETING 1
5.2 Methods of Drawing Solid Objects ............................................... 2 7.1 Types of Solid Rivet ....................................................................... 1
5.2.1 Pictorial Projections 3 7.1.1 Rivet Materials ................................................................... 2
5.2.2 Orthographic Projections 4 7.1.2 Basic Rivet Location Terminology ...................................... 2
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7.2 Types of Riveted Joints ................................................................. 4

11.3 Chains and Sprockets .................................................................. 2

7.3 Closing Solid Rivets ...................................................................... 4 11.4 Screw Jacks .................................................................................. 3
7.4 Closing Hollow Rivets .................................................................. 5 11.5 Levers ........................................................................................... 4
7.4.1 Tucker-pop ........................................................................ 5 11.5.1 Push-Pull Rod Systems.................................................... 5
7.4.2 Chobert ............................................................................. 5 12 CONTROL CABLES ....................................................................... 1
7.4.3 Avdel ................................................................................. 6 12.1 Swaging of End Fittings ............................................................... 1
7.4.4 Cherry Max ........................................................................ 7
7.4.5 Hi-Lok ................................................................................ 8 12.2 Inspection and Testing of Control Cables .................................. 1
7.4.6 Rivnuts .............................................................................. 8 12.2.1 Cable Wear ...................................................................... 1
12.2.2 Bowden and Teleflex Cable Systems ............................... 3
7.5 Inspection of Riveted Joints ......................................................... 9
12.3 Inspection of Control Cable Pulleys ........................................... 4
7.6 Rivet Removal Procedure.............................................................. 10 13 SHEET METAL WORK................................................................... 1
8 PIPES AND HOSES ......................................................................... 1
13.1 Marking Out 2
8.1 Pipe Bending 1
8.1.1 Simple Bending Jigs 2 13.2 Forming of Sheet Metal Parts ...................................................... 3
8.1.2 Hand Pipe-Bending Machines ........................................... 2 13.2.1 Cutting ............................................................................. 3
13.2.2 Bending and Calculation of Bend Allowance .................... 4
8.2 Pipe Flaring 3
8.2.1 Flaring Tool 3 13.3 Inspection of Sheet Metal Work ................................................... 8
8.2.2 Standard Flared Pipe Couplings ........................................ 4 14 WELDING, SOLDERING AND BONDING ......................................1
8.2.3 Flareless Couplings 5 14.1 Welding ......................................................................................... 1
8.3 Inspection and Testing of Pipes and Hoses ................................ 6 14.2 Methods of Welding ..................................................................... 1
8.3.1 Bore Testing of Pipes 7 14.2.1 Oxy-Acetylene Flame ....................................................... 1
8.3.2 Hydraulic Pressure Testing of Pipes .................................. 7 14.2.2 Manual Metal Arc ............................................................. 2
8.3.3 Pneumatic and Oxygen Pressure Testing of Pipes ............ 7 14.2.3 Metal Arc Gas-Shielded (MAGS)...................................... 2
8.3.4 Cleaning After Test 7 14.2.4 Tungsten Arc Gas-Shielded (TAGS) ................................ 2
8.3.5 Testing Flexible Hoses 8 14.2.5 Flash Butt Welding ........................................................... 3
8.4 Installation and Clamping of Pipes ............................................... 8 14.2.6 Spot Welding.................................................................... 3
8.4.1 Pipe Supports 8 14.2.7 Seam Welding .................................................................. 3
8.5 Connection of Pipes ...................................................................... 10 14.3 Inspection and Testing of Welds ................................................. 3
8.6 Maintenance of Pipes and Hoses ................................................. 10 14.4 Soldering....................................................................................... 4
8.7 Pipe Identification Tape ................................................................. 11 14.5 Methods of Soldering ................................................................... 4
9 SPRINGS 1 14.5.1 Hard Soldering (Brazing and Silver Soldering) ................. 4
14.5.2 Soft Soldering .................................................................. 5
9.1 Inspection and Testing of Springs ............................................... 1 14.5.3 Using Indirectly Heated (Electric) Soldering Irons............. 6
10 BEARINGS 1 14.5.4 Active and Passive Fluxes ............................................... 8
10.1 Cleaning and Inspection of Bearings ......................................... 1 14.5.5 Flux Removal ................................................................... 10
10.2 Inspection of Bearings ................................................................ 2 14.6 Inspection and Testing of Soldered Joints ................................. 10
10.2.1 Normal Fatigue 2 14.7 Bonding......................................................................................... 10
10.2.2 Excessive Loads 2
14.8 Methods of Bonding ..................................................................... 11
10.2.3 Installation and Misalignment .......................................... 3
14.8.1 Thermoplastic Adhesives ................................................. 11
10.2.4 Loose Fit 3
14.8.2 Thermosetting Adhesives ................................................. 12
10.2.5 Brinelling 3
10.2.6 Overheating and Lubrication Failure ................................ 4 14.9 Inspection and Testing of Bonded Joints ................................... 12
10.2.7 Contamination and Corrosion .......................................... 5 15 AIRCRAFT MASS AND BALANCE................................................1
10.3 Safety Precautions ...................................................................... 5 15.1 Definitions..................................................................................... 1
10.4 Storage 5 15.2 Mass and Balance ........................................................................ 2
11 TRANSMISSIONS .......................................................................... 1 15.2.1 Mass and Balance Documentation ................................... 3
11.1 Gears 1 15.3 Frequency of Weighing ................................................................ 4
15.3.1 Fleet Mass and CG Position ............................................. 4
11.2 Belts and Pulleys 1
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15.4 Weighing Requirements .............................................................. 4

16.7.5 Treatment of Frost Deposits ............................................. 26

15.5 Centre of Gravity Limits (CG Envelope) ..................................... 5 16.7.6 Removal of Ice and Snow Deposits .................................. 27
16.7.7 Hold Over Times .............................................................. 29
15.6 Records ........................................................................................ 5
16.7.8 Inspection after De-Icing/Anti-Icing Procedures ................ 30
15.7 Calculation of Mass and CG of any System ............................... 5
16.8 Ground Electrical Supplies .......................................................... 31
15.8 Principles of Weight and Balance of Aircraft ............................. 7
16.9 Ground Hydraulic Supplies ......................................................... 33
15.9 Calculation of Mass and CG of Aircraft ...................................... 7 16.9.1 Safety, Health and Servicing Precautions ........................ 33
15.10 Aircraft Weighing Methods........................................................ 8 16.9.2 Rig Maintenance .............................................................. 34
15.10.1 Preparation for Weighing ............................................... 9 16.10 Ground Pneumatic Supplies ...................................................... 34
15.10.2 Weighing on Aircraft Jacks ............................................ 9
16.11 Effects of Environmental Conditions on Handling ................... 35
15.10.3 Calculation of Aircraft’s CG ............................................ 10
16.11.1 Cold and Wet ................................................................. 35
15.10.4 CG as Percentage Standard Mean Chord (SMC) .......... 12
16.11.2 Snow and Ice ................................................................. 36
15.11 Changes in Basic Weight .......................................................... 12 16.11.3 High Winds..................................................................... 36
15.11.1 Examples of Alterations to Dry Operating Mass ............. 13 16.11.4 High Temperature .......................................................... 37
15.12 Loading of Aircraft (Typical Aircraft Load Sheet) .................... 15 17 PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE TECHNIQUES .........................1
16 AIRCRAFT HANDLING AND STORAGE ...................................... 1 17.1 Types of Defects ........................................................................... 1
16.1 Moving Methods .......................................................................... 2 17.1.1 External Damage ............................................................. 2
16.1.1 Moving by Hand and Steering Arm .................................. 2 17.1.2 Inlets and Exhausts .......................................................... 3
16.1.2 Using a Bridle and Steering Arm ...................................... 2 17.1.3 Liquid Systems................................................................. 3
16.1.3 Using a Purpose-Made Towing Arm ................................ 3 17.1.4 Gaseous Systems ............................................................ 4
16.1.4 Precautions when Towing Aircraft.................................... 3 17.1.5 Dimensions ...................................................................... 5
16.1.5 Taxiing Aircraft....................... 4 17.1.6 Tyres ................................................................................ 5
16.2 Aircraft Jacking ............................................. 5 17.1.7 Wheels ............................................................................. 6
16.2.1 Special Considerations 5 17.1.8 Brakes.............................................................................. 6
16.2.2 Aircraft Jacks 6 17.1.9 Landing Gear Locks ......................................................... 7
16.2.3 Jack Maintenance and General Notes ............................. 7 17.1.10 Indicators ....................................................................... 7
16.2.4 Jacking Precautions ........................................................ 8 17.1.11 External Probes.............................................................. 8
16.2.5 Jacking Procedures ......................................................... 8 17.1.12 Handles and Latches ..................................................... 8
16.2.6 Trestles ........................................................................... 9 17.1.13 Panels and Doors........................................................... 8
16.2.7 Lowering Aircraft off Jacks 10 17.1.14 Emergency System Indication ........................................ 9
16.3 Slinging .......................................................... 10 17.1.15 Lifed Items ..................................................................... 9
17.1.16 Light Bulbs ..................................................................... 9
16.3.1 Lifting Tackle 11
17.1.17 Permitted Defects........................................................... 9
16.4 Parking and Mooring Aircraft ....................... 12
17.2 Locations of Corrosion in Aircraft............................................... 10
16.4.1 Parking ............................................................................ 12
16.4.2 Mooring (Picketing).......................................................... 13 17.2.1 Exhaust Areas.................................................................. 10
16.4.3 Typical Small Aircraft Procedures .................................... 14 17.2.2 Engine Intakes and Cooling Air Vents .............................. 10
16.4.4 Large Aircraft Procedures ................................................ 14 17.2.3 Landing Gear ................................................................... 10
17.2.4 Bilge and Water Entrapment Areas .................................. 11
16.4.5 Chocking of Aircraft ............... 15
17.2.5 Recesses in Flaps and Hinges ......................................... 11
16.5 Aircraft Storage ............................................. 16 17.2.6 Magnesium Alloy Skins .................................................... 11
16.6 Aircraft Fuelling Procedures ........................ 20 17.2.7 Aluminium Alloy Skins ...................................................... 11
16.6.1 Fuelling Safety Precautions ............................................. 20 17.2.8 Spot-Welded Skins and Sandwich Constructions ............. 12
16.6.2 Refuelling 21 17.2.9 Electrical Equipment ........................................................ 12
16.6.3 Checking Fuel Contents 21 17.2.10 Control Cables ............................................................... 12
16.6.4 Defuelling 22 17.3 Corrosion Removal, Assessment and Reprotection.................. 13
16.7 Ground De-Icing/Anti-Icing of Aircraft ......... 23 17.3.1 Cleaning and Paint Removal ............................................ 13
16.7.1 Ice Types ......................................................................... 23 17.3.2 Ferrous Metals ................................................................. 14
16.7.2 Definitions ....................................................................... 25 17.3.3 Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys ..................................... 14
16.7.3 De-Icing and Anti-Icing Methods ...................................... 25 17.3.4 Alclad ............................................................................... 15
16.7.4 Chemical De-Icing ........................................................... 26 17.3.5 Magnesium Alloys ............................................................ 16
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(mechanical)
Acid Spillage .......................... 16

18.6.1 Example of Post Heavy Landing Inspection ..................... 12

17.3.7 Alkali Spillage ........................ 16 18.7 Flight through Severe Turbulence .............................................. 14
17.3.8 Mercury Spillage .................... 17 19 MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES ................................................... 1
17.4 Permanent Anti-Corrosion Treatments ........ 18 19.1 Maintenance Planning.................................................................. 1
17.4.1 Electro-Plating 18
17.4.2 Sprayed Metal Coatings 18 19.2 Modification Procedures.............................................................. 2
17.4.3 Cladding 18 19.2.1 Major Modifications .......................................................... 2
17.4.4 Surface Conversion Coatings .......................................... 19 19.2.2 Minor Modifications .......................................................... 2
17.5 Non-Destructive Testing/Inspection (NDT/NDI) Techniques 20 19.3 Stores Procedures........................................................................ 3
17.5.1 Visual/Assisted Visual Inspections ................................... 21 19.4 Certification and Release Procedures......................................... 3
17.5.2 Remote Viewing Instruments ........................................... 22 19.4.1 Interface with Aircraft Operation ....................................... 4
17.5.3 Penetrant Flaw Detection (PFD) ...................................... 25 19.5 Maintenance Inspection/ Quality Control and Assurance ........ 5
17.5.4 Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (UFD) ..................................... 34 19.6 Additional Maintenance Procedures ........................................... 6
17.5.5 Eddy Current Flaw Detection (ECFD) .............................. 40
19.7 Control of Life-Limited Components ........................................... 6
17.5.6 Magnetic Particle Flaw Detection (MPFD) ....................... 47
17.5.7 Radiographic Flaw Detection (RFD) ................................ 53
17.5.8 Miscellaneous Radiation Techniques 59
17.6 Disassembly and Re-assembly Techniques 60
17.6.1 Complete Airframes 60
17.6.2 Replacement of Major Components/Modules .................. 61
17.6.3 Replacement of Minor Components/Modules .................. 62
17.6.4 Disassembly and Re-assembly of Major Components ..... 62
17.6.5 Disassembly and Re-assembly of Minor Components ..... 62
17.6.6 Basic Disassembly and Re-assembly Techniques ........... 63
17.6.7 Small Part and Component Identification ......................... 64
17.6.8 Discarding of Parts .......................................................... 65
17.6.9 Freeing Seized Components ........................................... 65
17.6.10 Use of Correct Tools ...................................................... 65
17.6.11 ‘Murphy’s Law’ ............................................................... 66
18 ABNORMAL EVENTS ................................................................... 1
18.1 Types of abnormal occurrences ................................................. 1
18.2 Types of damage 1
18.3 Lightning Strikes 2
18.3.1 Effects of a Lightning Strike ............................................. 2
18.3.2 Inspection 2
18.4 Example of a Post Lightning Strike Procedure .......................... 3
18.4.1 Basic Protection .............................................................. 3
18.4.2 Strike Areas ..................................................................... 4
18.4.3 Signs of Damage ............................................................. 5
18.4.4 External Components at Risk .......................................... 5
18.4.5 Electrical Components at Risk ......................................... 6
18.4.6 Examination of External Surface...................................... 6
18.4.7 Functional Tests .............................................................. 7
18.4.8 Examination of Internal Components ............................... 8
18.4.9 Return the Aircraft to Service ........................................... 9
18.5 High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) Penetration .................... 9
18.5.1 Specific Testing – HIRF 10
18.5.2 Protection against HIRF Interference ............................... 11
18.6 Heavy Landings 12
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uk MODULE 7
1 INTRODUCTION 2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Most accidents are, in the main, caused by human carelessness and accidents in Aircraft, by their very nature and design, make for a dangerous working
the work place are among the main causes of death and disability. environment. The danger is further increased by the wide variety of machines,
tools and materials required to support and maintain aircraft.
They are, additionally, the cause of a great loss of man-hours and, thus, cost
companies (and individuals) large amounts of money. Personal safety starts with being appropriately dressed for the work being
undertaken, combined with the correct use of eye and ear protection whenever
All personnel should be aware, not only of the potential for accidents and injury, necessary.
wherever they work, but also of the legislation and information that is available in
an attempt to prevent accidents actually happening. Technicians should only operate equipment with which they are familiar and
which they can operate safely. Hand tools should be kept in good working order.
While it is incumbent upon companies (in accordance with The Management of
Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992), to ensure that all personnel Good ‘housekeeping’ in workshops, hangars, and on flight line ramps is essential
receive adequate training in Health and Safety matters, this Module contains a to safe and efficient maintenance.
reminder of some of the general safety precautions which are necessary, when
working in the aerospace industry. Pedestrian and fire lanes should be clearly marked and NEVER obstructed. They
should always be used to keep non-technical personnel clear from the work area.
The Module continues with further topics, which are concerned with the practices
recommended for the safe and efficient maintenance of aircraft and aerospace Any spillage of oils, greases and fuels should be immediately covered with
components. absorbent material and cleaned up, to prevent fire or injury. Spillage should be
prevented, from running into floor drains.
It is very important, that all personnel know the location of the fixed points where
fire fighting equipment and First Aid treatment are available. They must also be
aware of the types of emergency that can occur in the workplace (whether in the
workshop, hangar or on the ramp), and of the procedures to be followed in any
emergency.
2.1 Fire
WARNING: ALWAYS ENSURE THAT CORRECT FIRE PRECAUTIONS ARE

OBEYED AND THAT ESCAPE ROUTES ARE NOT OBSTRUCTED. LETHAL
FUMES AND SMOKE CAN BE PRODUCED BY CERTAIN MATERIALS AND
THEY CAN BURN VERY RAPIDLY.
Personnel, engaged in the maintenance, overhaul and repair of aircraft, should

be fully conversant with the precautions required to prevent outbreaks of any fire.
They should be qualified in the operation of any fire protection equipment that is
provided, and should know the action to be taken in the event of discovering a
fire.
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2.1.1 The ‘Fire Triangle’
(mechanical)
engineering
2.1.3 Fire Extinguishants and their Uses
(mechanical)
Fire results from the chemical reaction that occurs when oxygen combines rapidly The methods of extinguishing fires have led to the development of several types
with fuel to produce heat, (and light). Three essentials of this process form the of extinguishants to cater for different types of fire. These methods include:
‘Fire Triangle’ (refer to Fig.1).
 Cooling the fuel
 Excluding the oxygen
 Separating the fuel from the oxygen
The materials, used as general ‘domestic and commercial’ extinguishants, differ

from those used in aircraft Fire Protection systems and, while the aircraft systems
are discussed in other Modules of this course, consideration is given here only to
the extinguishants and extinguishers which conform to the EN3 Standard fire
extinguisher code. The materials used in these extinguishers are:
 Water (Water/Gas)
 Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)
 Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
 Dry Powder
The ‘Fire Triangle’
Fig. 1 Applying the incorrect extinguishant to a fire can do more harm than good and
As can be seen, a fire requires three components to burn, and the removal of any may, actually, be dangerous. It is, therefore, important that extinguishers are well
one of these components will extinguish the fire. The requirements of the three marked for quick identification in an emergency. It is also vital that all personnel
components, forming the ‘Fire Triangle’, are: are aware of the markings, which appear on extinguishers, so that the correct one
is chosen to deal with a specific fire.
 Fuel: a combustible material, which may be a solid, liquid or gas
Table 2 shows how the EN3 Standard fire extinguisher code has replaced the
 Oxygen: in sufficient volume to support the process of combustion
older Standard, whereby the extinguisher containers were colour-coded all over
 Heat: of sufficient intensity to raise the temperature of the fuel to its to signify their contents. The EN3 Standard has the bodies of every fire
ignition (or kindling) point. extinguisher coloured red all over, with an identifying band of colour, separated
by white lines, identifying the extinguishant contained in the extinguisher.
2.1.2 Classes of Fire
Table 2
There are, generally, four classes of fires, each determined by the type of FIRE EXTINGUISHER IDENTIFICATION AND USES
material that is being burned. In alphabetical, order the classes of fire are: EN3 Standard Extinguishers (All-red Container)
Extinguishant Band Colour Types of Fire
 Class A: often known as solid fires, which occur in materials such as paper, Water Red Solids only, but NOT Electrical NOR
wood, textiles and general rubbish. (Water/Gas) Flammable Liquids
 Class B: often described as liquid fires, and include fires in materials such as Aqueous Film-Forming Foam Cream Oil, Fats, Paint, Petrol, and Solids,
internal combustion engine fuels, alcohol, oils, greases and oil-based paints. (AFFF) but NOT safe on Electrical fires
 Class C: include fires involving flammable gases and electrical fires (which Carbon Dioxide Black Gases, Electrical, Flammable Liquids
can occur in fuse boxes, switches, appliances, motors and generators). (CO2) and Solids but NOT Burning Metals
 Class D: refer to fires of high intensity, which may occur in such metals as Dry Powder Blue Burning Metals, Flammable Liquids,
magnesium, potassium, sodium, titanium and zirconium. The greatest hazard and Electrical (<1000 V, >1 m) fires
in these materials, is when they are either in liquid (molten) form, or in finely
divided forms such as dust, chippings, turnings or shavings.
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uk MODULE 7
From Table 2 it can be seen that Water or Water/Gas extinguishers are ONLY to
engineering
2.2 First Aid
(mechanical)
be used on fires involving burning solids (Class A fires). Water could also cause
liquid fires to spread and, obviously, using water on electrical equipment could It has been previously discussed that, when working indoors, whether it is in an
have lethal results, so these extinguishers must NOT be used on Class B NOR office, a workshop or a hangar, there will be fixed points where fire-fighting
on Class C fires. Water should, also, NOT be used on burning metal (Class D) equipment is available. Similarly, there will be First Aid points where emergency
fires, as the oxygen, in the water, will cause the fires to burn more fiercely and its kits, eye washing equipment and call bells are installed and there will be trained
use could lead to violent explosions. First Aid personnel to assist in the treatment of injuries. It is the responsibility of
every person at work to know:
Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) is best suited for Class B fires, due to its
smothering and cooling action and to the fact that its finer particles will not cause  The location of the First Aid Points
the fire to spread. AFFF extinguishers can also be used on Class A fires (though  The methods of calling for help
its cooling action is not as effective as the water extinguishers), but, because  The locations of alarm bells, and the siting of appropriate telephones which
Foam does contain water, AFFF extinguishers are considered to be NOT safe on may be used to summon help in an emergency
electrical fires where high voltages are encountered.  The identity of the trained First Aid personnel in their vicinity
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the ‘universal’ fire extinguisher and, being non-corrosive, In the event of an injury (however slight), it is important that the injured person, or
non-conductive, and leaving no residue, it is suitable for almost all types of fire. the attending First Aider, should complete an entry in the Accident Book, which is
CO2 extinguishers must NOT, however, be used on Class D fires, as the usually kept near the First Aid Point.
extinguishant reduces the temperature very quickly, which (in a similar way to the
use of water extinguishers) could cause serious explosions. 2.3 Workshop and Hangar Safety
Due to the fact that CO2 gas tends to dissipate quickly, the extinguisher is When working in a workshop or in any hangar, there are a number of safety
provided with a horn device, which helps to concentrate the CO2 at the site of the precautions that must be followed, if injury (or death) is to be avoided.
fire. This horn must NOT be held with bare hands, as the intense cold of the
released CO2 will freeze the skin to the horn, resulting in severe injury to the 2.3.1 Machinery
hands. A rubber, insulated coating is provided on the discharge tube and the CO 2
must be directed towards the fire by grasping and manipulating the insulated A machine can be defined as an ‘apparatus for applying power, having fixed and
tube. moving parts, each having a definite function’. In particular, machines embrace:
Dry Powder is another extinguishant which is suitable for most classes of fire,  Operational Parts - performing the principal output function (Chucks or Bits)
and, in particular, those involving burning metals (aircraft wheel brake fires). It is,  Non-Operational Parts - conveying power or motion (Motor Drives).
however, limited in its use on electrical fires, as the powder particles are capable
of conducting high voltages (in excess of 1000 V) and, possibly, lesser voltages if The wide range of machinery, available in workshops and hangars, precludes
they are used at distances of less than 1 metre from electrical fires. Dry Powder giving specific rules and regulations for each machine. The basic drilling, grinding
(in a similar way to Foam), leaves a messy residue after its use, which could and milling types of machine, all require the use of eye protection, attachment of
present a problem to electrical contacts and circuitry. guards, secure holding of work and, most importantly, correct training before
being operated.
Note: It is possible that the older Standard ‘Halon’ fire extinguishants (in green-
coloured containers) may be found at many indoor locations. Unfortunately, while Possible accidents from machinery, in general, include personnel:
Halons (Halogenated Hydrocarbons) are extremely effective as extinguishants of
virtually every class of fire, it is felt that they contribute to the depletion of the  Coming into contact with the machinery
ozone layer surrounding Earth and, so, they are being phased out of use.  Being trapped between machinery and material
 Being struck by machinery or being entangled in its motion
Buckets of dry sand may also be placed at the FIRE POINT in workshops (and  Being struck by ejected parts or material
especially in hangars) as an additional aid to fire fighting.  Receiving electric shocks from the machinery
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2.3.2 Electricity  Shout for help and ensure there is no danger of also becoming a victim
 Switch off the electrical current or remove the victim from the supply by means
The human body conducts electricity. Furthermore, electrical current, passing of insulated material
through the body, disrupts the nervous system and causes burns at the entry and  If the victim has ceased breathing, initiate resuscitation
exit points. The current, used in domestic 220-240 volt, 50Hz ac electricity, is  Call for professional medical help
particularly dangerous because it affects nerves in such a way that a person,  If the victim is suffering from burns, exclude air from wounds
holding a current-carrying conductor, is unable to release it. Table 2 shows some
 Treat for shock by keeping the victim warm
typical harmful values and effects of both ac and dc electricity supplies.
The approved methods of artificial resuscitation must, by law, be displayed on
Table 2 wall charts in workplaces.
HARMFUL VALUES OF ELECTRICITY
Voltage/Current Possible Outcome
2.3.3 Noise
50V ac or 100V dc May give rise to dangerous shocks
1 mA Harmless tingle Workshops, hangars and flight lines can be very noisy places of work, so it is
1 – 12 mA Painful, but can be released essential that ear defenders, or some other protection such as ear plugs, are
12 – 20 mA Very painful, cannot be released used at all times that noise is perceived to be a risk. Loss of hearing, leading to
20 – 50 mA Paralysis of respiration deafness, can be the result of operating in a noisy environment without adequate
> 50 mA Heart stoppage ear protection. Ear protection is optional where noise levels are less than 85 dB,
but is mandatory when greater than 90 dB.
Since water also conducts electricity, great care must be taken to avoid handling
electrical equipment of all kinds when standing on a wet surface or when wearing 2.3.4 High-Pressure Gases
wet shoes. The water provides a path to earth and heightens the possibility of
electric shock. To ensure that equipment is safe, the minimum requirement is Compressed gases are frequently used in the maintenance and servicing of
through the use of three-core cable (which includes an earth lead) and, possibly, aircraft. The use of compressed gases requires a special set of safety measures.
a safety cut-out device. The following rules apply for the use of compressed gases:
In conjunction, more often than not, with ignorance or carelessness, electrical  Cylinders of compressed gas must be handled in the same way as any high-
hazards generally arise due to one or more of the following factors: energy (and therefore potentially explosive) sources
 Eye protection must always be worn when handling compressed gases
 Inadequate or non-existent earthing  Never use a cylinder that cannot be positively identified
 Worn or damaged wiring, insulation, plugs, sockets and other installations
 When storing or moving a cylinder, have the cap securely in place to protect
 Bad wiring systems and the misuse of good systems
the valve stem
 Incorrect use of fuses
 When large cylinders are moved, ensure that they are securely attached to
 Inadequate inspection and maintenance of power tools and equipment
the correct trolley or vehicle
All electrical equipment must be regularly checked and tested for correct  Use the appropriate regulator on each gas cylinder
operation and electrical safety. To show that this has been done, a dated label  Never direct high-pressure gases at a person
should be attached, showing when the equipment was last tested and when the  Do not use compressed gas or compressed air to blow away dust and dirt, as
next inspection is due. the resulting flying particles are dangerous
 Release compressed gas slowly. The rapid release of a compressed gas will
Any new item of equipment must have a test label attached. The presence of a cause an unsecured gas hose to whip about and even build up a static
test label does not, however, absolve the user from checking the equipment for charge, which could ignite a combustible gas
any external signs of damage, such as a frayed power cord (or missing safety  Keep gas cylinders clean. Oil or grease on an oxygen cylinder can cause
devices) before use. spontaneous combustion and explosions
In the event of a person witnessing another person receiving an electric shock,

the basic actions, to be followed by the witness, are:
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2.3.5 Gas Bottle Identification
(mechanical)
In workshops, compressed air is, sometimes, produced by a compressor (which

is housed in a remote building), and fed, via galleries, to work stations. Care must
High-pressure gas cylinders contain various types of gas, the most common used be taken to ensure that no damage occurs to the piping whilst in use.
on commercial aircraft being nitrogen and oxygen. To ensure correct identification
of these containers, they are colour coded and the name of the gas is stencilled If a concentrated stream of compressed air is blown across a cut in a person’s
on the side. skin, then air can enter the blood stream and cause injury or death. For this
reason, air-dusting guns are restricted to about 2000 kPa (30 psi).
In the UK, gas containers use BS 381C as the standard to determine the correct
colour and shade for each gas type. Nitrogen bottles are painted grey on the Aircraft tyres can require very high pressures and must be inflated inside a strong
body with a black neck, whilst oxygen bottles are black with a white neck. Be cage. This cage would protect the personnel working on the wheels in the event
aware that bottles of US manufacture use an alternative system, the main of a tyre or wheel bursting.
difference being oxygen bottles are painted green all over.
2.3.7 Oxygen Systems
2.3.6 High-Pressure Gas Replenishing
Modern aircraft fly at altitudes where life support systems are needed. Even
When replenishing aircraft services such as tyres and hydraulic accumulators though most of these aircraft are pressurised, emergency oxygen must be carried
with high-pressure gas, care must be taken to ensure that only the required in the event that the pressurisation system fails. Smaller aircraft can carry oxygen
pressure enters the container. When full, a gas storage bottle can hold as much in cylinders whilst the larger, civil aircraft have individual oxygen generator units.
as 200 bar (3000 psi) whilst an aircraft tyre pressure may only require 7 bar (100
psi). These units are stowed in the overhead cargo bins, above the passenger seats,
and are known as the passenger service units or PSUs. A PSU produces oxygen,
To safely control the gas, two pressure regulating valves are used, one at the by means of a chemical reaction, and is activated when its mask (which drops
storage bottle end and one at the delivery end of the system. If one valve fails the from the overhead bin in an emergency) is pulled by a passenger.
other will prevent the receiving vessel from taking the full bottle pressure with the
consequence of an explosion. Note: When PSUs reach their life expiry and have to be returned to their
manufacturer, it is vital that all precautions are followed to make the units ‘safe’
For added safety the gas bottle valve opening key should be left in the valve for transit. PSUs get very hot when working and have caused the destruction, due
whilst decanting operations are completed. If problems occur then the high- to fire, of an aircraft, which was carrying these units as cargo.
pressure bottle can be quickly isolated before the situation becomes dangerous.
The main oxygen systems are serviced from trolleys or vehicles that carry a
The transfer of high-pressure gases from a large storage bottle to the aircraft number of high-pressure bottles of oxygen, which can be at 140 bar (2000 psi) or
component is often called decanting and must be done at a very slow rate. If the more. Some trolleys may also have a bottle of nitrogen, to allow the
gas is decanted rapidly the temperature of the receiving component will increase replenishment of hydraulic accumulators and landing gears. The two types of
in accordance with the gas laws. bottles must be separated, in order to prevent the accidental mixing of the gases.
Again using the same gas laws the temperature of the gas in the container will It is extremely important that oxygen cylinders be treated with special care,
drop to ambient, and the pressure in that vessel will reduce. The component because, in addition to having all the dangers inherent with all other high-
pressure will now be incorrect and require the decanting process to be repeated. pressure gases, oxygen always possesses the risk of combustion and explosion.
As previously stated, oxygen must never be allowed to come into contact with
petroleum products such as oil and grease, since oxygen causes these materials
to ignite spontaneously and to burn. Furthermore, an oil-soaked rag, or tools that
are oily or greasy (or badly oil-stained overalls), must never be used when
installing an adapter or a regulator on an oxygen cylinder.
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Due to the risk of fire and explosion, replenishing trolleys must never be parked
engineering
2.3.9 Chemical and Physiological Hazards
(mechanical)
close to hydraulic oil replenishing rigs, or in any area where petroleum products
are likely to come into contact with the oxygen servicing equipment. Similarly only Many chemical compounds, both liquid and solid, are used in aircraft
specially approved thread lubricants can be used when assembling oxygen maintenance and these may need specific precautions. Any precautions can be
components. found in the relevant maintenance manuals and in the Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health (COSHH) leaflets applicable to those materials.
2.3.8 Aviation Oils and Fuels
The range of adhesives used for repair and sealing during the maintenance of
Aviation oils, generally, are a fairly low-risk material when compared with the aircraft is vast. A large number of these produce vapours which, generally, can be
more volatile, higher distillates of petroleum such as the aviation fuels - petrol dangerous in any enclosed space, both from the results of inhalation of narcotic
(gasoline) and paraffin (kerosene). Most lubricating oils are flammable, if enough fumes and from the fire risk associated with those which give off volatile,
heat is generated but, when the materials are kept away from excessive heat flammable, vapours.
sources, they are (comparatively) quite benign.
Surface finishes present another area where the various types of material used
Synthetic lubricating oils, methanol and some hydraulic oils may be harmful or (etchants, celluloses, acrylics, enamels, polyurethanes etc.), dictate specific
even toxic if their vapours are inhaled. Also, if they come into contact with the precautions. The solvents used, before the actual painting and afterwards, need
skin or eyes, they can cause injury or blindness. Particular note should be taken safety precautions with regards to ventilation, reaction with other materials and,
of any warnings of dangers to health that may be contained in the relevant most importantly, their possible corrosive, toxic, irritant and addictive effects on
maintenance manuals and the recommended procedures for the handling of personnel.
these liquids should always be observed.
Some materials have a mildly radioactive property, although they emit little
Oils and fuels also have an adverse effect on paintwork, adhesives and sealants ionising radiation in normal circumstances. These materials are sometimes
and, thus, may inhibit corrosion-prevention schemes. Care should, therefore, be referred to as ‘heavy metals’ and can be found in balance-weights as well as in
taken not to spill any of these liquids but, if a spillage should occur, it must be smoke detectors, luminescent ‘EXIT’ signs and instruments.
cleaned up immediately.
This radiation differs from that used for non-destructive testing (NDT) procedures,
Note: Sweeping up gasoline spillage with a dry broom can cause a build up of where high levels of radiation are employed, by specially trained personnel, and
static electricity, with the accompanying risk of explosion. which, therefore, require many safety precautions to avoid personal injury. The
safety precautions for NDT procedures will be found within the manuals
With gasoline and kerosene there is a much greater chance of fire, so more applicable to their employment.
thorough precautions are required. These start with the basic rules, such as not
wearing footwear with nails or studs (to prevent sparks), not carrying matches or 2.3.10 Lifting and Shoring
cigarette lighters and ensuring that ALL replenishing equipment is fully
serviceable. Aircraft must often be raised from the hangar floor for weighing, maintenance or
repair. There are several methods of doing this, however, and the maintenance
Note: All references to refuelling, normally, also include the action of de-fuelling manuals must be followed, during whichever method is used.
and both are considered under the common term of fuelling.
It is often necessary to lift only one wheel from the floor, to change a wheel or to
During any fuelling operation, in a workshop, a hangar or on the flight line, the service a wheel assembly or brake unit. For this type of jacking, some
relevant fire extinguishers must be in place. manufacturers have made provision on the undercarriage leg for the placement
of a short hydraulic jack. When using this method, never place the jack under the
brake housing or in any location that is not approved by the manufacturer.
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When jacking an aircraft asymmetrically, there is usually some movement by the

other legs. Care must be shown, when jacking a single leg, that the aircraft is
raised strictly in accordance with the maintenance manual.
Other places where a larger jack may be connected to the airframe might be:
 Under the wings, at the main spar position

 Under the nose
 Under the tail assembly
 On the side of the front fuselage (in place of the nose jack)
The location and operation of ALL jacks must be carried out both with great care
and with the correct number of personnel, who must be well briefed.
Most of the larger jacks have a screw-type, safety locking collar, to prevent the
jack collapsing in the event of a sudden leak. The jack operator must ensure that
these safety collars are gradually screwed down, as the aircraft is being raised, Lifting an Aircraft with Slings
so that they are very close to the jack body at all times. Fig. 2
As an additional precaution, especially if the aircraft is to be worked on for an

extended period, trestles or ‘steadies’ can be installed under the wings and 2.4 Flight-Line Safety
fuselage to augment the jacks and also to provide an additional means of shoring
(supporting) the aircraft. Many sources of accidents on the flight line are involved with propellers and rotor
blades. They are difficult to see when they are turning, and personnel (despite
2.3.11 Slinging being familiar with the hazards of propellers and rotors), sometimes become
distracted and forget about the danger. The main difference between these, and
It can be necessary, on occasions, to lift either the major components of an other flight-line accidents, is that they are almost always fatal.
aircraft, such as wing or tail assemblies or the complete aircraft (refer to Fig. 2).
For example, when recovering an aircraft from an ‘overrun’, it may be easier, and Most blades have high-visibility markings, to ensure that they can be seen when
safer, to lift the entire aircraft and place it onto a hard standing, than to try and they are turning. These markings vary from a yellow blade tip marking, to black
pull it out of soft ground, using a tug or similar vehicle. and white alternate stripes along the full blade length.
When lifting either major components or an entire aircraft, the slings must be To reduce the risk of propeller and rotor blade strikes, it is best to follow strict
produced or approved by the manufacturer of the aircraft. The manufacturer’s rules as to the correct way to approach and leave the vicinity of an aircraft or
slings ensure that the centre of gravity of the component, is always directly helicopter whilst it is under power. For example (and allowing for the fact that
beneath the lifting hook of the sling. there are specific rules laid down for each aircraft), installing and removing
chocks should normally be done from the wing-tip direction. Boarding and leaving
a helicopter should always be done from the side.
When dealing with running jet engines there are similar dangers. These come not
only from the noise risk, which can result in deafness, but also from the risk of
intake suction, which has resulted in ramp personnel being sucked into the
engine and being killed. At the rear of the aircraft, there is the risk of jet blast,
which, at maximum thrust is quite capable of overturning a vehicle if it passes too
close behind the aircraft. (refer to Fig. 3). Piston-powered aircraft (depending on
their size) will have similar danger areas.
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Distance 0 10 20 30 40 50
(metres) Tail Sweep Area
Wing Tip Sweep Area
Aircraft
Turning
To Left
Typical Aircraft Danger Areas

Fig. 3
Path of Wing Tip Path of Tail
2.4.1 Towing and Taxying
If an aircraft requires moving and no pilot is available, then a tug and towing arm
must be used. This task will require a qualified tug driver, a supervisor, a ‘brake Swept Wing Growth
man’ and other personnel to keep a lookout. A qualified pilot always does the Fig. 4
taxiing of larger aircraft, although engineers sometimes taxi light aircraft.
Each aircraft and its operator will have laid down rules regarding the way in which 2.4.2 Parking
each aircraft will be towed. These rules will include the number of people needed,
the type of tug, the radio calls if the aircraft is on the manoeuvring area, the When an aircraft has to be parked for a period of time, especially overnight and in
maximum towing speed and many other details. These must always be followed if inclement weather conditions, there are a number of precautions that must be
accidents are to be avoided. observed:
Aircraft, when moving, either under power or whilst being towed, are sources of  A chock must be placed at the front and rear of a number of wheels,
numerous risk areas. An airliner can be over 60 metres long and have a wing depending on the aircraft type
span greater than 60 metres. This means that when manoeuvring in restricted  The engine intakes and exhausts may need to be covered with special blanks
spaces, there is always the risk of part of the aircraft striking another object, due  The control surfaces may have to be locked in place with integral control or
to a phenomenon known as ‘Swept Wing Growth’ (refer to Fig. 4). gust locks or, if these are not installed, external locks may be attached to all of
the surfaces that could be damaged in high winds
It must be borne in mind that, when turning, the wing tips and tail of a large  Other devices required could include blanks for the pitot tubes and static
aircraft can move considerable distances in the opposite direction to that of the vents.
nose. This is why, whenever an aircraft is approaching its parking spot, there
must be personnel available to watch out for any potential conflicts.
Driving in the vicinity of a parked aircraft must always be done with care,
especially if the driver is alone or visibility from the cab of the vehicle is limited.
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2.4.3 Marshalling
(mechanical)
engineering
2.4.4 Fuelling
(mechanical)
When marshalling an aircraft, it is essential that personnel are fully conversant While the topic of fuelling is covered more fully in Module 11 and in the relevant
with all the marshalling signals (refer to Fig. 5). It is also useful to know extra Chapter (28) of the Maintenance Manual, brief consideration of some of the
details such as: general safety precautions is given here.
 The need for additional, ‘lookout’ men on the wing tips or tail The first, obvious precaution, is the identification of the type of fuel in the fuel
 The correct place to stand to enable the aircraft’s crew to have sight of the tanker (or bowser), ensuring it is of the type and grade required for the aircraft.
marshaller There have been many times when petrol-powered aircraft have been filled with
 The point at which the aircraft is required to stop. turbine fuel and, on occasions, the reverse has occurred.
The type and grade of fuel should always be stencilled or painted, adjacent to the
fuelling point, but it is wise if a responsible person is consulted before starting
fuelling. This is because there may be a requirement for some special fuel, or
simply that the aircraft is only to be part-filled, due to a weight limitation.
The fuel tanker must be parked as far as possible from the aircraft, limited by the
hose length, and parallel or facing away from it. This reduces the risk of fire
passing from the aircraft to the tanker or vice versa, and also allows a clear path
for the tanker to vacate the area quickly, should the need arise.
Come Ahead Stop Emergency Stop The fuel tanker, the fuelling hose, the aircraft and the ground must all be
electrically bonded together, to allow the static electricity (generated during the
fuel flow) to run to earth.
A safety zone of 6m (20 ft) should be established from the filling and venting
points of the aircraft and attendant fuelling equipment. This area should be free
from naked lights, smoking and the operation of electrical switches of any kind.
There can also be a risk from the operation of radio and radar equipment, so
these should also be switched off before fuelling commences.
Right Turn Left Turn All Clear (OK)
Also, during the fuelling of aircraft, Auxiliary Power Units (APU) and Ground
Power Units, (GPU), must be made safe, by checking that their exhausts and
intakes are clear of any fuel vapours, and that GPU’s, are located as far as
practical from the fuelling point(s).
NO switching of power from APU’s or GPU’s will be made during fuelling

procedures.
Remove Chocks Insert Chocks Slow Down There are many precautions involved when defuelling, due to the tanks being left
empty of fuel, leaving potentially explosive vapours in its place.
Some Basic Marshalling Signals for Fixed-Wing Aircraft ALL necessary safety precautions must be followed during aircraft fuelling
Fig. 5 procedures.
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2.4.5 Weather Radar
(mechanical)
3 WORKSHOP PRACTICES
The heating and radiation effects of weather radar can be hazardous to life. Despite the enormous advances in the mechanisation and computerisation of the
Personnel should remain a safe distance from the radar if it is in operation. There engineering industry in general, there remains the requirement for a high degree
are published figures and charts in the maintenance manual of each aircraft, of hand skills on the part of technicians who are engaged in the day-to-day
showing the safe distances for personnel, depending on the power of the radar in maintenance of aircraft and their associated components.
use.
While the majority of aerospace components are manufactured under stringent
As an example, the aerial in the nose of the aircraft should have an unobstructed standards, in factory (and laboratory) conditions, it is necessary to remove many
‘view’ of something like 30 metres, with the aerial tilted upwards. There should items of equipment for cleaning, inspection, overhaul and, if needed, repair
also be a barrier erected about 3 metres or so from the nose of the aircraft, to before they are, subsequently, re-installed in their appointed locations.
prevent personnel getting too close.
These actions may entail the use of many specialist tools and materials, which
Finally, there should be no fuelling operations in progress during the testing of are used while following written procedures, while it is quite possible that some,
weather radar. comparatively simple, repairs may call upon such basic hand skills as the cutting,
filing, drilling, riveting and painting of metals or other materials.
No matter whether there are specialist or basic skills required, all will demand a
certain quality of the work practices (and of the work-force) involved.
3.1 Care of Tools
Engineers are responsible for the maintenance of their personal tools, whilst
other personnel, in designated Tool Stores, must care for all the different,
specialist tools for which they have the responsibility. It is also the responsibility
of engineers to ensure that any tools, or other items of equipment they use, are
not left in an aircraft or associated components.
The care required for different tools can vary. Ordinary hand tools may merely
require racking or locating within sturdy tool boxes, with careful, daily,
maintenance restricted to little more than a visual check.
Precision instruments however, require great care both in storage and in use.
They may need to be kept in special, soft-lined, boxes within other storage
facilities. Prior to use they should have a ‘zero’ check or calibration. Some tools
require that they have a light coating of machine oil, to prevent the onset of
corrosion.
Each tool (whether it be a hammer or a micrometer), will require some special

care, to ensure its optimum performance for, without this care, even the most
expensive tools very quickly become second rate and useless.
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3.2 Control of Tools
(mechanical)
No matter where tools are being used, it is the responsibility of each technician to
keep track of ALL of the tools used during a particular task. The most important
Control of tools is important to good engineering practices and is also vital to check of all is the final, ‘End of Work’ tool check, when all tools must be collected
flight safety. A variety of systems can be used to control tools but, whichever and checked off against personal inventories, ensuring all borrowed tools (from
system is used, it must allow a 100% check of the tools in use before it can be the Tool Store for example), are returned and any personal tool tags collected.
considered as acceptable.
3.3 Calibration of Tools and Equipment
One form of control is the ‘shadow board’ and ‘tool tag’ system, (refer to Fig. 6).
Each tool is positioned over its silhouette, on the tool board. Technicians are Requirements within the relevant airworthiness codes, applicable to the United
issued with identification tokens (numbered ‘tags’) which are exchanged for the Kingdom Civil Aviation Industry, such as the British Civil Aviation Requirements
tool and, usually, a tag is hung above the silhouette, to be reclaimed, in exchange (BCARs), Joint Aviation Requirements (JARs), and Air Operators Certificates,
for the tool, when it is returned to the board. The shadow board/tool tag system prescribe that, where necessary, tools, equipment and, in particular, test
works equally well when the tools are held within a designated Tool Store equipment are all calibrated to acceptable standards.
arrangement.
This topic provides an overall picture of the types of requirements and tests
required in establishing and maintaining an effective calibration system. It takes
into account factors such as the degree of accuracy required, frequency of use
6 and the reliability of the equipment.
The key factor is the need to establish confidence in the accuracy of the
equipment when it is required for use. The required calibration frequency for any
particular piece of test equipment is that which will ensure it is in compliance with
the standards applicable to its intended use. In all cases, standards used are
attributed upon the need for ultimate traceability to one of the following:
 The standard specified by the equipment manufacturer/design organisation

 The appropriate National/International Standards.
3.3.1 General Notes on Calibration

Shadow Board and Tool Tag
Fig. 1
The appropriate standards are used to achieve consistency between
measurements made in different locations, possibly using alternate measuring
In workshops and bays it is normal for a toolkit to be held by the department in techniques. The calibration of test equipment is best achieved by the operation of
addition to its engineers holding personal sets of tools. The tools held by the a methodical system of control.
department are often referred to as ‘special tools’, meaning that they are only for
maintenance work on the items being serviced in that workshop. This system should be traceable by an unbroken chain of comparisons, through
measurement standards of successively better accuracy up to the appropriate
A wheel bay, for example, may have sets of special spanners, levers, seal standard. Where recommendations for calibration standards are not published, or
applicators and pre-set torque wrenches, which are used primarily for the where they are not specified, calibration should be carried out, in the UK, in
servicing of particular types of aircraft wheels. This dedicated tool kit makes tool accordance with British Standard EN 30012-1: Quality Assurance Requirements
control much simpler and safer, with the tools all being clearly marked as for Measuring Equipment.
belonging to that specific bay.
As an alternative to operating an internal Measurement and Calibration System,
an Approved Organisation or an Approved/Licensed Engineer may enter into a
sub-contracting arrangement to use an Appliance Calibration Service. This
arrangement does not absolve the contractors of the service from maintaining
standards as if they were carrying out the work themselves.
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In all instances, it is the responsibility of the user to be satisfied that the unbroken
Calibration records or certificates should, as a minimum, contain the following

traceability chain is in place. External organisations, which supply an external information for each appliance calibrated:
Calibration Service, should be those holding accreditation of the National
Accreditation of Measurement and Sampling, (NAMAS).  Identification of equipment
 Limits of permissible error
3.3.2 Procedures  Standard used
 Authority under which the document was issued
The definition of appliances requiring calibration are those items which are  Results obtained
necessary to perform measurements or tests of an aircraft, a system or a
 Any limitation of use of equipment
component, to defined limits, as specified in the technical documentation of the
 Uncertainty of measurement
Type Certificate holder.
 Date when each calibration was conducted
Procedures, controlling regular inspection, servicing and, where appropriate,  Assigned calibration interval.
calibration of such items, are to indicate to the users that the item is within any
inspection time limit. These ‘Next Inspection’ labels must clearly state when, and, Where calibration services are provided by outside organisations, it is acceptable
if necessary, where the next calibration is due. that the accuracy of the equipment is attested by a release document in the name
of the Calibration Company.
There should be a programme that plans the periodic inspection, service or
calibration within the defined time limit, which ensures that the item remains in Any measurement is affected, to some degree, by the environment in which it is
calibration. It is common sense to stagger the calibration of items, so that the made. The equipment will need to be calibrated, transported and stored under
largest number are available for use at all times. It is also important, that a conditions compatible with the type of equipment, to ensure its accuracy is not
register of all items requiring calibration is held, so that cross-checking can be impaired.
simply carried out. Where a small number of particular items are held, then
contract loan of equipment is permitted. To provide valid and repeatable test results, the facilities used for calibration must
have a controlled environment. It is necessary to control the temperature,
The intervals at which calibration is required, can vary with the nature of the humidity, vibration, dust, cleanliness, electromagnetic interference, lighting and
equipment, the conditions under which it is used and the consequences of other factors that may affect the standard of the results. If any of these
incorrect results. The frequency will be in accordance with the manufacturer or requirements cannot be met, then compensation corrections must be applied to
supplier’s instructions, unless the organisation can show that a different interval is the calibration standard to ensure continued accuracy.
warranted in a particular case. This would normally require a system of
continuous analysis of calibration results to be established, to support the A measurement Checking Standard can be applied, at the work place, to check
variation to the recommended calibration intervals. the accuracy of an appliance and to ensure its continued correct functioning. The
Checking Standard will be robust and its accuracy will not match that of a full
Any appliance, the serviceability of which is in doubt, should be removed from calibration check, but it will give confidence between checks that the equipment is
service and clearly labelled accordingly. The appliance must not be returned to functioning correctly.
service unless the reason for its unserviceability has been eliminated and its
continued calibration re-validated. Action must be taken, if an item of equipment The company Quality System has the responsibility of ensuring the continued
is found, during re-calibration, to have a significant error. This must include re- accuracy, not only of the items of equipment, but also of the actual testing
checking of measurements made prior to finding the fault. facilities.
The scope of the records maintained, are dependent upon the standards required
and the nature of the equipment. The record system can also provide a valuable
reference in case of dispute or warranty claims. These records can also indicate
‘drift’ and can help in reassessing calibration intervals.
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3.4 Use of Workshop Materials
(mechanical)
The disposal of liquids is a critical operation, and must only be carried out in
accordance with company (and, often, national or international) regulations.
Many of the wide variety of materials, used in workshops, require some form of
control in their handling. This control can involve: Liquids must never be disposed of by pouring them into spare or unidentified
containers and they must not be allowed to enter the ‘domestic’ drains systems.
 Safety: relating to such topics as the toxicity, corrosiveness or other health
risks associated with the use of certain materials The working with, and the use of, high pressure gas containers and oxygen
systems, was adequately discussed in the Safety Precautions topic.
 Management: referring to the storage, use and correct handling of all
materials whether they are solid, liquid, or, in some instances, gaseous 3.5 Standards of Workmanship
 Economy: involving such matters as to the using of the correct dosage or Whilst the standards of workmanship, during the hand-working of metals and
proportions when mixing compounds, using only as much material as required other materials, is controlled by the craftsperson, once machinery is used in the
for a specific task and to the keeping in stock of only sufficient materials and manufacturing process, then the standards of finish and workmanship depend
thus avoiding ‘lifed’ items reaching their expiry dates before being used. upon the allowances set by the designer and on the type of machinery being
used.
Abrasive papers, solder and brazing materials, wire wool, tyre powder, oil spill
powder and so on, all require control of issue and use, though they may not, With hand tools, there are standards of finish, but these depend upon the skill of
normally, require stringent safety precautions. the craftsperson and, again, on the tools being used. For example, when filing
metal, different grades of files are used, to obtain a comparatively smooth surface
A huge range of liquids can be used in the workshop situation, some of which are finish while other methods, such as abrasive papers, pastes and polishes, are
harmless and some of which are extremely toxic. It is vital that the work-force then used, to provide the final finish.
make themselves aware of the risks involved when dealing with ANY materials,
and especially when working within enclosed areas. When sawing, the same procedures apply in that blades with finer teeth will give
a better finish to the sawn edges, which may then be further smoothed, using an
Some materials are flammable and must, therefore, be stored outdoors. These appropriate selection of files.
include oils, greases, some adhesives, sealing and glazing compounds in
addition to many paints, enamels and epoxy surface finishes, which are stored in When drilling a hole, the conventional twist drill will only produce a finish of a
metal cabinets and, usually, located (in the Northern hemisphere) on the North certain standard. If a finer finish, to the inside of the hole, is required, then a
side of a workshop or hangar. This ensures that the cabinet remains in the shade reamer would be used, to smooth the material inside the hole, so that, if a tight
of the building and does not get exposed to the sun’s hot rays during the day. It is fitting pin is to be fitted through the hole, there will be better surface contact.
also important that only the minimum amount of these materials is taken indoors
for the work which is being done. There are a variety of machines that can generate a smooth surface on a piece of
metal, the selection between them being decided by the quality of finish. A lathe
When handling materials that give off fumes, it may be necessary to have the can produce an exceptionally smooth surface on a bar or some other rotated
area well ventilated and/or have the operator wearing a mask or some form of shape. If a large area is required to have a smooth finish, then perhaps, after
remote breathing apparatus. The finished work may also give off fumes for some initial casting or forging, the choice may be of employing either a grinding
time afterwards, so care must be taken to keep it ventilated if necessary. machine or a milling machine, to .provide the desired result.
Obviously all liquids must only be used for the purpose for which they are In summary, the quality of the finished article is dependent both on the skill of the
designed and never mixed together, unless the two materials are designed to be craftsperson and the equipment available to complete the task. It does not matter
mixed, such as with two part epoxy adhesives and sealants. whether the tools in use are files and emery cloth or an expensive milling
Many liquids used in workshops and in the hangar have (as mentioned earlier) a machine; the standard of workmanship of the craftsperson can make a great deal
fixed ‘life’. This date is printed on the container and must be checked before use, of difference to the finished article.
because many materials are unsafe if used beyond their expiry date.
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4.1.2 Scriber
(mechanical)
4 TOOLS
Servicing of an aircraft, requires the dismantling, cleaning, examination, A scriber (refer to Fig. 2) is used for marking lines on the surface of metals.
adjustment and re-assembly of the parts in accordance with the maintenance Scribers are made from high-carbon steel and are classified by their length. One
schedule. Further aspects of the work may require the manufacture of simple end of the scriber is usually bent at right angles to enable lines to be scribed in
components from metal or other materials, the drilling and tapping of holes, difficult places such as through a hole.
removal of burrs and other operations. A reasonable degree of skill, in the use of
hand tools is, therefore, to be expected from all trades-persons. This skill can All scribed lines, on soft materials, must only be cutting (boundary) lines, and
only be obtained by practice, but it may be stated, that the more efficient the tool, none must be left on the surface of the metal on completion, as they can cause
then the better will be the finished work. cracks. Other lines, including bend lines and lines for the position of rivets must
be marked with a sharp pencil.
4.1 Common Hand Tools
Scriber points must be kept sharp and fine by careful ‘stoning’, with an oil stone,
The best results are always obtained by using the correct tool for the task. Care rather than an abrasive wheel (grindstone). Using a wheel is likely to generate too
and maintenance of all tools is very important, since damaged or inefficient tools much heat, which will result in the temper being drawn from the steel and the
can lead to injury of the user or damage to the components. A range of common point of the scriber becoming soft and useless.
hand tools is considered in this part of the course.
When not in use (and as with other tools with sharp points), placing pieces of
4.1.1 Engineer’s Rule cork, plastic or similar material over their points will protect them.
An engineer’s rule (refer to Fig. 1) is made from high-carbon steel and is 4.1.3 Key-Seat Rule
graduated in Imperial and Metric units. Rules are classified by the length and
width of their graduated portion, must be kept free from rust and should not be Key-seat rules are used for marking-off lines, parallel to the axis, on the surface
subjected to rough usage. The most common engineer’s rule has a length of of tubes or round bars (refer to Fig. 2). Sometimes referred to as ‘Box Squares’,
300mm (1ft) but rules can be obtained in lengths of up to 1,800mm (6ft). key-seat rules are usually graduated and are classified by their length.
The increment graduation marks are etched into the rule surface providing a
grooved recess. These grooves enable dividers to be set to a greater accuracy,
as the divider points can be felt to ‘drop in’ to the recess.
Key Seat Rule
Metric Scale
Round Bar
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
1 2 3 4 10 11 12
Imperial Scale
Edge View
Scriber
Grooves
Scriber and Key Seat Rule
Fig. 2
Engineer’s Rule
Fig. 1
71811175.doc Issued December 2002 Page 1 Page 2 71811175.doc Issued December 2002
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4.1.4 Fitter’s Square
(mechanical)
engineering
4.1.5 Combination Set
(mechanical)
The fitter’s square is used for setting out lines at right angles to an edge or The Combination Set (refer to Fig. 4), consists of a graduated steel rule, which
surface, and for checking right angular work for ‘truth’. Squares are made, to very has a machined groove running along the centre of its entire length. The rule can
fine limits, of high-carbon steel and are classified by the length of the blade. be slid into three different ‘heads’ and secured, by a locking screw device, so that
the combination of rule and ’head’ will enable certain tasks to be accomplished.
The blade and the stock have their opposing edges ground truly parallel with the
two limbs set at exactly 90 to each other. The Centre Head is used, with the rule, to locate the centre line of bars or round
tubes.
To preserve its accuracy it is essential that it is handled carefully at all times and,
when not in use, kept in a protective case or box. The Square Head has one working surface at 90° and another at 45° to the
locked rule. This allows the tool to be used, either in a similar manner to the
When testing a square for accuracy, it may be checked for truth against an Fitter’s Square (to check the squareness of work), or it may be used for the
accurately machined right angular test piece such as a ‘V’ block or master marking out of mitre joints and bevels.
square. If this is not possible, a test may be carried out (refer to Fig. 3) as follows:
A spirit level and scriber are, sometimes, accommodated in the base of the
 Place the stock against the true edge of a flat surface and scribing a line on Square Head, to permit a check to be done on the horizontal or vertical accuracy
the surface, using the outside edge of the blade of workpieces.
 Turn the square over and check the outside edge of the blade against the
previously scribed line. The Protractor Head also has a spirit level, which rotates with the head, and
allows the head to be used, singly, as a clinometer or, in conjunction with the rule,
If the square is accurate, the blade edge and the scribed line will be in line. In a it may be used to mark out and check angles on workpieces.
similar manner, the inside edge of the blade can be tested.
Scriber
Spirit Level
Centre Head
Square Head
True Edge
Groove
Protractor Head
Error
Testing a Square
Fig. 3
Combination Set
Fig. 4
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4.1.6 Surface Plates and Tables
(mechanical)
The V-cut grooves have a small, square-cut, clearance groove in the bottom of
the V. This ensures that any oil, or dirt runs off the sides of the V and does not
Surface plates (and surface tables which are larger), while not actually being clog the bottom of the V, causing an imperfect seating of any bar which were to
classed as marking out or measuring tools, are simply blocks of grey cast iron be placed in the blocks.
with finely machined faces which can be used as a standard of flatness. They
may also be used to provide a true surface, from which marking out, measuring V blocks are made in (identified) matching pairs, which must always be used
and testing can be done. together, so that a block of one pair should not be used with one of another pair.
Surface plates are usually mounted on a bench and, normally, only have three Some V blocks also have grooves machined along the other two longer, parallel,
supports, or feet, to ensure steadiness, if the surface of the bench were to be sides, to locate specially designed clamps, which may be used to securely hold
slightly uneven. work while it is being accurately marked out or drilled.
Surface tables are free standing, on the workshop floor, and their sheer weight 4.1.8 Surface Gauge (Scribing Block)
provides the required steadiness.
A Surface Gauge, or Scribing Block (refer to Fig. 5), is another marking out tool,
The standard of the surface finish varies. The better grades are scraped and the used, on a surface plate or table, in conjunction with a scriber (and, occasionally,
cheaper ones are merely planed. The accuracy of a planed table depends upon with V blocks), for the marking of lines, which are parallel to a true surface.
the accuracy of the machine producing it.
The scriber is clamped to a spindle, which can be accurately pivoted, by means
Surfaces of grade ‘A’ standard would only be used in Standards Rooms, grade ‘B’ of a fine adjustment screw, on the heavy base. The base, which is generally
surfaces are for inspection work while grade ‘C’ surface plates and tables would made from cast iron (or hardened steel) is machined to be as flat as the surface
be found in typical workshops. plate on which it slides, but it is also grooved (in a similar manner to the V block)
so that it can be used on round stock when required.
Surface plates and tables can be used to test for flatness, providing the standards
required are not too high. The surface of the plate is lightly smeared with a Two friction-fit pins, in the base, may be pushed down, to assist in drawing lines
mixture of engineer’s blue and a few drops of oil. The piece to be tested has to be parallel to a true edge.
rubbed lightly on to the surface plate and any high spots will show up as blue
spots on the test piece. These spots will be filed or scraped until the whole
surface shows blue.
V Blocks
After use, a light film of oil should be applied to the working surface of the surface
plates and tables. They should, then, be protected with a wooden cover, to
prevent the onset of corrosion.
4.1.7 V Blocks
V Blocks are accurately machined, six-sided, rectangular blocks (generally made

of cast iron), which may be used, on surface plates and tables, to hold a round Scribing Block
bar, which can then be marked in a variety of ways, to give centres and lines
parallel to its side. V blocks are classified by the maximum diameter of the work,
which they can hold. Surface Plate
All opposite sides of the blocks are parallel and all adjacent faces are square to
each other. A 90° groove (in the shape of a V) is machined in two (longer)
opposite faces, but the grooves are cut at different depths, to cater for bars of Scribing Block with V Blocks and Surface Plate
different diameters. Fig. 5
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4.1.9 Dividers
(mechanical)
engineering
4.1.11 Hammers
(mechanical)
Dividers are used to set out distances and to scribe arcs and circles. The legs are Hammers (refer to Fig. 7) are classified by their weight and type of head. Steel
made of high-carbon steel, the spring made of spring steel and the adjusting heads are forged and manufactured from high-carbon steel. Most shafts are
mechanism of mild steel. made from straight-grained Ash or Hickory and are secured to the head by
wedging.
Dividers are classified by the length of their legs. The points should be kept sharp
and of equal length by stoning only the outside of the legs. If grinding is used to
sharpen the points, it must be done very carefully, as the temper of the points can
be drawn, leaving them soft.
The points of dividers should be protected, when not in use, in a similar manner
to those of scribers and such tools.
4.1.10 Callipers
Callipers (refer to Fig. 6) are a type of measuring device, typically used to

measure diameters and distances or for comparing sizes. The three basic types
of calliper are: Ball Pein Straight Pein Cross Pein
Hide/Copper
 Outside Callipers: Used to measure the outside diameter of an object and Face
have legs that point inwards
 Inside Callipers: Used to measure the inside of a hole and have legs that point
outwards
 Odd-Leg Callipers (Hermaphrodite or ‘Jenny’ Callipers): This tool is really half
callipers and half dividers. It may be used for scribing arcs on metal surfaces
from an edge, for scribing lines parallel to an edge or surface, (provided
accuracy is not of great importance), and for finding the centre of a round bar.
Hide Face
Rubber Head
Plastic Face
Types of Hammers
Fig. 7
As can be seen from Fig. 7, the main types of engineering hammers are the:
Outside Inside Oddleg
 Ball Pein: The flat surface is used for most general-purpose work whilst the
Callipers
Fig. 6 ball pein is used primarily for riveting-type operations
 Straight Pein: Used for general work, the narrow, straight pein being
particularly suitable for use where access to the work is limited
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 Cross Pein: As for the straight pein, but the axis of the pein is at 90° to that of Centre Punches are relatively sharp-pointed tools, used to make an indentation in
the shaft metal. The indentation aids in locating the centre of a hole and for starting a drill
 Hide/Copper Face: The rawhide facing enables heavy blows to be delivered bit when drilling the hole. The points may be ground at angles between 60 to 90°,
without damaging the surface of the work, while the copper face may be used depending on the hardness of the metal on which the punch is being used. The
for heavier types of work than hide faced hammers softer the metal, then the larger will be the angle of the punch’s point.
 Rubber Head and Plastic Face: More modern versions of the Hide Face
hammer. Can often have one of each type of face on each end of the head When using a centre punch, it must be struck hard enough to give an indentation
 Claw Hammer (not shown): More commonly used for woodworking. The face large enough for a drill bit to start, but not so hard as to distort the metal.
is used for hammering nails whilst the claw is used for removing nails
 Body Hammer (not shown): Little used in aircraft work, as they are primarily Another form of Centre Punch is the ‘Dot’ or ‘Prick’ Punch (also ‘Pricker’), which
used to remove dents and blemishes from sheet metal. They are also known has a finer point and is used to make indentations along a drawn line when the
as planishing hammers. line is, otherwise, difficult to see. The indentations may also be used, when
sawing down to a line, as ‘witness’ points, to show that the cutting is accurate.
The weight of hammer required can be found with experience. Before use, it must
be ensured that the head is secure on the shaft. The shaft should be gripped Centre punches should not be used to drive out pins or rivets from their holes.
close to the end opposite the head, as proper control is not possible if it is held
close to the head. Pin Punches, as their name implies, are the tools to be used for the removal of
pins and rivets from their respective holes. The driving end of a Pin Punch is cut
4.1.12 Punches flat, and its diameter ground to match that of the pin or rivet which is being driven
from its hole. Pin Punches may be found with parallel or tapered driving ends.
Although punches are not ‘pounding tools’, they do allow the force from a
hammer blow to be concentrated in the immediate area of the punch tip. This in Hollow Punches are used to punch out bolt (or stud) holes in soft, thin sheets,
turn means that the pressure at the end of the punch is increased compared to a such as shimming or gasket materials, which are difficult to cut with drills. The
hammer blow without a punch. material being cut, should be supported by a wooden block, to avoid damaging
the cutting end of the Hollow Punch.
Over a period of time, the hammered shank end of a punch, tends to deform into
the shape of a mushroom. To reduce the chance of a metal chip flying off and Drifts may be fashioned from aluminium alloy, copper or steel bars (or tubes), and
causing injury, during punching operations, the deformation should be removed are used for driving out bearings, bushes or shafts from their respective cages or
and the shank end returned to its original shape by the use of a bench grinder. housings.
Eye or face protection should always be used when using punches of any type. Only steel drifts should be used on bearings, due to the possibility of small metal
chips, from the softer metals, breaking off and fouling the bearing assemblies.
The types of punches, more commonly found in an engineer’s toolkit, include:
4.1.13 Metal-Cutting Chisels
 Centre Punches
Metal-cutting chisels (also called Cold Chisels) are used in conjunction with steel
 Pin Punches
hammers. Chisels are forged, usually using short lengths of hexagonal-sectioned,
 Hollow Punches
high-carbon steel bars, with the cutting edge hardened and tempered.
 Drifts
To prevent flying particles when hammering, the striking end is not hardened and
The first three punches are, usually, constructed from hexagonal (or knurled, is, therefore, comparatively softer. Periodically, the burr, that forms at the striking
round) rods of tempered, cast steel with a length of approximately 127 mm (5 in), end of the chisel, should (in a similar manner to punches), be removed by filing or
a gripping diameter of approximately 3.175 mm (0.125 in) and a smaller, driving grinding.
end of the appropriate size.
Alternatively, the chisels may be made of nickel-alloy steel, specially heat-treated,
to produce a long-lasting cutting edge.
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uk MODULE 7
Chisels are classified by their shape, overall length, cross-section of shank and
In general, it may be assumed that the softer the metal the more acute should be
width of cut. There are four principal shapes of chisels (refer to Fig. 8), in general the cutting angle. Table 5 shows some suggested cutting angles for use on
use. They are the: typical metals, found in aircraft engineering workshops.
 Flat Table 1
 Cross-Cut SUGGESTED CHISEL CUTTING ANGLES
 Diamond-Point Hard Steels 70
 Half-Round. Mild Steels 60
Soft Metals 40
Flat chisels are used for general chipping work, such as parting sheet metal or
cutting flat surfaces, preparatory to filing. The cutting edge is formed slightly High-carbon, steel chisels, should be sharpened by grinding on an abrasive
convex. wheel, but nickel-alloy, steel chisels are sharpened by filing. The cutting edge of
the chisel must be kept cool, during grinding, by frequent immersion in water,
Cross-Cut (or Cape) chisels are used to cut narrow, flat-bottomed, grooves, such which will prevent the temper being drawn from the metal.
as keyways in shafts or where it is not practical to use a flat chisel. These chisels
are also used to remove the heads of round-headed rivets during repairs. 4.1.14 Bench Vice
Diamond-Point chisels are particularly useful for cutting in corners, cutting small The bench vice (refer to Fig. 9) is used to firmly grip the material or item upon
oil grooves and for rectifying an incorrect start when drilling. which work is being done in a workshop. The body of the vice is provided with
detachable steel jaws. The screw is made with a square or with a buttress thread.
Half-Round (and may, also, be called Round) chisels are general-purpose,
grooving chisels, which are suitable for cutting half-round, bottomed, grooves. Most types of bench vice have a quick-release mechanism, operated by a small
They are also suitable for rectifying an incorrect start when drilling. lever. The jaws can then be slid either open or closed until the correct position is
reached. The lever disengages the half nut from the thread to permit the sliding
action and it is driven back into engagement by a strong spring. Bench vices are
classified by the length of their jaws.
The height of the top of the vice above the ground is important, and should
ideally, be level with the technician’s elbow when standing adjacent to the vice.
With the vice at the correct height, work will be less tiring and correct control of
the tools, such as files and saws, will be achieved.
The vice must be secured firmly to the bench (with occasional checks of the
holding-down nuts), and the screw should be kept clean and lubricated. The jaws
must not be over-tightened as the mechanism may be damaged or the workpiece
become distorted.
Flat Cross-Cut Diamond-Point Half-Round
To protect soft materials from the hardened, serrated, vice jaws, aluminium ‘vice
Chisel Types clamps’ (or clams) can be positioned over the jaws. Other, special holding
Fig. 8 devices, such as ‘V’ blocks (made out of wood to protect tubular items) can be
manufactured locally.
When selecting a chisel for a specific task, consideration must be given both to
the nature of the work and to the material that is to be cut. The nature of the work
governs the choice of shape, whilst the angle formed by the cutting edge is
influenced by the hardness of the metal.
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4.1.16 Hacksaws
(mechanical)
The hacksaw, is the most widely-used, metal-cutting, hand saw. Hacksaws are
used for parting off, or for cutting materials approximately to size. They are
designed primarily for cutting metal, but may be used on other materials. The saw
consists of a mild steel frame, with a suitable handle and a replaceable, serrated
blade, which is made from high-carbon or alloy steel.
Fine-toothed blades have 24 or 32 teeth per inch and are used for cutting thin
material. Coarser blades, with 14 or 18 teeth per inch are for thicker material. A
‘rule of thumb’ is that at least two teeth must be in contact, with the work being
cut, at all times (refer to Fig. 11).
Bench Vice
Fig. 9
Thicker Sections - Less Teeth per Inch

4.1.15 Hand Vice
A hand vice (refer to Fig. 10) is classified by its overall length and can be used
when splicing cables or holding small objects that are to be shaped or drilled. The
body and screw are made of mild steel, with a wing nut provided for the operation
of the hand vice. Small vice clamps can also be used with these vices when
working with soft material.
Thinner Sections - More Teeth per Inch
Hacksaw Teeth in Contact with Workpiece

Fig. 11
The blade mountings must be set in the most convenient position with the teeth
facing away from the handle. This allows the blade to cut on the more efficient,
forward stroke.
Hand Vice Hand pressure should be applied on this forward stroke and relieved on the
Fig. 10 return stroke. The full length of the blade should be used for each stroke, if at all
possible. This action prolongs the life of the blade, lessens the chance of teeth
breaking away from the blade and reduces the chance of the saw jamming during
use.
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Saw blades are given an alternate ‘set’, during manufacture, which results in the
engineering
4.1.18 Files
(mechanical)
cutting slot (the ‘kerf’) being wider than the blade thickness (refer to Fig. 12). This
prevents the blade from jamming, which may result in a bent or broken blade. Files are cutting tools for removing metal from a surface and are made of high-
carbon steel. The blade is hardened, whilst the tang (to which, a handle must
always be attached, for safety reasons, before the file is used), is left in a softer,
tougher condition and is, therefore, less brittle. Hand files are classified by their:
 Length
 Shape
 Cross-Section
 Cut
 Grade.
The length of a file is measured from the shoulder to the tip of the blade. Files are
available, for special work, in lengths from 75 mm (3 in) to 350 mm (14 in). The
most common sizes are 150 mm (6 in), 200 mm (8 in) and 250 mm (10 in).
Teeth ‘Set’ Files are available in a variety of shapes (refer to Fig. 13), and the most common
Fig. 12 shapes are those which are:
4.1.17 Sheet Metal Shears and Snips  Parallel

 Tapered
Shears are another type of cutting tool used on aircraft sheet metal. Long,  Bellied.
straight cuts, across a piece of sheet metal, are made on a guillotine, which may
also be referred to as ‘squaring shears’.
Tip Shoulder
The fabrication of smaller parts requires hand cutting, followed with further
trimming to the final dimensions. This can be achieved with different types of Parallel
shears, known as Tinman’s Shears or Aviation Snips. They can vary in length
from 175 mm (7 in) up to 300 mm (12 in) and can be straight or curved cutting.
Length Tang
Straight shears (or snips) are primarily for cutting straight or wide radius curves
whilst the curved shears are dedicated solely to cutting curves.
Tapered
Curved shears can be found in symmetrical form, which can be used to cut
curves in either direction, or they can be asymmetrical and dedicated to cutting
curves in one direction only. The handles of asymmetrically curved shears are
usually colour-coded (red and green), to indicate the intended cutting direction.
‘Left-cutting’ shears are coloured red while ‘right-cutting’ shears are coloured Bellied
green).
Unlike hacksaws (and files), shears simply part the metal without removing any
material. This can, however, cause tiny fractures to occur along the severed lines Three Most Common Shapes of Files
and so, for this reason, cuts should be made approximately 0.8 mm (0.03 in) from Fig. 13
the marking out line and the metal then filed down to the line.
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The various shapes and the cross-sections of files allow them to be used on a
The ‘Cut’ of a file refers to the arrangement of the cutting teeth, on the blade of
wide range of tasks. The standard file cross-sections (refer to Fig. 14) are: the file. The pattern, in which the teeth are cut, will depend upon the type of
material to be filed. The common cuts of files (refer to Fig. 15) are the:
 Hand
 Round  Single Cut
 Half-Round  Double Cut
 Square  Dreadnought
 Three-Square.  Rasp.
Hand Round Half-Round Square Three-Square Single Cut Double Cut Dreadnought Rasp
File Cross-Sections File Cuts

Fig. 14 Fig. 15
The Hand is the most commonly used section for general filing; and the blade is The Single Cut file has its teeth cut parallel, in a single direction and (for general
usually parallel in shape. One edge may be without teeth, to permit safe working engineering), usually, at an angle of approximately 60° to the main axis of the
against a finished surface. Such a file is called a ‘Hand Safe Edge’ (HSE) file. blade. This type of cut is relatively open and the teeth do not clog easily.
The Round section is used in association with bellied, parallel and tapered blade Sometimes referred to as ‘Floats’, single cut Hand files are, chiefly, used for filing
shapes, with the bellied being the one most commonly used. These files are hard metals. Round files and the curved surface of Half-Round files are usually
suitable for filing small radii. single cut.
Half-Round files are mostly associated with a bellied-shaped blades. Such files The Double Cut file also has one set of teeth cut at an angle of 60° to the centre
are suitable for use on work of irregular shape or for filing large internal radii. line of the file, with another, crossing set, cut at angle of approximately 75°. This
is the most widely used type of file for general purposes.
Square files may be bellied, tapered or parallel in shape. They are used for
internal work. The cut of the Dreadnought’s teeth, make this file especially suitable for heavy
cutting on broad, soft metal surfaces. Its use is generally restricted to the larger
Three-Square (or Triangular) files are, usually, of the bellied shape. They are sizes of flat files.
particularly useful for filing internal corners.
The teeth of the Rasp are ‘cut’ with a punch, while the metal is hot, at the time of
manufacture. This type of cut is used for filing very soft materials such as wood
and leather.
Manufacturers will cut files to cater for a wide range of specialised materials, such
as encountered when working with aluminium and other non-ferrous alloys.
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The ‘Grade’ of a file refers to the depth and spacing (number of teeth per inch) of
the cutting teeth in a similar manner to the size and spacing of the particles As mentioned previously, the height of the vice is important and platforms may be
employed on abrasive papers and wheels. The rate of cutting and the finish given constructed, to ensure that the elbows of shorter persons are level with the top of
to the work is determined, to a large extent, by the grade of the file. the vice. Any platforms, so constructed, should ensure that a correct stance be
attained, by the work-person, in front of the vice.
While there are several more grades of files, available from manufacturers, the
most common grades (or degrees of coarseness) of the single and double cut It is recommended that the person stand, with feet apart and (depending on
files, found in a typical aerospace technician’s toolkit, are the: whether the person is left- or right-handed), one foot advanced, in a manner
similar to a boxer (or a fencer) taking guard. The body weight should be taken on
Bastard the balls of the feet but, primarily, over the rearmost foot.
Second-Cut
Smooth. Again depending on the person, the handle of the file is gripped in the
appropriate hand, while the palm of the other hand is placed, flat on the back of
The Bastard is a comparatively coarse grade of file and, though the number of the file, near the tip, when the tip of the file is resting on the workpiece.
teeth per inch varies with each manufacturer, the Bastard file has approximately
30 teeth per inch. It removes metal fairly quickly and is intended, primarily, for Using a rocking action, the body weight is transferred over the forward foot while
roughing out, but may be used for the entire work, if the finish is not important. pushing the file forward (and, simultaneously, to the left or right) with the gripping
hand, and exerting equal downward pressure, on the file, with both hands.
The Second-Cut files are finer (40 teeth per inch) and, consequently, give a better
surface finish to the work, but are slower cutting. The full length of the file should be used for each stroke (which should not be
rushed) and, at the completion of the stroke, the action is reversed, excepting that
Smooth files (50 to 60 teeth per inch) enable a good finish to be obtained, but the downward pressure is relieved on the backstroke, as the file does not cut in
such files cut comparatively slowly. They should, therefore, be used for finishing the rearward direction.
work only.
Obviously, if attempting to file a flat surface, then it must be ensured that the file
4.1.19 Filing Techniques is kept level during the filing action and that regular checks are made to verify the
accuracy of the dimensions.
Good filing is not just a matter of removing surplus metal. The correct amount of
material, at each point on the surface of the workpiece, needs to be removed, so During work (and particularly so with non-ferrous metals), the teeth of the file
that the dimensions and tolerances, set by the drawing, will be met. gradually become clogged (pinned) with small particles. If these pinnings are
ignored they will cause scratches to the surface of the workpiece with subsequent
Proficiency comes with practice. New files should, if possible, be first used on soft loss of surface finish. To this end, pinnings should be regularly removed by the
metal. This achieves ‘tempering’ of the cutting teeth and will contribute to a longer use of a ‘file card’ (also called a ‘scratch card’) or wire brush.
life for the file.
Chalk, rubbed along the face of the file, before starting the finishing work, will
Before starting work, it must be ensured that the workpiece is secure and assist in minimising pinning.
correctly placed, as both hands are required for filing tasks.
Draw-filing, by grasping the file between the fingers and thumbs of both hands,
A file must never be used without a handle. The file will not be under full control on either side of a workpiece, and rubbing back and forth on the surface, may be
and the risk of puncturing the wrist or palm is very great. used to rectify any ‘hollows’, which may appear on a filed surface, due to
incorrect filing action. It may also be used, in conjuction with chalk, applied as
Files must be handled carefully. File blades, being hard, are also brittle and will previously described, to assist in creating a finer surface finish.
break if dropped. After use, all files should be returned to their respective racks or
bandolier-type holdalls, to prevent them knocking together and being damaged.
The length and grade of file, appropriate to the shape (and material) of the
workpiece, and to the quality of the desired surface finish, must always be used.
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engineering
4.1.20 Hand Brace (Hand Drill)
(mechanical)
engineering
4.1.21 Twist Drills
(mechanical)
Whenever it is necessary to cut accurate, circular holes in materials, then, where While the range of tools, designed to create holes in metals and other materials is
possible, the material should be securely clamped and the holes cut, using fixed, vast, the Morse-type (named after its inventor, an American engineer) of Twist
power-operated drilling machines. These machines are usually found in Drill (refer to Fig. 17) is the one most commonly used in aircraft (and in general)
workshops and bays, bolted down to the floor (or to benches) and will be engineering.
discussed in later topics. Where it is impractical to do the work with fixed
machines, then the drilling is done, using either portable power tools or hand- The shank is the part of the twist drill that is gripped and driven by the chuck of
operated drills. Portable, power-operated tools will also be discussed later. the drilling machine and it is on the shank that the details of the type (grade) and
diameter of the drill can usually be found printed or engraved.
The Hand Brace, or, as it is more usually called, the Hand Drill (refer to Fig. 16),
is, typically, only used to drill holes of up to 6.5 mm, (¼ in) diameter in thin and On drills up to 12.5 mm (½”) diameter, the shank is parallel and placed into the
comparatively soft materials. The device shown is similar to those most jaws of a self-centring chuck. On drills above 12.5 mm the shank is usually
commonly found in the toolkits of aircraft technicians, though the actual design tapered (to a Morse Taper) of 1:20. The tapered shank fits directly into a
will depend upon each manufacturer. matching tapered housing in the drilling machine spindle.
Another hand-operated drill, the Breast Brace, being larger, is designed to hold The tapered shank usually ends in a tang and this arrangement provides a more
larger drills than the hand drill and is, normally, used (in workshops etc.) for positive drive, which is necessary to overcome the higher forces when drilling
drilling holes between 6.5 mm and 12 mm (¼ and ½ in). with the larger diameter drills.
The breast brace has one other advantage over the hand drill, in that two running Land
Flute
speeds can be selected, which will more closely match the correct speed, Point
required by the various sized twist drills being employed.
Body Shank
Twist Drill
Fig. 17
The helical flute (or fluting), formed in the drill body, provides a rake angle for the
cutting edges of the drill. The fluting also allows any lubricant to flow towards the
cutting edges and provides a path for the waste metal (‘swarf’), to move clear.
Hand Brace (Hand Drill)
Fig. 16 The land of the drill actually touches the wall of the hole and steadies the drill
during rotation. Immediately behind the land, metal is removed from the body of
the drill, to reduce the friction during rotation.
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In order that the drill will cut properly, the point must be ground to the correct  Carbon Steel drills, in addition to iron and carbon, contain various amounts of
shape (refer to Fig. 18). The cutting, angle of 59 (118° inclusive), a clearance manganese, silicon, sulphur and phosphorus. The letters CS may be found on
angle of 12 and a web angle of 130°, are typical for normal metal cutting, such as the shanks of these drills.
aluminium alloys, steels, cast iron and copper. These can be changed to suit the
cutting of different materials such as harder metals, softer metals or plastics. High Speed Steel (HSS) drills, contain a comparatively high percentage of
tungsten (8%-12%) with a lesser percentage of chromium (5%) and smaller
Web or Point amounts of vanadium and, possibly, molybdenum added to the carbon and iron in
Angle this steel.
115°-135°
Inclusive HSS drills retain their hardness at low red heat and can, thus, be used at much
higher speeds than carbon steel drills. This results in much less damage to the
cutting edges and, although HSS drills are more expensive than CS drills they
can, over a period of time, result in a greater economy in the purchase of drills.
Cobalt Steel drills, contain up to 12% cobalt, with as much as 20% tungsten, 4%
chromium, 1%-2% vanadium and traces of molybdenum combined with 0.8%
Clearance Angle carbon. These drills are normally used on metals such as stainless steels,
Cutting
Angle 12°-15° titanium and other very hard metals.
59°
Cutting Being extremely hard, Cobalt Steel drills are also quite brittle. Because of this, the
Edges
use of these drills can be very dangerous, and, so, strict observance of the
Typical Twist Drill Point Angles recommended cutting speeds is essential.
Fig. 18
Drill diameter sizes are also usually marked upon the shank of the drill and can
It is essential that the drill point is central and that the cutting angles of 59 are be identified by the method used in their sizing. The most common methods of
equal. An offset point or unequal cutting angles will cause an unbalanced rotation identifying the diameter of twist drills are:
that will, in turn, produce an oversized hole.
 Metric
To achieve the desired cutting and clearance angles (and resulting web angles),  Fractions of an inch
a drill grinding attachment may be found attached to a grinding wheel in a  The Number/Letter range.
workshop.
In the Metric range, the smallest, commercially available, drill has a diameter size
Hand grinding/sharpening of drills can be achieved (especially after practice), to of 0.35 mm. The full range proceeds in increments of 0.05 mm up to 5.0 mm,
an acceptable standard for general work. For the high standard of hole, required and, for larger sizes, in increments of 0.1 mm.
to receive rivets, in the pressurised skins of aircraft, it is common practice to
discard drills, which have become blunt and to replace them with new drills. The Fractional (Inch) range has a minimum size of 1/64” diameter, proceeding in
steps of 1/64” up to 15/8”, and then in steps of 1/32” up to 3” diameter.
There are many different grades of metal, used in the manufacture of twist drills,
the most common being: Table 6 shows an extract from the Number/Letter Range method of sizing drills.
This method utilises numbers from 80 to 1 and letters from A to Z. The smallest
 Carbon Steel size being the Number 80 (0.35 mm diameter) drill, and the decreasing number of
 High Speed Steel sizing indicating an increase in the drill diameter.
 Cobalt Steel.
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uk MODULE 7
The letters supersede the numbers after number 1 (5.80 mm) is reached, with the
When drilling small holes, up to 6.0 mm (¼”) diameter, the depth of the centre
next largest drill diameter being labelled A (5.85 mm). The letters then move punch mark will, usually, accommodate the non-cutting, chisel-like point of the
through the alphabet to the drill diameter size Z (10.50 mm), which is the end of drill, keeping it on centre and guiding the drill until it is established in the metal.
the scale.
When a hole larger than 6.0 mm diameter is to be drilled, the centre punch mark
Table 2 is not large enough to accept the non-cutting point of the drill. In this instance it
EXTRACT FROM THE NUMBER/LETTER RANGE OF DRILL SIZES will be necessary to employ the use of a pilot drill (refer to Fig. 19) to provide a
Number or Standard Number or Standard Number or Standard guide for the larger drill.
Letter Metric Size Letter Metric Size Letter Metric Size
80 0.35 4 5.30 S 8.85 Firstly the centre of the hole is marked out on the metal and care must be taken
79 0.38 3 5.40 T 9.10 to accurately centre punch the metal.
78 0.40 2 5.60 U 9.35
77 0.45 1 5.80 V 9.55 A small drill (the pilot drill), whose diameter is slightly larger than the non-cutting
76 0.50 A 5.85 W 9.80 point of the ‘finished size’ drill, is selected and a pilot hole is drilled in the metal
75 0.52 B 6.05 X 10.10 (ensuring that the correct lubricant, for the particular metal, is used).
74 0.58 C 6.15 Y 10.30
73 0.60 D 6.25 Z 10.50 The pilot drill is replaced by the ‘finished size’ drill, which can, then (and again
using lubricant), be guided through the pilot hole to complete the hole to the
appropriate size.
The Metric sizes have virtually superseded the numbered and lettered ranges
and, usually, a metric size can be found as a replacement for an obsolete size.
If the drill is too small to have the size stamped on the shank, then either a drill
gauge or a micrometer should be used to establish its size correctly.
The use of a suitable lubricant when drilling is very important, not only does the
use of lubricant improve the quality of the hole, but it also assists in dissipating
the heat produced by drilling. This improves the cutting efficiency and prolongs
the life of the drill. Table 3 shows some of the recommended lubricants, which
may be employed when drilling metals.
Table 3
RECOMMENDED LUBRICANTS FOR METALS
Material Lubricant
Mild Steel Soluble Oil
High-Carbon and Alloy Steels Kerosene or Turpentine
Aluminium Alloys Kerosene
Cast Iron and Brass Usually no Lubricant Required
For a twist drill to cut efficiently it must rotate at the correct speed, in a particular Using a Pilot Drill
metal, for a given diameter drill. Most hand drills (excepting Breast Braces) are Fig. 19
limited to one speed, which is a compromise on the ideal speed for the material
and for the drill size. The speed of most static drilling machines can be varied by
means of a gearbox or variable drive belt/pulley arrangement.
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4.1.22 Stop, and Press (Dimpling), Countersinking Tools

Press countersinking or ‘dimpling’ is done where the aircraft skin is too thin to
countersink, and without the attendant risk of enlarging the drilled hole. The
Two special tools, used during the riveting process, are the ‘Stop’ countersinking edges of the hole are formed, to accommodate the head of the rivet, by using a
bit and the ‘Press’ countersinking, or (as it is more commonly known), the set of dimpling dies, using either ‘coin dimpling’ or ‘radius dimpling’ methods.
Dimpling tool. Both of these tools have evolved as a result of the need for flush
skins on high-performance aircraft. Coin dimpling forces the sheets into the lower die, leaving a sharply defined and
parallel-sided hole. This process also allows a number of sheets to be ‘stacked’
In order to have the rivet heads flush with the surface, the skin must be prepared together at the expense of a complex pair of tools and leaves a neat, clean
by either cutting away a portion of the metal to match the taper of the rivet head, dimpled hole with smooth sides (refer to Fig. 21).
or by indenting (by pressing) the edges of the hole to accept the rivet head.
Radius dimpling uses a male die to drive the sheets into a female die. The sides
If the top sheet of the metal, being joined, is thicker than the tapered portion of of the formed holes are not as smooth as the coin dimpling method, but this less-
the rivet head, then the material should be ‘cut’ countersunk. precise operation is quicker and cheaper to achieve.
Whilst the standard countersink bit (or a twist drill, twice the diameter of the rivet With harder materials, such as magnesium and certain aluminium alloys, a
hole) can be used, in a hand or power drill, to form a countersunk hole, the lack of process called hot dimpling is used. This method involves pre-heating the metal,
accuracy and consistency means they are only useful for small jobs and certainly so that it forms more easily and is less likely to crack when shaping takes place.
they should not be used where pressurised skins are concerned.
Where a large number of holes need to be countersunk to a consistent depth,

then the Stop Countersink tool should be used (refer to Fig. 20). This tool can be
adjusted to cut an exact countersink repeatedly, regardless of the force applied to
the drill/tool combination.
Dimpled
Punch
The pilots can be changed, depending on the size of holes in the material, Skin
leaving the remainder of the tool to be used for all jobs unchanged. The stop may Skin
be held rigidly, during cutting, to prevent marking the surface.
After Rivet has

Locknut Stop been Formed
Die
Fibre Collar
Face
Dimpling Tool
Fig. 21
Pilot
Drill Chuck
Fitting Chip Opening
Stop Countersink Tool

Fig. 20
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engineering
4.1.23 Reamers
(mechanical)
Reamers are precision-ground tools, which are used to enlarge drilled holes to
accurate dimensions and provide a smooth internal finish to accommodate
precision-ground bolts and some special types of rivets. Reamers are
manufactured from high-carbon steel or alloy steel and are fluted to provide a
series of cutting edges. Straight Fluted Reamer
They are available, either for use by hand, or for using with a suitable drilling
machine. Machine reamers can usually be identified by the Morse tapered shank,
which is inserted directly into the spindle of a drilling machine.
The use of machine reamers is, usually, the prerogative of specialist machinists
and not of line- or hangar-based aircraft engineers so that only the hand-operated
reamers will be discussed here.
Hand reamers are rotated, by means of the hand wrench, which locates on the Spiral Fluted Reamer
squared portion of the shank. They must always be rotated only in the cutting
direction, even when withdrawing from a hole. The cutting lubricants, used on
specific materials, are those which are used for drilling procedures. Hand Parallel Reamers
Fig. 22
Reamers are used for removing only small amounts of material, which, typically,
for hand reamers, is approximately 0.2 mm-0.3 mm (0.008 in-0.012 in), so holes Hand Expanding Reamers (refer to Fig. 23) are used where standard parallel
should be drilled with this fact in mind. reamers of the required dimension are not available. This type of reamer has
separate, replaceable blades that slide, in tapering slots, and which are held in
Reamers are supplied in protective sleeves, to protect the fine, vulnerable cutting position by a pair of circular nuts. The reamer blades can be adjusted to the
edges, which run along the body of the tool and, to preserve the sharp edges, required cutting size by slackening one nut and tightening the other.
they should be kept in their sleeves when not in use.
The shape of each blade is such that, at any point along the slot, its cutting edge
The three most common types of hand-operated reamers are the: is always parallel to the axis of the reamer. The size range of each expanding
reamer is stamped on its shank. The actual size set during adjustment can be
 Hand Parallel Reamer checked using either a ring gauge or micrometer/calliper.
 Hand Expanding Reamer
 Hand Taper Reamer.
Hand Parallel Reamers (refer to Fig. 22) are fixed-size, parallel-bodied reamers,
possessing either straight or spiral flutes. The straight fluted reamer can be
considered to be the general-purpose reamer, whilst the spiral fluted reamer is
used for reaming holes which have keyways or grooves as the spiral flutes
smoothly bridge the edges of the gap in the metal while the reamer rotates.
Hand Expanding Reamer
Fig. 23
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uk MODULE 7
Hand Taper Reamers (refer to Fig. 24), are used to produce a tapered hole for
engineering
4.1.24 Internal Screw Thread, Cutting Taps
(mechanical)
the insertion of a standard taper pin. The two types of tapered reamers are the:
Taps are used for the hand cutting of internal (female) screw threads of the
 Metric: This type, and its corresponding taper pins, have a taper of 1:50. Its common types, up to a maximum diameter of approximately 25.4 mm (1.0 in).
size is etched, or stamped, on the shank, and refers to its smaller diameter They are short, threaded bars of hardened and tempered steel, which are fluted
to give cutting edges and the end of the shank is squared, to facilitate turning with
 Imperial: The reamers and the taper pins, for which they are used, have a a wrench (refer to Fig. 25). Taps are normally made in sets of three, with the
taper of 1:48. The size of a reamer is indicated by numbers (which range from exception of the BA thread tap sets, which have only two taps to a set. A tap set,
0 to 10), or by a fractional designation. The size is etched or stamped on the which all have the same maximum diameter, normally consists of a:
shank and refers to its larger diameter.
 Taper Tap
 Second Tap
 Plug Tap
The Taper Tap is used to start the thread cutting process. It is tapered gradually
from the point for about two thirds of the threaded length, so that it can enter the
pre-drilled hole easily and assist in the correct alignment of the tap (which is very
important) before cutting commences. The last third of its length has fully formed
Hand Taper Reamer
threads.
Fig. 24
The difference between the Metric and Imperial tapers is very slight, but it is The Second (or Intermediate) Tap is used, following the taper tap, to deepen the
sufficient to make the taper pins incompatible. When replacement taper pins are thread. This tap is tapered for the first two or three threads only and, where it is
required, particularly when both types are available, then great care must be possible for the tap to pass the whole length through a hole, it is capable of
taken to ensure that pins of the correct taper, size and type are installed. cutting a fully formed thread. The Intermediate is the tap that is not available in
BA thread tapping sets.
The Plug (or Bottoming) Tap has no taper and its purpose is to finish the threads
in deep, through holes or to cut threads to the bottom of ‘blind’ holes.
Before the thread can be cut, a hole must be drilled in the workpiece. This hole
must be of the correct size and the drill that is selected (the ‘tapping’ drill), must
have the same diameter as the minor diameter of the thread needed to be cut.
The correct tapping drill size can be obtained from workshop charts and
reference books.
Unfortunately, because taps are ‘glass hard’ they are also brittle and can, thus,
be easily broken if due care is not given to their use. It is imperative that the tap’s
location in the drilled hole be constantly confirmed and that its main axis is
maintained in proper alignment with the corresponding axis of the hole.
Adequate cutting fluid (as used in the drilling procedure) must be applied, and the
arms of the wrench should be of an appropriate length (not too long) so that the
possibility of the tap wobbling in the hole, or excessive turning force being applied
to the tap (and especially to the smaller diameter taps), is minimised.
If a tap jams, and snaps off in a hole, its removal can cause serious difficulties.
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engineering
4.1.25 External Screw Thread, Cutting Dies
(mechanical)
Plug Tap
Dies are used for the hand cutting of external (male) threads on round rods or
bars of comparatively small diameters. While there are several designs of dies
Full Length (depending on the diameter of the thread being cut), consideration is given here
Threads
only to the ‘split’ circular or button dies (refer to Fig. 26), which are, typically,
Second Tap found in aircraft maintenance workshops and may be used, by aircraft
technicians, for the manufacture of studs and similar items.
Full
2-3 Thread
Threads
Circular dies consist of an internally threaded (‘right’ or ‘left handed’) disc of
Taper hardened and tempered steel, which is fluted to form several cutting edges. Dies
Taper Tap also need to be rotated (in a similar manner to the previously mentioned taps), in
order to cut threads but, unlike a tap and wrench, a die is rotated by the use of a
stock.
Gradual Full
Taper Conventional Tap Set Die discs, within the smaller diameter ranges have a standard outside diameter,
Threads
Fig. 25 which allows a range of dies, with different internal sizes, to be used with the
same, standard, stock. The discs are ‘split’, to allow for a degree of adjustment to
Following the drilling of the correct sized hole, the tapping procedure involves the depth of the thread being cut.
ensuring that the workpiece is securely held (firmly attached to another
component or clamped in a vice) and that the taper tap is attached to the correct The manufacturers name, thread type, diameter and number of threads per
sized wrench. Taps, incidentally, may have ‘right’ or ‘left hand’ threads. millimetre (or inch) are marked on the face of the die (Taps, incidentally, are
similarly marked on their shanks).
Applying lubricant as required, the taper tap is inserted into the hole and its
correct alignment verified (by use, for example, of an Engineer’s square), before it Split Die
is rotated clockwise (for a ‘right hand’ thread), slowly and gently, until the initial
threads are established. Shoulder
Once the initial threads are established, the tap must not be rotated continuously,
otherwise the cuttings will not break off and the tap will, consequently, jam in the
hole and, if forced, it will shatter. Stock
To this end, the tap, after each full turn, is rotated backwards, approximately ½ to
¾ of a turn, to break the cuttings off. The forward rotation is then continued, with
subsequent cutting breaks, until the full thread portion of the tap has cut sufficient
full threads in the hole.
Outer Securing and
After the preliminary cut, the process is repeated, using the second tap (if not a Adjusting Screws
BA thread), and, if required, repeated again using the plug tap. The thread, and
each end of the hole (where accessible), should be cleaned out if burrs or swarf Centre Adjusting Screw
are present and, with ‘blind’ holes, the swarf must be cleared out of the hole
regularly to prevent the tap binding at the bottom of the hole. Circular Die and Stock
Fig. 26
In the event of a tap breaking in a hole, it may be necessary to resort to specialist
procedures (spark erosion for example) for its removal without causing further,
and, possibly, expensive damage, to the component or workpiece.
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Before external thread cutting is commenced, it is necessary to obtain a suitable

engineering
4.1.26 Screwdrivers
(mechanical)
length of rod, the diameter of which is equal to the major diameter of the thread to
be cut. Care needs to be taken in this matter (and especially where closely sized Despite the many shapes and sizes which may be met, it can be stated that
Imperial and Metric rods are available) because it is possible to create a thread screwdrivers may be divided into two main groups, which, basically, are:
on slightly undersized or oversized rods.
 Blade Screwdrivers
The undersized rod would, of course, be a looser fit with the corresponding  Cross-Point Screwdrivers.
female threaded item, which would not be acceptable, while the oversize rod may
cause damage to the other threaded device by being too tight a fit. Blade (or Common) screwdrivers consist of a high carbon or an alloy steel blade,
mounted into a wooden or composite handle. The end of the blade is ground to
The die should be placed in the stock with the tapered threads (if any) away from engage the diagonal slot in the head of the screw. If the blade is of high carbon
the shoulder and the split aligned with the centre adjusting screw. It is next steel, it will be hardened and tempered.
necessary to set the die to the maximum diameter, by slightly slackening the
outer adjusting screws and gently tightening the centre adjusting screw. This will Screwdrivers in this category are classified by type and by the length of blade,
ensure that the first cut will be shallow. Failure to do this will invariably result in a which can be from approximately 35 mm (1.5 in) to 300 mm (12 in) long, although
poor quality thread. special screwdrivers can be obtained with blade lengths of 500 mm (20 in).
A shallow taper, or chamfer, must be ground or filed onto the end of the rod; to Some variations may incorporate a reversible ratchet device in the handle while
assist in the location of the die before cutting commences and the rod should be others may also have an Archimedes’ drive (as in a ‘Pump’ screwdriver)).
clamped firmly, and, preferably, vertically in the bench vice with the tapered end
uppermost. All of these features would form part of the classification of the screwdriver.
Once more, adequate lubrication must be used throughout the procedure, again, The correct engagement of the screwdriver blade in the slotted head of the screw
using the same lubricants as used for the drilling and tapping tasks. or bolt is most important (refer to Fig. 27). The most common faults can be seen
in the illustration. The end of the blade should never be ground to a sharp chisel
Ensuring that the die is set to cut the maximum diameter, as described edge and a blade of the correct thickness and width should always be chosen.
previously, the die should be placed squarely onto the taper of the rod and, with
steady downward hand pressure, the die is carefully rotated (clockwise) to start Screwdrivers of the wrong size can cause serious damage to fasteners,
the cut. surrounding aircraft structure and to the persons using them.
It must be ensured that the die remains square to the rod at all times during the
cutting, which is continued in a series of small arcs, reversing each time to sever
the cuttings, in a similar manner as is done when using the taps.
When enough thread has been cut, the die is removed and the thread checked,
using a finished nut. If the thread proves to be too tight, then, after backing off the
centre adjusting screw and (carefully) turning the outer adjusting screws inwards
another cut is made with the die.
The procedure is repeated as often as necessary until a satisfactory fit is

achieved between the two, mating, threaded items.
As the internal tapped thread is NOT adjustable, the internal thread should be cut
first. The external thread, which CAN be slightly adjusted, should always be cut Blade too Small Blade Correct Blade too Large
last to ensure the desired degree of fit between the respective threads.
Correct Screwdriver Engagement
Fig. 27
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uk MODULE 7
Cross-Point Screwdrivers have been designed, by the several manufacturers of

engineering
4.1.27 Pliers
(mechanical)
the different types of screw heads (refer to Fig. 28).

Pliers are classified by type and overall length and usually made from alloy steel,
These screw heads allow greater torque to be applied to the fasteners but, due to with an insulated handle. They are designed for gripping, bending or moving
the variations in design, it is vital that the correct screwdriver be used with each small items that cannot be easily handled with the fingers. Some of the many
type of screw head as they are not compatible. types, that are available for a variety of purposes, include:
The accurate fit of cross-point screwdrivers into the recess in the respective  Side-Cutting Pliers: which are the general-purpose type, and are useful for the
screw head is essential if damage is to be prevented. installation and removal of split pins. They also have a facility for cutting wire
 Round-Nosed Pliers: which are useful for putting small radius bends into wire
in addition to a variety of other tasks
 Flat-Nosed Pliers: which, because the jaws are much thinner, may be used for
many small holding and bending tasks, that are not possible with the side-
cutting pliers
 Needle-Nosed Pliers: which have finely pointed jaws and can be used in
electrical and electronic work, that involves holding small components and thin
wires. Needle-nosed pliers may, sometimes, have the jaws turned at right
angles to the handles, to allow the operator to see the work being held
 Wire-Locking Pliers: which are used for the specific task of gripping wire,
Reed and Price Phillips Posidrive Triwing during the wire-locking of components. Due to their integral Archimedes’
screw, they are also able to spin and so twist two wires, so that a neat and
tight wire-locking is obtained
Various Types of Cross-Point Screwdrivers
Fig. 28  Circlip Pliers: which may be found in two, basic forms (Internal and External).
Both types have pins on the ends of the jaws, which are used to install and
remove circlips from around (and from within) components. The mechanisms
There is also a wide selection of other specialist screwdrivers, which have been
are designed so that, squeezing the handles together, either results in the jaw
made to allow certain tasks to be accomplished. These can include:
pins coming together, (Internal), or spreading apart (External).
 Offset (or Cranked) Screwdrivers: which can reach screws with little clearance There are other groups of gripping tools that could, loosely be called pliers, but
above their heads (and which may, also, have a blade at one end and a they usually go under the names of grips or clamps. These include ‘Mole’-type
cross-point at the other) Grips: which can be locked, holding a component, freeing up the operator’s hand
 Reversible Tip Screwdrivers: with hexagonal shanks, that allow the shank of for other work, Pipe Clamps, which can be used for gripping pipe unions, and
the screwdriver to be reversed in the handle to provide a different tip, with a Slip-Joint (or Water Pump) Pliers that can have several, different gripping ranges,
blade at one end and a cross-point at the other end of the hexagonal shank due to their multi-pivot mechanisms.
 Interchangeable Tip Screwdrivers: which have a selection of socket-like tips,
that can be interchanged to suit any particular type of screw head.
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engineering
4.1.28 Wire Snips (Nippers)
(mechanical)
Earlier BS spanners can be found with two figures stamped adjacent to each
other (e.g. 7/16 BSW 1/2 BSF). The BSW figure relates to the Whitworth thread
Wire Snips (which are also, often, called ‘Nippers’) can be found with straight or system, which is not used on aircraft, due to its tendency to loosen when
diagonal jaws and are both very useful for cutting and stripping wire. They are subjected to vibration. The BSF refers to the British Standard Fine thread but, to
also useful for removing split pins. avoid confusion, the older system has now been brought into line with the BS
system, so that a ½" BS (BSF) spanner can (for general engineering purposes)
Care must be used, when cutting with wire snips, as the cut-off pieces (locking also be used on a ½" Whitworth bolt/nut combination.
wire and split pin legs in particular) can fly off, causing injury or getting lost within
the aircraft structure or engine bays, which could lead to corrosion or to the British Association (the third British thread system) sizes, also use Imperial
jamming of vital control systems. measurements, and, although they are in decimal fractions of an inch, they are
represented by a whole number (2BA, 4BA, 6BA and so on) which again relates
4.1.29 Spanners, Sockets and Wrenches to the nominal diameter of the fastening device.
The commonest spanners are those which are used on the standard hexagonal The American Fine and Unified thread systems, also use Imperial measurements.
heads of bolts, nuts, screws and similarly shaped fastening devices. The sizes, stamped on spanners, refer to the dimensions across the spanner
jaws (or across the flats of the hexagon of the fastening device). A spanner
Other spanners are often referred to as special or non-standard spanners, and marked ½" A/F, would be used on a bolt with an actual diameter of 5/16".
are used on different types of screw thread fastenings. Some of these special
spanners have a limited application, whilst others are specifically produced for a Metric spanners are marked with a number also denoting the width (millimetres)
particular component, and will only be found in special toolkits applicable to that across the flats, of the hexagon shaped fastener on which it is used.
component.
Most spanners are manufactured from case-hardened mild steel, hardened and
tempered high-carbon steel or alloy-steel, though there are some which are made BS and BA
from copper alloys, where spark-resistant tools are required. (Imperial) Dimensions
The size of a spanner, is either marked on the jaw face, or on the shank, in the
units of the type of thread system being used on the fastening device.
The units, shown on a particular spanner, however, relate to different parts of the
fastening devices (refer to Fig. 29), so a knowledge of the spanner sizing systems
is necessary. The two main sizing systems are those of the: American/Unified (Imperial)
and Metric Dimensions
 British Standard Institution (BS) and British Association (BA) Imperial system
 American/Unified (Imperial) and the Metric system.
The British Standard system uses Imperial units (fractions of an inch etc.) and Spanner Sizing Systems
embraces two of the three main thread systems, used in British engineering, one Fig. 29
of which is no longer used in aircraft engineering.
The sizing, on BS spanners, relates to the nominal diameter of the nut, bolt or It is important that the correct procedure is followed to avoid incorrect tools being
stud, upon which the spanner is to be used. For example, a spanner marked as used to install or remove a nut, bolt, stud or any other fastening device.
½ BS indicates that the spanner is used on a ½" diameter bolt (nut, stud etc.),
although the actual distance across the jaws of this spanner would be 0.820". In some instances the correct tool size may be quoted in the maintenance
manual. This must be strictly followed.
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There are so many tool catalogues, crammed with a bewildering range of tools
Sockets are available in both Imperial and Metric sizes (though the drive sizes
that it is impossible to include so many in these course notes. Some of the more tend to be quoted in Imperial units) and can be used with several accessories,
common spanners and wrenches (in addition to the previously-mentioned tools), which greatly facilitate the use of the sockets and extend the range of their
which are liable to be found in the average toolkit, of an aircraft maintenance application.
technician, include such general tools as:
The socket spanners are usually supplied in complete sets, of incremental sizes
 ‘Set’ (Open-Jaw) Spanners to suit various tasks. Deep sockets are used where a bolt extends further through
 Ring Spanners a nut than normal, preventing the use of a standard socket. They are also used to
 Flare Nut Spanners. remove spark plugs from piston-type aero engines.
 Sockets
 Allen Keys The main accessories, supplied with socket sets, can (in addition to the standard
T’ bar driver) include:
 Torque Wrenches.
The Set or Open-Jaw spanners are usually made in double-ended form, to  Ratchet Handles
provide two available sizes in one tool.  Drive Bars
 Speed Braces
The open jaws are ‘set’ at an angle (usually 15°) to the axis of the shank, which is  Extension Bars
a useful feature, because (when replacing nuts and bolts in restricted spaces), by  Universal Joints
turning the spanner over, the nut or bolt can be approached from a different  Converter/Adapters.
angle. They are not, however, totally satisfactory devices, as the jaws only bear
against two of the available six flats of the hexagon. There is always the tendency Ratchet handles allow the turning to continue, even if the space does not allow
for the jaws to spring open when force is applied to the spanner. full rotation of the normal ‘T’ bar driver. Most ratchets are reversible, either by the
use of a selector lever or by the square drive being able to be ‘floated’ through
Ring spanners are preferred to set spanners as they give full enclosure of the the mechanism, to be available on both sides of the ratchet handle.
hexagonal head of the nut or bolt, each corner of which engages snugly within an
angle in the aperture of the spanner. This aperture is usually bi-hexagonal, to Drive bars are usually produced with long handles and so, should normally be
facilitate the use of the spanner when angular movement is restricted. used only to break the ‘stick’ of a tight nut and not for tightening up. These are
also known as breaker bars or knuckle bars.
Ring spanners are usually supplied in double-ended form, to fit nuts and bolts of
consecutive sizes. The ends are normally offset but straight (and also cranked) Speed braces can have a socket or screwdriver blade ‘snapped’ onto their ends.
types of ring spanners can be obtained. They are normally used to turn down nuts or screws, which have many threads
before they tighten-up. Final tightening is completed using either a ‘T’ bar, a
Flare Nut spanners are designed with a gap in the ring, which allows the spanner ratchet handle or (more usually) a torque wrench.
to be placed over a pipeline or electrical loom, and then to be moved onto the
hexagon of the union nut or plug. Extension bars are used where access for a standard drive handle is restricted.
Extension bars are made from forged alloy steel and come in a range of nominal
Sockets spanners (but, more commonly, simply referred to as sockets) typically, lengths from 50 mm (2 in) to 1 m (39 in).
have a six- or twelve-pointed opening, designed to enclose different sized nuts
and bolt heads in one end, with a square hole, for the standard ‘T’ bar driver (or Universal joints allow tightening of nuts, bolts and screws where it is not possible
an alternative turning device), in the other end. to obtain access in a straight line. They function better if the angle they are
working through is not too great.
Socket sets are available in a variety of drive sizes. However, in aircraft
maintenance, the ¼" square drive and the 3/8" square drive are the most popular. Converter/Adapters allow sockets from one type of drive to be used with another
Other sizes available are the ½", ¾" and 1" square drives. type. For example, a 3/8" drive socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet would use a ‘step-
up’ or ‘step-down’ adapter. Care must be taken, when using larger drive
equipment on smaller sockets, that the nuts or screws are not over tightened.
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Certain bolts and screws, are sunk (or set) below the surface of a component and
There are, again, many different designs of torque wrenches, so consideration is

are used for locking purposes. These set-bolts and set-screws, have a hexagonal given here only to three basic types of torque wrench. They are the:
recess in their heads and the tool used for tightening and loosening these bolts
and screws is the Allen Key (also called Allen Wrenches).  Deflecting Beam
 Torsion Bar
Allen Keys are made from hexagonal-section, steel bar, suitably hardened and  Toggle Type.
tempered and are cranked at 90 to give the desired leverage. Allen keys are
supplied in a variety of sizes to locate with the recesses in the various screws and The Deflecting Beam torque wrench, has a square drive, on one end of an
bolts. They are classified (in Metric or Imperial units), by the dimension across the accurately-ground beam, with a handle, mounted on a pivot, at the other end.
flats of the hexagon bar from which they are made.
A pointer is attached to the square drive end of the beam, whilst a scale is
The holding power, of a threaded fastener is greatly increased, when it is placed attached to the beam near the handle. When a force is applied to the handle, the
under an initial tensile load that is greater than the loads to which the fastener is, beam bends and the pointer deflects over the scale. The deflection is directly
normally, subjected. This task is accomplished, by tightening a bolt or nut, to a proportional to the torque applied.
pre-determined torque or pre-load.
The Torsion Bar torque wrench, uses the principle that a bar accurately deflects
If a fastener is under-torqued, there is danger of the joint being subjected to in torsion, as well as bending, when a force is applied. The square drive is
unnecessary loads, leading to premature failure. When a fastener is over-torqued accurately ground and has a rack gear on one end.
then the threads are over stressed and can fail.
When the bar is twisted, the rack moves across a pinion gear in a dial indicator,
A Torque Wrench is a precision tool that governs the amount of force applied to a which shows the amount of bar deflection. The dial is calibrated in units of torque.
fastener and allows accurate torque values to be applied consistently. Under
controlled conditions, the amount of force required to turn a fastener is directly The Toggle type of torque wrench, is pre-set to the desired torque before it is put
related to the tensile stress within the fastener. on a fastener. When this pre-set torque is reached, a sound (a click), is heard and
the handle releases a few degrees, indicating that the set torque value has been
The amount of torque is the product of the turning force multiplied by the distance exerted. Once this release occurs, then all force is removed.
between the centre of the fastener and the point at which the force is applied
(usually the length of the wrench handle). Table 4 shows various units of torque, Note; When a castellated nut is being torque loaded, it must, first, be torqued to
including Imperial, Metric and SI values. the lowest value of the given torque range. The torque may then be increased
until the holes are in line, but before the maximum torque value is reached.
Table 4
VARIOUS UNITS OF TORQUE
Imperial Metric SI
pound force foot kilogram force metre Newton metre
(lbf.ft) (kgf.m) (Nm)
pound force inch kilogram force centimetre centi-Newton metre
(lbf.in) (kgf.cm) (cNm)
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engineering
4.2 Common Power Tools
(mechanical)
For example, at a constant rpm, a point, on the circumference of a drill with a

diameter of 10 mm, will travel twice as far, and cut at a much faster rate, than a
Powered tools have to be treated with respect because they can injure, and in similar point on a drill, which has a diameter of 5 mm. At this excessive rpm, the
exceptional cases, can cause death if they are incorrectly operated. Before using larger drill would become very difficult to control and would, almost certainly, be
any powered machine/tool, personnel must make sure that: damaged by over-heating.
 They have been properly trained and are currently authorised to use it The speed of rotation of most fixed drilling machines may be changed, either by
 All protective guards and fences are securely in place means of a gearbox or by a system of coned pulleys.
 No part of the body or clothing can come into contact with moving parts
 Protective clothing is fastened and neck ties (if worn) tucked in or removed The work, being drilled, must be clamped in a manner that will prevent any
 All rings and other jewellery are removed movement during the drilling operation. Failure to observe this precaution may
result in spoilt work, a broken drill and it may also cause serious injuries.
 Safety glasses/goggles are worn wherever there is a debris risk
 Where necessary, the appropriate fire extinguisher is readily to hand
Larger pieces of work are clamped directly to the drilling table of the machine,
 A safety mat is available to stand on where electrical machinery is used whereas small items are usually held in a machine vice, which has smooth jaws.
 Machinery is checked for any “Warning” notices indicating it is unsafe for use.
It is essential to ensure that the point of the drill aligns with the centre punch mark
Possibly the most common method of powering tools is through the use of and adequate cutting fluid (where required) is applied before drilling starts.
electricity, which is readily available from the ac mains supply and can also be
provided from portable, dc batteries. 4.2.2 Electrically Powered Hand Drills
However, because of the fire hazard, associated with the operation of electrically These drills are useful in certain locations when work cannot be taken to a fixed,
powered tools, and where there is a possibility of flammable vapours being pillar drill and where there is no risk of fire from inflammable materials or vapour.
present, pneumatically powered hand tools are provided for aircraft maintenance They are quicker than the hand brace and, when used correctly, can be perfectly
tasks, such as drilling, cutting, shaping, screw driving, riveting, nut running and safe.
setting.
The smaller electric drills have a 6.5 mm (¼") chuck, whilst other larger drills can
As previously mentioned, these pneumatic tools may be operated from a fixed air be found with chuck sizes up to 13 mm (½") and larger. This size classification
supply gallery, in a workshop or hangar, or from a mobile air compressor. simply indicates the largest size of twist drill that the chuck will hold.
4.2.1 Electrically Powered Pillar Drills Battery powered (cordless), drills offer more freedom than ac powered or
pneumatically powered drills, but they should not be used in the vicinity of
Electrically powered, Pillar Drills, are used for heavy-duty drilling tasks, where flammable vapours as they are not considered to be ‘spark proof’.
larger drill sizes and rigid holding-down of the workpiece are required.
4.2.3 Pneumatically Powered Hand Drills
Pillar drills also have an advantage in that they are equipped with a method of
altering the speed of rotation (rpm) of the chuck to suit the material being drilled The type of pneumatic drill, used for a specific task, depends very much on the
and the size (and type) of the drill being used. access available. Three typical types of pneumatic hand drills, in common use,
are the:
This flexibility is needed to enable drills of all sizes to cut efficiently and safely for
different types of materials. If the rpm of the machine were constant, then the  Straight Drills
cutting speed of any drill being used would be dependent upon the diameter of
 Angled Drills
the drill. Small drills would cut slowly and larger drills more rapidly.
 Pistol Grip Drills.
Straight Drills have conventional chucks and keys to accept twist drills with
diameters up to 5 mm (13/64”) and have push-button operation. These drills can be
used for all conventional drilling operations where direct access is possible.
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uk MODULE 7
Angled Drills are available for drilling holes in positions where access is not
4.2.4 Pneumatically Powered Riveting Hammers

possible with straight types. The most common types of angled drills are the
Angled and Offset Head drills (refer to Fig. 30), both of which will accept twist The two basic types, into which these hammers may be divided, are:
drills with diameters in sizes up to 4.8 mm (3/16”). Each drill size requires its own
chuck collet, which is tightened into place with collet spanners.  Short-Stroke: fast-hitting hammers, which produce light blows
 Long-Stroke: slower-hitting hammers, which produce heavy blows.
Pistol Grip Drills (refer to Fig. 30), have standard chuck and key arrangements,
accept twist drills of diameters up to 8 mm (5/16”) and have a trigger operation. The short-stroke hammers are usually used for 3/32" or 1/8" rivets and their bodies
are made from light-weight, aluminium alloy castings.
All drills may be found with built-in filters, pre-set compressed air pressure-
reducing devices and a requirement for lubrication. The air supply is normally via The long-stroke hammers may be of either the slow-hitting, reciprocating type, or
a quick release, male and female coupling (bayonet type), allowing the tool to be may be a one-shot type, that drives the rivet set only one blow at a time, when
moved from place to place, as the work requires. the trigger is pulled. These hammers are used to drive the larger rivets and are
much heavier than the fast-hitting hammers.
Different handle styles are provided for both types of hammers (refer to Fig. 31).
The Pistol Grip and Swan Neck are the most popular styles, with the Push Button
(Straight) type being available for special applications where access is not
possible for either of the more popular styles of hammer.
Pistol Grip
Typical Angled and Pistol Grip Pneumatic Hand Drill

Fig. 30
Swan Neck
Push Button or
Straight
Pneumatic Riveting Hammers

Fig. 31
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engineering
4.2.5 Pneumatic Miller (Microshaver)
(mechanical)
engineering
4.2.7 Pneumatic Tool Maintenance
(mechanical)
Certain hollow rivets leave a mandrel projecting from the work after the closing When used, maintained and stored correctly, air operated tools have a long and
action. These are removed, leaving a flush surface, by careful use of a Miller or trouble-free life. They will not, however, tolerate lack of lubrication, nor the entry
Microshaver (refer Fig. 32). The miller has an adjustable stop, to prevent the of moisture and foreign particles introduced via the air supply. These effects can
cutting tool (which rotates at high speed), from damaging the aircraft skin. Two be reduced by:
rubber feet give the tool stability during the cutting operation.
 Draining the oil and water traps in the air supply system at least daily and
When the shank of the rivet is closed into a countersunk hole (where the rivet is more often if the tools are in prolonged use.
installed from inside the aircraft skin), there can be a small amount of metal  Ensuring that both the male and female parts of the air supply couplings are
projecting above the skin line. This excess metal is also removed using a miller. clean before the connection is made.
 Before using a tool, introducing the specified lubricating oil into the air supply
opening, in the correct quantity.
 Before the tool is stored, after use, repeating the lubricating procedure and
operating the tool as slowly as possible, to distribute the lubricant throughout
the tool.
4.2.8 Abrasive Wheels

Unformed Formed Milled
Rivet Rivet Rivet The most common types of Abrasive (or Grinding) Wheels, found in workshops
are the double-wheeled, bench-mounted machines, with a coarse abrasive
wheel, used for rapid metal removal, and a finer grade wheel, used for smoother
work. Protective guards are secured around the moving parts, for the protection
of the operator, and adjustable rests are provided for the support of tools, during
grinding operations.
Pneumatic Miller A word of caution is necessary here, because of the terms that are (carelessly)
Fig. 32 applied to the various abrasives, which may be used in engineering procedures.
4.2.6 Nibblers The two main types of abrasives, used for grinding wheels, are:
Nibbler are tools used for rough cutting small-to-medium sized holes in skins,  Aluminium Oxide or Corundum: next in hardness to diamond, the blue variety
radio chassis, instrument panels and other light alloy sheets. Whilst a hand- of which is the sapphire, while the red variety is the ruby
operated nibbler can, occasionally, be found in use, the powered nibbler  Silicon Carbide: formed by the fusing together of silica (or sand) with carbon,
(powered by either electricity or compressed air), is the most common type of in an electric furnace.
tool.
Aluminium Oxide (Corundum), abrasive wheels are used for steel and other
The machine operates by using a reciprocating punch to cut a groove out of the ferrous metals of high tensile strength.
metal, in small bites or ‘nibbles’. The holes, that have been ‘nibbled’, have to be
filed and cleaned afterwards, to the limit marks of the true hole. Silicon Carbide (better known under the trade name of ‘Carborundum’), wheels
are used, primarily, for hard, brittle metals such as cast iron, but may also be
One limitation, of the powered nibbler, is that it can become uncontrollable, if it is used for grinding aluminium, brass, bronze or copper.
not held securely by the operator. Care and skill will, thus, be required to take
advantage of the benefits of the tool, namely its fast removal of metal when hole Wheels, which are designated for use with steels, must NEVER, under any
cutting is involved. circumstances, be used for the grinding of any other materials, and in particular,
NOT soft materials (light and copper alloys, wood, plastics etc.).
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These materials are liable to clog the wheel and, if ignited by a spark, will cause
engineering
4.3 Precision Measuring Instruments
(mechanical)
the wheel to explode, with devastating consequences.

Precision Measuring Instruments are provided to measure dimensions to a
Only authorised personnel are allowed to use abrasive wheels and, before use, it greater accuracy than can be obtained by the use of a simple engineer’s rule.
is mandatory to ensure that:
Where the smallest graduation on a rule is usually either 1 mm or, perhaps, 1/64",
 The machine is securely attached to the bench or wall precision instruments are available which measure to 0.01 mm or to 0.0001”.
 The wheels are secure, not chipped and have no excessive bearing play
 The operator’s clothes are not loose or in danger of fouling the wheel The precision instruments mentioned here would normally be found either in a
 Suitable fire extinguishers are available workshop environment or in a ‘clean room’, which may be part of a company’s
 All guards are correctly attached and secure Quality Department.
 The tool rests are set at minimum distance, clear of the wheels
It should also be noted that, whilst very basic forms of the different instruments
 Protective goggles, in addition to any safety screens, are worn
are described, in order that the principles of operation be understood, the actual
 The operator stands on an insulated mat, where provided. precision instruments, found in workshops and ‘clean rooms’ may appear quite
different and, in all probability, will possess digital readout facilities.
During grinding operations, the item, being ground, should be moved in alternate
directions, across the width of the wheel, so that the grinding area of the wheel 4.3.1 External Micrometers
will remain flat and true and will not become dangerously grooved.
An External Micrometer (refer to Fig. 33), as the name implies, is used for
An uneven or grooved wheel will require ‘dressing’ (and, possibly, need being measuring (or testing the level of accuracy of) the external sizes of objects.
trued) by a qualified ‘dresser’, using special fixtures and extra-hard tools.
Care must be taken, during grinding, to ensure that tools do not become Graduated Barrel with Fiducial Line
overheated. Cutting tools (chisels, punches etc.) will have their ‘temper’ drawn
from them if they get too hot, so that it is necessary to ensure that the item is kept
Ratchet Stop
as cool as possible, by the frequent use of water or, possibly, a directed jet of Spindle
cooling air.
Anvil
After completion of the grinding task, the machine should be switched ‘off’, but it
should not be left until the wheels become stationary, as this takes a little time
and (particularly in a noisy workshop), unattended, rotating wheels pose a danger Graduated Thimble
to unsuspecting personnel. Locking Ring
Frame
External Micrometer
Fig. 33
The standard (or common) external micrometer consists of an appropriately

shaped frame, to one end of which is attached an internally threaded barrel (or
sleeve).
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uk MODULE 7
A partially, externally threaded spindle, located in a hollow, tubular thimble, is

Both Metric and Imperial micrometers (while their units of measurement are
able to be screwed into (or out of) the sleeve by means of rotating the thimble. different), are operated in a similar manner.
The working tip of the spindle has an accurately machined face, to match the The Metric micrometer uses a thread pitch and, thus, a lead, of 0.5 mm (two
equally accurately machined face of the anvil. The anvil is located at the opposite threads per millimetre), so that the thimble moves over the barrel a distance of
end of the frame and, with the spindle moved sufficiently, the object to be 0.5 mm per revolution. The fiducial line, on the barrel, is marked in increments of
measured is placed between the faces of the anvil and the spindle. 0.5 mm and 1 mm, with numerals at intervals of 5 mm (5, 10, 15, etc.) to 25 mm.
The ratchet stop is used to rotate the thimble so that the spindle moves until the The thimble has a total of 50 markings, so that one thimble division represents 1/50
object is held between the faces of the spindle and the anvil. To prevent distortion of 0.5 mm, or 0.01 mm.
of the frame and to ensure that the reading is constant when taken by different
users of the instrument, the ratchet stop ‘slips’ (3 clicks!) when sufficient pressure When reading a Metric micrometer (refer to Fig. 34) it is, first of all, necessary to
is applied to the object being measured. decide on the number of divisions, on the fiducial line, which are exposed by the
thimble and to note the division on the thimble which also coincides with the
The principle of the micrometer is based on the lead of the screw thread. This is fiducial line.
the distance the thread moves, either forwards or backwards, during one
complete revolution of the thimble. If the lead is known, together with the number The subsequent actions, to arrive at the dimension being measured, are to:
of revolutions, then the total distance the screw moves can be calculated.
 Note the number of main divisions exposed (as shown at A = 8.00 mm)
The circumference of the thimble and the length of the barrel are graduated to  Note the additional number of sub-divisions (as shown at B = 0.50 mm)
indicate the measurement of the object that is in contact with the faces of the  Note the number of divisions on the thimble (as shown at C = 0.28 mm)
anvil and the spindle. The barrel also has a datum (fiducial) line, against which  Add all the numbers together to provide the total dimension (8.78 mm).
the measurements are made, from the bevelled end of the thimble as it uncovers
the markings on the fiducial line.
The thimble is bevelled so that its graduations are brought close to those on the Thimble (0.01 mm divisions)
Fiducial Line (0.5 mm divisions)
fiducial line. The bevelling eliminates shadows and also lessens parallax error
when reading the measurement. The body of the micrometer usually has a matt Barrel
finish, which serves to reduce glare and, thus, aids accurate readings.
The locking ring (some micrometers have a locking lever) is used to lock the
spindle, when the instrument is employed as a fixed (or snap) gauge. 30
The mechanism of the external micrometer is arranged so that the spindle face
0 5 25
can only move between 0 - 25 mm (or 0 – 1in) from the anvil face and, thus, the
standard micrometer has the capability to measure items which are in this range.
For larger items, the size of the frame is simply increased in successive
increments of 25 mm (or 1in). For example, the next size of micrometer would be C A = 8.00 mm
B
able to measure between 25 mm – 50 mm (1 in – 2 in), the next 50 mm – 75 mm A
B = 0.50 mm
(2 in – 3 in) and so on. While the frames increase in size to accommodate the C = 0.28 mm
larger items, the spindle movement (of external micrometers) remains in the Total = 8.78 mm
range of 0 – 25 mm (0 – 1 in). Metric Micrometer Reading
Fig. 34
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Imperial Micrometers measure in decimals of an inch. Their screw threads have

engineering
4.3.2 Internal Micrometers
(mechanical)
forty threads per inch, giving a ‘lead’ of 1/40" (0.025"), which is the length of each
sub-division on the fiducial line and represents one revolution of the thimble. Internal micrometers are used for the precision measuring of internal dimensions,
using much the same principles as those used with the external types.
The thimble circumference is, now, divided into only 25 equal divisions, making
one division read 1/25 of 1/40”, which equals 1/1000” (or 0.001") movement of the While there are many designs for internal micrometers, to suit particular tasks,
spindle. space (and time) dictates that consideration be given here only to the type more
commonly referred to as the ‘Stick’ micrometer (refer to Fig. 35), which is found in
Barrel markings are made at each tenth of an inch (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) with four sub- both Imperial and Metric versions.
divisions between each main mark.
Again, in a similar manner to the Metric micrometer, when taking a dimension, it

is necessary to deduce the number of division, on the fiducial line, exposed by Handle
the thimble. Next note the mark on the thimble which aligns with the fiducial line (replaced by a Grub Screw when
the Handle is not required)
and follow similar actions to those employed with the Metric micrometer.
If, for example, nineteen divisions, on the barrel of an Imperial micrometer, were
exposed, while the eighth mark on the thimble aligned with the fiducial line, then Collar
the total dimension would consist of:
 Four 1/10” divisions (sixteen 1/40” divisions) on the barrel

 Three further 1/40” divisions on the barrel (making nineteen in all)
 Eight 1/1000” divisions on the thimble
Extension Rod
Micrometer Head
In this example the total dimension would be 0.400” + 0.075” + 0.008” = 0.483”.
To ensure the integrity of any dimensions it is imperative that the faces of the
spindles and anvils of micrometers are kept scrupulously clean. Internal ‘Stick’ Micrometer
Fig. 35
Micrometers should be stored in a protective case, preferably with a sachet of
desiccant (or VPI paper) and not used in extremes of temperature (the
temperature of a standards room is usually maintained at 20°C). An Imperial, ‘Stick’ micrometer, consists of a micrometer head, with an overall
closed length of only 1½”, a ‘spacing’ collar which has a length of ½" and ten
Never store a micrometer with its spindle and anvil in contact. Changes in extension rods. The lengths of the rods increase in increments of one inch, with
temperature will cause distortion of the frame, with the obvious consequences. the shortest length being ½” and the longest 9½” (e.g. ½”, 1½”, 2½” etc.).
Prior to use, the accuracy of a micrometer should be confirmed by doing a check The internal micrometer differs from the external type in that the thimble travel is
on the zero setting (with the spindle and anvil faces in contact) and a sample only half an inch and so, from closed, the micrometer is capable of measuring
check (using slip gauges or similar, accurate standard test pieces), of internal dimensions from 1½” up to 2”. For dimensions greater than 2” it is then
measurements within the range of the micrometer. necessary to close the micrometer and attach the smallest extension rod (½”),
enabling dimensions up to 2½” to be measured.
It is possible to do adjustments with special tools, which are provided with
micrometers, but any adjustments should normally, only be done by qualified By adding the spacing collar (½”) with the smallest extension rod, measurements
personnel, who will then certify that the micrometer is accurate enough, to be up to 3” can be made, then, by removing both collar and rod and using the next
used for aerospace work. rod (length 1½”), it is possible to measure dimensions up to 3½”.
With alternate use of extension rod and rod/collar combinations, the Imperial
internal micrometer has a measuring range from 1½” to 12”.
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4.3.4 Vernier Micrometers

With Metric internal micrometers, similar principles are used, but the dimensions
are, obviously, changed and are not directly related to the measurements used Some micrometers (and other precision measuring instruments), have a ‘Vernier’
with the Imperial type. The closed body length is 50 mm, thimble range is 10 mm, scale, which enables the instrument to measure to a greater accuracy.
the collar length is also 10 mm and the seven extension rods are provided in a
selection of lengths, which allow measurements (in increments of 20 mm), from The ‘Vernier’ principle (inventor Pierre Vernier 1580 – 1637)) utilises two
50 mm to 210 mm to be made. accurately graduated scales. The main scale may be fixed, whilst the other (the
Vernier scale), moves parallel to the main scale (refer to Fig. 37), or, depending
4.3.3 Micrometer Depth Gauge on the instrument (such as with micrometers), it could be the other way round,
where the main scale moves while the Vernier scale is stationary.
Whilst only used in specialist applications, a micrometer depth gauge is useful
when the depth of a groove or recess needs to be measured with precision.
The device (refer to Fig. 36) has a standard micrometer head (but the scale, on 0 10 Main Scale
the barrel, is reversed) mounted onto a precisely ground base. When the spindle
of the micrometer is flush with the face of the base, then the depth gauge reads mm
zero and the thimble is at its maximum distance from the base.
To measure the depth of a recess, the base is placed over the groove and the
0 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10
spindle screwed down until it contacts the bottom of the groove. The reading on Vernier Scale
the micrometer head indicates the groove depth.
Vernier Principle
Fig. 37
In the very basic example (refer to Fig. 37) ten divisions on the Vernier scale are
made to equal nine divisions on the main scale, so that one Vernier scale division
equals one tenth of nine millimetres (0.9 mm). The difference between one main-
098
scale and one Vernier division is, therefore, 0.1 mm.
When the Vernier scale is moved (to the right in this instance), so that the first of
the smaller Vernier divisions is aligned with the first main-scale division, the zeros
will be displaced by exactly one tenth of one millimetre. If this principle is
continued until the second division of each scale is coincident, then the zeros will
have moved exactly two tenths of a millimetre apart.
Micrometer Depth Gauge
Fig. 36 From this it can be seen that, whichever lines on the main and Vernier scales
align, then the zero (or datum) marks will be displaced by the small amount
shown on the Vernier scale.
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When the Vernier principle is applied to a micrometer (refer to Fig. 38), the
engineering
4.3.5 Vernier Callipers
(mechanical)
Vernier scale is engraved on the barrel and is, therefore, stationary. The Vernier
graduations are scaled, usually, to represent one tenth of those on the thimble, A Vernier Calliper (refer to Fig. 39), is a versatile precision instrument, used to
which enables a Vernier micrometer to read dimensions to an accuracy of one measure both inside and outside dimensions. In many situations, a Vernier
tenth of that of a standard micrometer. Consequently the graduations on the calliper is faster to use than a micrometer but, possibly, needs greater skill in
Vernier of a Metric micrometer represent 0.001 mm, while those on an Imperial manipulation in order to obtain the correct ‘feel’ and to, thus, ensure accurate
micrometer represent 0.0001”. readings. Callipers, furthermore, have a working range of up to 150 mm (6 in) as
opposed to the micrometer’s more limited movement.
The example shows a Metric micrometer reading, where the graduation on the
thimble scale does not exactly coincide with the datum line on the barrel. The
procedure for reading the dimension is to: Jaws for Internal
Measurement.
 Note the main and sub divisions visible on the barrel (8.5) = 8.500 mm
 Note the nearest thimble reading below the datum line (27) = 0.270 mm Main Scale
 Note the Vernier line which aligns with a thimble line (6) = 0.006 mm
 Add the readings to provide the total dimension = 8.776 mm.
A similar procedure would be followed with an Imperial micrometer.
Ten Vernier Scale

Marks on Barrel.
Vernier Scale Position Lock
0
8
6 35
4 Jaws for External
2 30 Measurement
0 5 25 Thimble Markings Vernier Calliper

Fig. 39
Barrel Markings with
Fiducial Line.
The Vernier scales on Imperial instruments are accurate to 0.001 inch, while
Metric Verniers have an accuracy of 0.02 mm.
Vernier Micrometer
Fig. 38 With some types of calliper, ‘nibs’ are located at the end of both jaws. The nib
size, which is etched on the jaw, must be added to any internal dimensions that
Care must be taken that it is the Vernier number, which is added, and not the have been measured.
value of the main scale (thimble) reading which aligns with the Vernier line. This
is a common fault when reading Verniers. Two ‘target’ points may also be found on some callipers, one on the beam and
one on the sliding jaw. These are used to set spring dividers accurately, when
It may also be found advantageous, to use a magnifying glass, to assist in the they are being used in a comparator mode. The target points are exactly the
reading of the smaller Vernier scale and in deciding which lines are actually in same distance apart as the reading on the Vernier and main scale.
alignment.
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engineering
4.3.6 Vernier Height Gauge
(mechanical)
engineering
4.3.7 Vernier Protractor
(mechanical)
The Vernier Height Gauge (refer to Fig. 40) is similar in construction to the The Vernier Protractor (refer to Fig. 41) provides greater precision than is
Vernier calliper, except that an accurately machined, solid base replaces the fixed possible when using a standard bevel protractor (or the protractor head of a
jaw and the beam is mounted perpendicular to the base, which enables the combination set), and enables angles to be measured to an accuracy of five
instrument to be used on a surface plate or table. minutes of arc.
The measurements, on the beam, are read in the same manner as those on the It consists of a grooved blade, a graduated protractor head and a stock with true
Vernier Calliper and they, usually, have both metric and Imperial markings on the edges. The protractor head can be slid along the length of the blade to any
same face of the beam. required position and locked.
This instrument can be used for various purposes, when used in conjunction with The stock rotates about the centre of the protractor and can also be locked in any
other suitable attachments. These can include measuring height, comparing and position. The angles formed by the edges of the stock, relative to the blade, are
transferring height dimensions (for marking-off), and also as a depth gauge. indicated on the protractor by an index mark ‘0’ on the Vernier scale that is
attached to the rim of the stock disc.
The protractor scale is graduated in 180 from each end, meeting at 90 at the
middle. This enables both acute and obtuse angles to be measured.
Grooved Blade
Fine Adjustment Initial Locking

Control Screw
Vernier Scale under Magnifier

Blade Locking Device
Vernier Scale
Final Locking Stock Main Scale on Head

Screw
Scriber
Precision-Ground
Beam and Base Fine Adjustment
Scale Locking Device
Vernier Protractor
Vernier Height Gauge Fig. 41
Fig. 40
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The Vernier scale is formed into twelve equal parts, which are compared to
engineering
4.4.2 Dial Test Indicator (DTI)
(mechanical)
twenty-three protractor main scale divisions (23°), so that one Vernier scale
division represents 23/12 = 1° 55’. The difference between two protractor scale The Dial Test Indicator, or DTI, consists of a small dial, to the circumference of
divisions (2°), and one Vernier scale division, (1° 55’) is, therefore, 5’ of arc. which, is connected a spring-loaded plunger. When the plunger is placed on a
surface and moved over that surface (or the surface moved beneath the plunger),
The Vernier scale has each third division numbered 15, 30, 45 and 60, indicating any variations in the surface condition will be indicated on the dial of the gauge.
the number of minutes (which make up one degree). There are two separate
scales, reading from the centre ‘0’ to left and right, to match the two protractor A DTI (also called a Clock Gauge) is used, not for measuring the actual size of a
scales. component, but to indicate small differences in size or for indicating the amount of
eccentricity (parallelism, run out) of revolving parts.
The protractor is read from the zero on the protractor scale to the zero on the
Vernier scale. This provides the number of whole degrees. The Vernier scale is Its dial is graduated to indicate thousandths of an inch or, in metric values, in
read in the same direction until the coinciding line is met. The number of the increments of 0.01 mm or 0.001 mm, depending on the sensitivity required. The
coinciding line, (indicating minutes) must be added to the degrees, read from the dial has the zero datum at the top (12 o’clock position), with scales of equal value
protractor scale, to obtain the total value of the angle. to either side, which enables plus and minus values to be measured.
4.4 Miscellaneous Measuring Tools An important feature of the gauge dial is that the dial can be rotated by a ring
bezel, enabling it to be readily set to zero. The gauge can thus be used as a
There are a number of specialist measuring tools, which are, usually, only found comparator, or as an instrument for comparative measurements, as well as for
in selected workshops or in Quality Departments. These tools are normally used direct measurements.
in conjunction with surface plates or tables, which are used to give the measuring
operation a standard flat surface to base the measuring upon. Internally, the plunger has a rack (or straight) gear, which drives a small pinion.
The pinion is fixed to a larger gear, which drives a second pinion. This pinion is
4.4.1 Gauge Blocks also fixed to a second, larger gear, which drives a further, third, small pinion to
which the pointer of the gauge is attached.
Gauge Blocks (also known as Slip Gauges), are, simply, precision-ground blocks
of metal that are used either alone, or in combination with other blocks, to give The compound gear train magnifies the plunger movement and outputs its
extremely accurate measurements. The blocks are made from high-carbon steel displays, via the pointer, onto the dial. A spring keeps the plunger in contact with
or cemented carbide and are hardened, ground and lapped so that: the surface being tested.
 Opposite faces are flat The flatness of a surface of a workpiece, can be checked, by attaching a DTI to a
 Opposite faces are parallel scribing block that is standing on a surface plate. The surface being checked is
 Opposite faces are , accurately, the stated distance apart. set beneath the DTI plunger and the bezel is zeroed. The workpiece is moved
beneath the DTI and variations in flatness are displayed and quantified by the dial
The opposite faces are of such a high degree of surface finish, that, when two reading. A bar may also be checked for bowing by using a DTI, attached to a
blocks are wrung (pressed, with a simultaneous slight twist, by hand) together, scribing block, whilst the bar is supported by ‘V’ blocks.
they will remain firmly attached to each other. This characteristic, of gauge
blocks, enable them to be built up, into combinations, which give sizes varying in 4.4.3 Feeler Gauges
increments of 0.01 mm (0.0004 in), and whose overall accuracy is of the order of
0.00025 mm (0.00001 in) even with workshop grade blocks. Feeler Gauges have a wide application and consist of a series of thin, flexible,
steel blades in varying thicknesses (normally from 0.04 mm to 1.00 mm or from
Gauge blocks are supplied in sets of 50, 78 or 105 pieces and protective blocks 0.0015 in to 0.015 in). The blades are secured in a protective, metal scabbard, by
are provided for use with inspection and workshop grades. The protective blocks a pin. It is important that those blades not in use should be withdrawn into the
should, where possible, be used as the end blocks of all combinations, and the scabbard, to prevent accidental distortion, especially of the thinnest blades.
smallest number of gauge blocks should always be used when making up a
combination.
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uk MODULE 7
Feeler gauges are used to measure very small, fixed gaps between faces. The
engineering
4.5 Lubrication Methods and Equipment
(mechanical)
blades are chosen to comply with the measurement given in the maintenance
instructions. Sometimes there will only be a need to use a single blade whilst, at Solid surfaces are never perfectly smooth, as the actual rubbing contact (the
other times, a combination of blades may be required to achieve the given friction), between two moving surfaces, is concentrated on a number of high
dimension. Feeler gauges are classified by the length of the blade. spots on the respective surfaces. Any load between the two surfaces tends to
wear away these high spots until the area of contact is large enough to support
4.4.4 Screw Pitch and Radius Gauges the load without further deformation.
These gauges are used to check the profiles of threads and radii, by comparison During the wearing action fragments of the surface are broken away and high
with sets of blades held in a case much like feeler gauges. The thread gauges local temperatures are generated. The effects are potentially dangerous, in that
are available in all thread types and the radius gauges have both an internal and the fragments can cause serious damage to the surfaces while excess heat leads
external radius. to expansion of the materials.
4.4.5 Go/No-Go Gauges The expansion is likely to cause higher frictional forces, leading to further damage
(due to more particles breaking from the surface) and can possibly result in
Where a single dimension has to be repeatedly measured, a comparator-type of eventual ‘seizure’ and stoppage of movement. Seizure could have disastrous
gauge is used which checks, simply, whether a component is within a pair of results in any moving mechanism.
dimensions, usually referred to as maximum and minimum dimensions. These
gauges are referred to as ‘GO/NO-GO’ gauges (Fig 42) and, providing the item Lubrication is a process for reducing friction and wear, through the introduction of
being checked passes through one jaw of the gauge, (the ‘GO’ dimension), and an unguent between two moving surfaces. The materials, commonly used for
fails to pass through the other jaw, (the ‘NO-GO’ dimension), it is considered to these purposes, are greases and oils and this topic discusses the various
be satisfactory. methods and equipment used in the lubrication of aerospace mechanisms.
A large number of different greases and oils are in use in aircraft maintenance. All
lubricants should be kept clean and covered to keep out foreign objects. The
correct quantity of the respective lubricant must, always, be used, as over-
lubrication may cause all manner of problems, from contamination of electrical
GO NOGO and mechanical equipment, to dirt and dust collecting on the lubricant residue.
G Care must also be taken that lubricants do not remain in prolonged contact with
O
Plug Type Gauge unprotected skin (and particularly eyes) as many of them are severe irritants and
present serious hazards to health. Hot oil also constitutes a danger to personnel.
Calliper or Snap Gauge 4.5.1 Lubrication Methods

Limit (GO/NO-GO) Gauges Grease is the preferred lubricant, in certain circumstances, for the following
Fig. 42 reasons:
4.4.6 Straight Edges
 Where conditions are dirty, dusty or wet, grease will provide a sealing
Straight Edges can be found in a variety of types, from a precision-ground rule, to medium, which will tend to prevent the entry of foreign matter into moving
heavy-duty, cast iron straight edges, (e.g. the ‘camel back’ straight edge). The parts
lighter straight edges are used to either visually check the flatness of a surface  Grease will stay in vertical bearings, whereas oil will drain away
(by holding it up to a light), or to use feeler gauges. Heavy-duty straight edges  Grease, packed into a bearing or housing, will provide sufficient lubrication for
will, probably, be used, to check other items for straightness, by a similar ‘bluing’ prolonged periods of time
method to that used on surface tables.  Grease lubrication systems use much cheaper fittings, and less complicated
designs than those required for oil systems.
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uk MODULE 7
Grease, however, has limitations in certain situations, in that grease:

Fluid lubrication is a thin, but continuous, film of oil, separating the moving
surfaces, and so preventing metal to metal contact. The oil also acts as a cushion
 Cannot replace oil when heat needs to be carried away between the surfaces. If, however, the oil is driven from the space between the
 Cannot be used where contamination is likely to occur surfaces, possibly due to excess loading, the fluid film is reduced to almost
 Cannot be used where debris and contaminants have to be washed away. nothing and again, the surfaces will slide until eventual seizure occurs.
Greases (as with oils), are produced to a range of specifications that depend A typical example of oil fluid lubrication would be as found in a typical gearbox in
upon the applications for which they are used. Some greases have to be water- which the gears are immersed in oil or are flooded with oil from pressure jets.
resistant, while all have to posses good storage characteristics and be of a
specific viscosity. A grease, generally, is required to: Oils in a similar manner to greases, have specialised purposes which include:
 Remain chemically stable when it is heated, and especially if that grease is to  Normal Lubrication
be used in bearings that are running at high temperature  High Pressure (Gearboxes)
 Be thin enough to flow into applicators and spaces, whilst having the ability to  Extreme High Pressure (Hydraulics)
remain in the desired location  Preservation and Inhibiting of components or systems.
 Resist the tendency to harden at the low temperatures met at high altitudes
 Retain the limits, set on its alkalinity or acidity, to prevent the onset of As a general rule, the specification will identify the lubricant that is required for
corrosion. each application. It is not necessary for engineers to know the properties of every
lubricant, as component manufacturers specify the lubricants approved for use on
Oils are also required to remain chemically stable and to possess (and retain) a their equipment.
suitable viscosity during their useful life. In general, every oil must:
Generally, lubricating oils do not deteriorate during storage, but low-temperature
 Adequately wet the surface needing lubrication greases can suffer and must be stored in a cool place. If water gets into either
 Not evaporate too much in service type of lubricant, the result can be very serious. Water contamination can cause:
 Not produce gum, sludge or carbon
 Not damage the material with which it normally comes into contact.  Breakdown of normal properties under bearing loads
 Oil additives rendered ineffective, giving a tendency to ‘sludge’
In addition to protecting surfaces from corrosion, other properties of oils include  Failure of normal properties due to oil emulsification
the previously mentioned ability to wash away small particles of debris and to  Frothing of engine oil, which can cause excessive loss of oil through the
remove heat from system components. The heat can be as a result of the friction system vents.
of motion, or from other sources such as the heat of combustion within a gas
turbine or piston-type aero engine. Many contaminants, such as rust and dust in suspension, may lead to blocking of
oil passages or damage to moving parts. In grease, these solids produce a sort of
Oil provides lubrication in two distinct phases, which are referred to as: grinding paste, which wears moving parts very quickly.
 ‘Boundary’ lubrication When oils and greases are in storage, a number of precautions will prevent
 ‘Fluid’ lubrication. subsequent problems. Good lubricant storage and usage demands that:
Boundary lubrication occurs in a stationary engine, when the oil tends to drain  All containers have their lids firmly secured at all times when not in use
away from surfaces, leaving only an extremely thin film of oil, clinging to the  The majority of lubricants need to be stored in a cool place
microscopically ‘rough’ surfaces of the metals.  Different types or groups of lubricants must be kept apart, to prevent a risk of
cross-contamination
Boundary lubrication will assist in the initial movement of one surface against  All equipment must be kept totally clean.
another but, if it is not renewed, the surfaces will slide until the film disappears
and seizure follows.
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engineering
4.5.2 Lubrication Equipment
(mechanical)
The barrel houses a piston follower assembly. The pump head, which screws on
to the barrel, houses a lever-operated piston and a spring-loaded non-return
Because of the numerous types of lubricants that are available, the equipment valve. In addition, installed in the front face of the head, is an adapter for
used for applying those lubricants is vast and so mention is made here of only attaching the various nozzles. A pressure- relief valve is also incorporated into
some of the more typical equipment, which includes; the adapter.
 Grease Guns For oil filling, the cap is removed, to reveal a light chain. The chain is attached to
 Oil Cans the piston follower assembly, which is pulled out by using the chain. Once the
 Risbridger Replenishing Rigs. pump is aligned head down, the barrel is filled to approximately 40 mm (1½ in)
from the top, then the piston is replaced and the cap secured.
Grease Guns cover a wide range of tools, which are all designed to inject grease,
under pressure, into bearings and other components requiring greasing. One For grease filling, the pump head is, firstly, removed. Next the cap is removed
common ‘Universal’ model (refer to Fig. 43), - which can also be used to inject oil and the piston is pulled down to the cap end. Grease is loaded from the ‘head
- is usually supplied with four nozzles for use with different nipples. The four end’ until the barrel is full. The pump head is replaced before the cap is finally
nozzles are the: secured to the opposite end of the barrel.
 Standard: Tecalamit standard sized hexagonal nipples Note: All guns must be clearly marked with their contents and, most importantly, a
 Miniature: Tecalamit miniature sized nipples check must be made to ensure that the gun is refilled with the same grease or oil
as stated on its label.
 Push-on: Tecazerk and similar push-on nipples
 Hydraulic: Used on hydraulic nipples for priming
Oil Cans are often used to apply oils, in smaller quantities, to parts and areas
which require more exact lubrication than is possible with a general spray. Cans
Note: If it becomes necessary to change nozzles, it is advisable to prime the new
are able to apply oil in droplets, without spillage, just where the oil is wanted. Oil
nozzle before its first use.
cans must also be clearly labelled to show the type of oil that they contain.
Pumping Handle Risbridger Replenishing Rigs are a number of differently designed, replenishing
rigs, which are normally used to replenish engine and hydraulic systems. The
Filling Point basic principle of the rigs is that, by attaching a pump assembly to normal cans of
the correct oil, the pumping action will draw the oil from the can and deliver the oil
Adapter to the tank/reservoir of the relevant system.
One of the commonest rigs is attached to a can of oil by means of integral

clamps, which seal the pump and hose assembly to the top of the can. A sharp
blow will puncture the top of the can, depositing the collector pipe into the oil and
Grease Bleed Point the pump is then ready for action.
The hose end will have one of a variety of connectors (such as bayonet and
Various Hose Lengths Various Nozzles push-on). These will be of the correct type to enable connection to the relevant
(Flexible and Rigid) system requiring replenishment, and so avoid refilling with the incorrect oil.
Universal Grease Gun Note: All engineers must be careful not to attach the incorrect can to the
Fig. 43 replenisher, although most tool stores will employ a system of labels and colour-
coding, to minimise the risk of this happening. On completion, it is normal practice
to leave the can attached to the pump (even if it is empty), as an additional
The gun consists of a barrel that is closed, at one end with a spring type cap, precaution against attaching the incorrect can at the next replenishment.
and, at the other end, by a pump head.
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Drawings of individual parts contain all the information necessary to enable the
5 ENGINEERING DRAWING, DIAGRAMS AND STANDARDS
parts to be manufactured to design requirements. The material specification,
The purpose of an engineering drawing is to record and convey the designer’s dimensions and tolerances, machining details and surface finish, and any other
requirements to other, interested, people. The drawing must, therefore, include treatment required, would all be specified on the drawings.
sufficient information to enable production planning, manufacture, assembly,
testing, inspection and subsequent maintenance of the particular component or Sub-Assembly drawings are issued to convey specific information on the
assembly to be achieved in the most cost-effective manner. assembly of component parts. When the method of assembly involves welding or
a similar process, the drawing will include details of any heat treatment or anti-
So that there can be no misrepresentation of drawings, it is essential that the corrosive treatment that may be necessary. Sub-assembly drawings are
person preparing the drawing and those using the drawing should have a sometimes issued in connection with spares provisioning and also in instances
knowledge of the methods of presentation symbols, terms, and abbreviations, where assembly would be difficult without special tools, jigs or techniques.
used in the preparation of an engineering drawing.
Installation drawings are issued to clarify the details of external dimensions and
This section is not intended as a standard for the production of drawings, but attitudes of components, locations, adjustments, clearances, settings,
should be regarded as a general guide to drawing procedures and interpretation. connections, adapters and locking methods between components and
assemblies.
The reference for drawing practices, in the United Kingdom, is that produced by
the British Standards Institution, (BSI), in their publication BS 308. There are A main General Arrangement (GA) drawing of the aircraft and GA drawings of
other standards available, which supplement BS 308, such as the Society of main assemblies and systems are also provided. These drawings usually contain
British Aerospace Companies’ (SBAC) Technical Specification (TS) 88. overall profile particulars only, with locations and references of the associated
main assembly and installation drawings. They also provide a guide to the
Companies, that have design approval from the CAA or the JAA, can modify identification of drawing groups used by the particular design organisation.
these standards to suit their own particular drawing requirements. They must,
however, publish their preferred standards of drawing, to obtain the approval of Main Assembly drawings may also contain profile particulars only, but will include
their National Aviation Authority (NAA). the information required for the assembly of individual parts of sub-assemblies.
The sequence of assembly is given where appropriate but the information
5.1 Types of Drawing contained in single-part or sub-assembly drawings is not repeated. Parts, as
such, are referenced but, in the case of sub-assemblies, only the sub-assembly
There are four main types of drawings recommended by the BSI, although there will be referenced and not its individual parts.
are many other types and sub-types of drawing used at different times.
There are a number of other drawings, which are used to display alternative
The main drawing types are the: views of a component, or to show where that component appears in a system,
while pictorial diagrams or charts, are used, to show complete or part
 Single-part: unique parts or assemblies representations of functional systems such as hydraulic and electrical systems.
 Collective: parts or assemblies of similar shape, but of different dimensions
 Combined: complete assemblies, including all individual parts on a single 5.2 Methods of Drawing Solid Objects
drawing
Several methods are employed in representing three-dimensional, solid objects
 Constructional: assembly drawing with sufficient dimensional and other
on the flat surface of a sheet of paper (or of other materials, used in producing
information to describe the component parts of a construction.
engineering drawings). The two common methods, used to depict components, in
drawings, are by:
A complete set of drawings for an aircraft, and any documents or specifications
referenced on the drawings, represents a complete record of the information
required to manufacture and assemble that aircraft. The manner, in which a set of  Pictorial Projections
aircraft drawings is arranged, enables any particular component, material,  Orthographic Projections.
dimension, procedure or operation to be traced.
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5.2.1 Pictorial Projections
(mechanical)
engineering
5.2.2 Orthographic Projections
(mechanical)
Pictorial Projections provide a three-dimensional, single image of the object, as if Orthographic Projections are the types mainly used in the production of aircraft
it were being viewed, in perspective, by eye (in a similar manner to a painting or a (and most other) engineering drawings of components and structures. They are
photograph). drawn as if the viewer is infinitely remote from the object and rays (or projectors)
lead out from the object so that the projection lines of opposite sides appear to be
The main types of pictorial projections (refer to Fig. 1) may be considered as the parallel.
Perspective Projection, Oblique Projection and Isometric Projection.
This method of projection provides a two-dimensional view of only one surface of
A Parallel Perspective Projection is when one of the principal faces is parallel to the object. This means it must have multiple views (usually three, but there can
the picture plane. be as many as six) of the relevant surfaces (drawn on three mutually
perpendicular planes) to provide an accurate depiction of the whole object.
There are two conventions, used for orthographic projections (refer to Fig. 2), and
they are:
 The older First Angle Projection

 The more recent Third Angle Projection.
Plan Vanishing Point
Side
Front
Parallel Perspective Projection
Plan Plan
Side Side
Front Front
Side View Plan View

45° or 30° Front View
30° 30°
Oblique Isometric
Front View Side View
Pictorial Projections Plan View
Fig. 1
FIRST ANGLE PROJECTION THIRD ANGLE PROJECTION
Whilst perspective and oblique projections are not normally, used in aircraft
engineering drawings, they may sometimes, be used in Maintenance or Overhaul Orthographic Projections
manuals, to provide initial images of uncomplicated components or to portray a Fig. 2
general view of a constructional assembly.
The internationally recognised symbol, of the truncated cone (frustum), is the key
Isometric projections are the types mostly used for sketches and for the majority as to whether the First or Third Angle projection is being portrayed on a drawing.
of images in Maintenance and many other manuals, used in aircraft servicing.
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The First Angle projection is being used when the truncated end of the cone is
The Revolved Section view is often used to illustrate simple items with no interior
viewed and the two concentric circles are drawn at the remote end of the cone. parts. Basically, a revolved section shows how a part is sectioned and revolved to
illustrate it from a different view.
In the same way, the surface of interest (of the object) is drawn remote from that
surface in First Angle projections. The Removed Section view is also used to illustrate simple objects. However, to
do this, the object is cut, by a cutting plane line, and a section is removed to
Third Angle projections show the surface of interest drawn adjacent to that illustrate another angle.
surface, in the same manner that the two concentric circles are drawn adjacent to
the truncated end of the cone. Section (or Hatching) lines help to enhance the clarity of the sectioned view and
are, conventionally, drawn at 45° to the axis of the section.
Note; It is possible, on some drawings, to find the cone reversed (end for end),
but the location of the two concentric circles, relative to the truncated end, will Dissimilar metals, other materials, or adjacent parts of similar materials, within the
always provide the information as to how the drawing is to be read. section, are indicated by the hatching lines being drawn in different directions or
with different spacing between the lines.
5.2.3 Sectional Views
The usual spacing between hatching lines is, preferably, not less than 4 mm, with
When it is necessary to show the internal construction or shape of a part, a the exception of small areas where they are usually not less than 1 mm apart.
sectional view is used. The four main types of sectional views are the:
Assemblies of multiple parts are often shown in Complete or in Half Section views
 Revolved Section (refer to Fig. 4). The complete section view makes it easier to identify individual
 Removed Section parts within an assembly (particularly where the assembly is more complex).
 Complete Section
 Half Section. Sometimes it helps to be able to see the outside of the item being sectioned, and,
if the inside of the component is symmetrical, unnecessary detail can be omitted
If only the shape of a part needs to be shown, it is drawn with either a revolved or from the view. Both of these situations are overcome by half-sectioning the
with a removed section (refer to Fig. 3). The symbols, used for sectioning, component.
indicate where the object has been cut or sectioned and also indicate from
whichever direction the section is to be viewed.
A
A-A
Complete Section Half Section

Complete and Half Sections
Fig. 4
5.2.4 Exploded Views
A Illustrated Parts Catalogues often make use of exploded views, to show every
part of an assembly. In this type of drawing, all parts are, typically, in their relative
Revolved Section Removed Section positions and expanded outward. Each part is identified, both by its physical
appearance and by its reference number, which is used on the Parts List. An
exploded view drawing can be of great assistance, when dismantling and re-
Revolved and Removed Sections assembling a complex component.
Fig. 3
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5.2.5 Drawing Lines, Symbols and Abbreviations

The lines, used for basic dimensioning (refer to Fig. 5), are depicted, using a
standard format, which permits commonality between draughtsman and engineer.
Table 1 shows some of the types of line used in most drawings (as laid down in Dimensions are usually shown so they can be read when the drawing is held on
BS 308). The lines are designed to ensure that interpretation is clear at all times. the bottom or right hand edge. This is done to reduce the number of times a
drawing is handled and, thus, potentially increases its working life.
Table 1
LINE TYPES (EXTRACT FROM BS 308)
Type Description Width Application 90
(mm)
Continuous (Thick) 0.7 Visible outlines and edges. 6 12 50
 90
 80
 30
 70
3
Continuous (Thin) 0.3 Fictitious outlines and edges,
dimensions and leader lines,
 35
hatching, outlines of adjacent
parts and revolved sections.
Continuous 0.3 Limits of partial views or
irregular (Thin) sections when the line is not  25
on axis.
Dimensioning Examples
Short dashes (thin) 0.3 Hidden outlines and edges.
Fig. 5
Chain (Thin) 0.3 Centre lines and extreme
positions of moveable parts. In order to save time and space, when compiling a drawing, abbreviations and
Chain (thick at ends 0.7 Cutting Planes. symbols, as found in BS 308, can be used. Capital letters are normally used to
and changes of ensure clarity, but lower case letters may be found when it is deemed
direction, thin 0.3 appropriate.
elsewhere)
Chain (Thick) 0.7 Indicates surfaces which Machining symbols, for example (refer to Fig. 6), indicate the type of surface
have to meet special finish that a component requires.
requirements
Type of surface finish
The width of the lines, shown in Table 1, relates to the width of the nibs of the
Lap
pens which are used to complete drawings that are produced in design
Value of surface finish 0.08
departments or in drawing offices. These widths are only approximate and will
change as soon as the drawing is photocopied. (mm)
Some drawings may be completed by pencil and then the lines are differentiated
Lap
by the use of pencils, the leads of which possess varying degrees of hardness, so
that the softer leads create a blacker line while the feinter lines are drawn, using a 0.08
‘harder’ pencil.
Surface to be machined
Typical Machining Symbols

Fig. 6
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5.2.6 Conventional Representations 5.3 Drawing Identification System
Common features, which may appear several times on a drawing, are seldom An aircraft engineering drawing (refer to Fig. 7), must certain data, which is used
drawn in full, since this would take up space and time unnecessarily. Table 2 to prove its validity (and legality). All alterations to drawings must be made in
shows how some of these features are illustrated by conventional accordance with a drawing amendment system, which will ensure amendment to
representations, which are listed in BS 308. design records. If an alteration is made, a new issue number and date must be
allocated to the drawing.
Table 2
TWO EXAMPLES OF CONVENTIONAL REPRESENTATIONS To comply with legislation, procedures must be introduced to progressively
Title Convention amend the total definition of the product in terms of its associated list of drawings
at specific issues. Each particular variant of a product and its state of modification
must be identifiable in relation to the appropriate list of drawings.
External screw threads (detail)
DRAWING No. A DRAWING ISSUE No.
N/A APPROVAL
TC002 DATE OF ISSUE
New Drawing ALTERATION
WORKBENCH EXERCISE No 1
Holes in a linear patch
15.0
5.2.7 General and Geometric Tolerances
A general tolerance is usually given for all dimensions on a drawing. Where
65.0
general tolerances are inadequate or restrictive, an individual tolerance may be
given to a dimension. R5 R5
25.0
Tolerances (as discussed in Workshop Practices) may be expressed by quoting 10.0
the upper and lower limits, the nominal dimension or the limits of tolerance above 60.0
115.0
and below that dimension.
Geometric Tolerances are used where it is sometimes necessary to place Note: Stamp initials on workpiece
1 TC002-1 Mild Steel Case Harden Riveting Block 1
tolerances both on geometric features and dimensions, in order to control the before case hardening ITEM
DRAWN BY.
PART No.
AIRCRAFT
MATERIAL / SPECIFICATION
N/A
TREATMENT
TOLERANCE
DESCRIPTION QTY
shape of a part adequately. A recommended system can be found in the BS 308. CHECKED BY. SCALE
1:1
± 0.05 mm
HURRICANE WAY
STRESS N/A
DIMENSIONS IN
mm
uk NORWICH AIRPORT
NORWICH
NORFOLK
APPROVED BY. USED ON: engineering ENGLAND
This is information usually required during manufacture. DATE

N/A THIRD ANGLE
PROJECTION
N/A
TECHNICAL COLLEGE
NR6 6HB
CAD GENERATED DRAWING - NO MANUAL ALTERATIONS DO NOT SCALE IF IN DOUBT ASK 19-09-01
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF KLM uk ENGINEERING LIMITED AND MAY NOT TITLE DRAWING No.
ANY ERRORS SHOULD BE
REPORTED TO THE INSTRUCTORS
BE COPIED OR COMMUNICATED TO A THIRD PARTY OR USED FOR ANY PURPOSE
OTHER THAN THAT FOR WHICH IT IS SUPPLIED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN
RIVETING BLOCK TC002
AUTHORITY OF KLM uk ENGINEERING LIMITED.
SHEET 1 OF 1
Typical Drawing Data

Fig. 7
The following details indicate some of the items of information that might be found
on a conventional drawing.
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5.3.1 Title Block
(mechanical)
Details of the drawing changes are recorded in the appropriate column on the
drawing, or recorded separately on an ‘Alteration Sheet’, which is referenced on
The title block is generally pre-printed and contains the essential information the drawing.
required for the identification, administration and interpretation of the drawing. It is
recommended that the title block should be at the bottom of the sheet with the The issue number may, sometimes, be represented by a letter. Some
drawing number in the lower right hand corner. organisations use alphabetical issues for prototype aircraft drawings and
numerical issues for production aircraft drawings; thus all drawings of a prototype
Adjacent to this drawing number should be the title and issue (alteration) aircraft become ‘Issue 1’ when production commences.
information. For convenience, the drawing number may appear elsewhere on the
drawing, usually inverted so it can be read whichever way it is filed. An alteration to a single part drawing may also result in changes to associated
drawings, and it may be necessary to halt manufacture or assembly of the
5.3.2 Drawing Number product. The Drawing Office system usually makes provision for the proper
recording of drawing changes, by publishing concurrently with the re-issued
No two drawings should bear identical drawing numbers and a design office drawing, an instruction detailing the effects these will have on other drawings, on
should maintain a register of all drawings issued. The Drawing Number may refer work-in-progress and on existing stock.
to elements such as the project identity, the group breakdown, and the individual
register number. Except for repair drawings, the Drawing Number is also As a further safeguard, some organisations publish ‘Drawing Master Reference
generally the Part Number. Lists’, which give details of the current issues of all drawings which are
associated with a particular component or assembly.
5.3.3 Handed Parts
5.3.6 Part Referencing
Drawings of handed parts usually have the left-hand, upper, inner or forward part
drawn. This item is allocated the odd number, with the opposite hand the Every item called up on a drawing is given an item number, which is shown in a
consecutive even number. The drawing sheet bears the legend ‘AS DRAWN’ and ‘balloon’ on the face of a drawing. No other information is given in, or adjacent to,
‘OPP HAND’ in the item quantity column. Where necessary the handed condition the balloon, with the exception of information necessary for manufacture or
is indicated by a local view or annotation. assembly, such as ‘equally spaced’ or ‘snap head inside’. A Schedule of Parts is,
normally, also included.
5.3.4 Sheet Numbers
Materials such as locking wire and shimming, which are available in rolls and
Where a complete drawing cannot be contained on a single sheet, successive sheets, will be detailed by specification number in the ‘Part No’ column and the
sheets are used. The first sheet is identified as ‘SHEET 1 of X SHEETS’, as quantity will be entered as ‘As Required’ or ‘A/R’.
applicable and subsequent sheets by the appropriate sheet number. Where a
Schedule of Parts (Parts List), applicable to all sheets, is required, it appears on 5.3.7 Validation of Modification/Repair Drawings
Sheet 1.
When a modification or a repair is required to be embodied into an aircraft
5.3.5 Drawing Changes structure or component part, it usually necessitates the use of a working drawing
to assist with the work.
Change to a design drawing, with the exception of minor clerical corrections, is
usually accompanied by a new issue number and date. New parts added to the To ensure the authenticity (and legality) of the drawing, it should bear a ‘Validity’
drawing, or ‘drawn on’ parts affected by the change, take a new issue number, stamp (using red ink) which is applied by the issuing department.
and parts, which are not affected, retain the original issue number. In all cases
where interchangeability is affected, a new Drawing Number and Part Number The stamp consists of the authorisation stamp and signature of the issuing
are allocated. person and the date on which the drawing is obtained from the issuing
department. In addition the stamp should bear the words VALID ‘TIL: followed by
a second date.
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The additional date will be that of the date of the next scheduled revision (usually
engineering
5.4 Auxiliary Diagrams and Charts
(mechanical)
Quarterly – January, April, July, October or similar) to the relevant manual or

document from which the working drawing has been copied. In addition to the conventional Engineering Drawings, uses are made of other
diagrammatic means of presenting information, for specific purposes, during
Working drawings must not be used beyond their validation date, but must be maintenance operations. These auxiliary diagrams can include:
returned to the issuing department for checking and re-validation before use.
 Electrical Wiring Diagrams
5.3.8 Summary of Recommended Drawing Information  Component Location Diagrams
 Schematic Diagrams
Table 3 provides a fairly comprehensive summary of the recommended basic and  Block Diagrams
additional information, which is likely to be found on typical aircraft engineering  Logic Flowcharts.
drawings.
5.4.1 Electical Wiring Diagrams
Table 3
RECOMMENDED BASIC AND ADDITIONAL DRAWING INFORMATION Electrical wiring diagrams are included in most aircraft maintenance manuals and
Recommended Basic Drawing Information they will specify details such as the size (gauge) of the wires and the types of
Company Identifier (Name, Logo etc.) Drawing number terminals used for each application. Wiring diagrams, typically, identify each
Copyright clause Descriptive title of part/assembly component within a system by its part number, (and sometimes by its serial
Date of drawing Units of measurement number), and will include any changes that were made during a production run of
‘Issue’ information General tolerances an aircraft.
Projection symbol Original scale
Sheet number Warning: ‘DO NOT SCALE’ There are several types of electrical wiring diagrams. Some diagrams show only
Number of sheets Grid or zoning system one circuit while others show several circuits within a system. More detailed
‘Validation’ stamp for working drawings Signature(s) diagrams show the connection of wires at splices and junction boxes in addition
Recommended Additional Drawing Information to the arrangement of components throughout the aircraft.
Material and specification Treatment/hardness
Surface texture Finish On modern aircraft, wiring diagrams can vary from a single page diagram
Screw thread forms Tool references (applicable to a light aircraft, for example), to those of a modern jet airliner, which
Sheet size Gauge references might need to have many dozens of wiring diagrams to give each system and
Print-folding marks Reference to drawing standards sub-system enough clarity to make them useful.
Supersedes Equivalent part
Because some aircraft have very complex electrical and electronic systems, a
separate Wiring Manual is often produced. The Wiring Manual can include full
wiring diagrams, component location diagrams, and schematic diagrams to
provide a system overview (which show all connections to the components etc.)
to assist in trouble shooting.
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5.4.2 Component Location Diagrams
(mechanical)
engineering
5.4.3 Schematic Diagrams
(mechanical)
In a Component Location Diagram (refer to Fig. 8), components, within a specific Schematic diagrams can be found in maintenance manuals to represent and give
system, are shown as they actually appear, and not as symbols or as cut-aways. information on aircraft systems such as electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic,
lubrication, air-conditioning, and pressurisation, and also to provide details for
This simplifies understanding of the overall system operation. engine and (where applicable) propeller operation.
Coloured diagrams are not used in maintenance manuals, but a system of

hatching and shading is normally used to indicate how the system functions.
A typical electrical system schematic diagram (refer to Fig. 9), is used to give an
overview of the complete aircraft system so that maintenance and diagnosis can
be initiated. The diagram may show sources of electrical power and the
distribution of that power to a wide range of bus-bars. Each sub-system would
have an additional diagram, showing the circuits, in detail, from those bus-bars.
Gen 1 Gen 2 AC Ext DC Ext

Electrical Power
Receptacle
Automatic AC Bus Transfer System

Component Location Diagram AC Bus 1 AC Bus 2
Fig. 8
TRU 1 Battery TRU 2 Battery

Charger 1 Charger 2
Battery 1 Battery 2
Batt Batt
Bus 1 Bus 2
DC Bus Transfer System
Typical Electrical System Schematic Diagram

Fig. 9
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5.4.4 Block Diagrams
(mechanical)
Due to the complexity of electrical and electronic diagrams, a Block Diagram

(refer to Fig. 10) may be used to assist in certain tasks, such as trouble shooting,
because the purpose of trouble shooting is merely to locate the faulty module, Start
rather than to check it out internally.
The ‘blocks’ can represent components, circuit boards, or replaceable modules.

No
Obtain Is drill size
correct size correct?
drill
Yes
RF Secure drill in chuck

Amplifier Demodulator AF
Amplifier
No
Loudspeaker Adjust Is drill speed
drill correctly set?
speed
Simple Block Diagram
Fig. 10 Yes
5.4.5 Logic Flowcharts Align and secure work in clamp
Logic Flowcharts provide another aid to trouble-shooting, by representing the

mechanical, electrical or electronic action of a system without expressing the Drill hole
constructional or engineering information.
A simple Logic Flowchart (refer to Fig. 11) can be used (by following the arrows
Finish
through the sequence), to detect faults in an operation and to provide solutions
for correcting the faults.
Simple Logic Flow Chart

Fig. 11
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5.5 Microfilm, Microfiche and Computerised Presentations

The Reader is similar to the microfilm Reader except that the film slide is moved
about, beneath the viewing lens, until the relevant page appears upon the screen.
Due to the increased complexity of modern aircraft, the amount of information
needed, within the Maintenance, Spares and Repair manuals, has grown to an By simply pressing a button on the machine, a photocopy of the page being
enormous extent. viewed can be produced for remote use and, once again, any copies should not
be retained for future use.
For example, the Maintenance manuals, for one modern aircraft alone, consist of
twenty volumes, each of which would be more than 76 mm (3 in) thick. Amendment of both this and the microfilm system is by direct replacement, with
local disposal of the unwanted items.
To compress even greater amounts of data, other media are utilised, to make the
information more easily available to aircraft servicing technicians. These include: 5.5.3 Computer CD-ROM
 Microfilm The use of computers, with respect to aircraft maintenance manuals, (and other
 Microfiche publications), has the primary advantage of the huge amount of information that
 Computers (CD-ROM). can be stored on one Compact Disc (CD).
5.5.1 Microfilm A single computer, located within a maintenance facility, could have all the
necessary publications (such as the Maintenance Manual, Illustrated Parts
This method entails one publication being reproduced, on a roll of film and Catalogue and Wiring Diagrams), for the relevant aircraft type, held on one CD.
contained in a special cartridge case, approximately three inches (76 mm)
square. The pages are sequentially copied onto the film and wound upon a drum, As with the other two systems, there should be the facility to print the necessary
within the cartridge case. information required with, of course, the limitation that the information is only valid
‘on-the-day’, and must not be used for repetitive jobs.
A microfilm ‘Reader’ (a projector) is used, to wind the film through a ‘gate’ and
display a single page of text/drawing upon a screen, which is large enough to Updating of computer-based systems is by the simple replacement of the relevant
enable the text and illustrations to be read and understood. CD-ROM, although there may be intermediate amendments.
Because of the condensing of the ‘hard copy’ books into a small space; a 5.5.4 Supplementary Information
complete set of maintenance manuals can, thus, be contained in a small number
of microfilm cartridges which can be stored close to the Reader. It is important that only the current issue, of whichever system is in use, is
supplied to servicing technicians. This means that the amendment procedures
A number of these projectors are provided with a printing facility, that allows the must be carefully monitored (and especially the disposal of the out-dated
person, reading the film, to print a copy of any sheets which contain information material). The new amendments come with a ‘Letter of Transmittal’, from the
that is required away from the machine. All copies, removed from the microfilm relevant authority, in exactly the same manner as they do with the ‘hard copy’
reading room, must be used once only, and not retained for later work. This technical publications.
practise ensures that amendments and updates are not missed.
Because of the need to dispose of large amounts of information, whenever even
5.5.2 Microfiche a minor update or amendment is carried out, it is normal to produce
Supplementary Information in hard copy form, as an intermediate source of
A similar process to microfilm, with the exception that many pages of the manuals current information. These issues are in addition to either the film/fiche/CD-ROM
are reproduced on one clear sheet of film, measuring approximately 100 mm x systems in use and must be not only carefully monitored, but also well publicised.
150 mm (4 in x 6 in). Each sheet is capable of storing a large number of pages
(over 100) of text/drawings and takes up very little space. This ensures that the technicians know that the information, contained in the
system they are using, could, possibly, contain small items of out-of-date
information.
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5.6 Aeronautical Standards
(mechanical)
Chapter 1 of the ATA 100 covers policies and standards applicable to all
publications and provides a uniform method for arranging technical material,
A standard is variously defined as: within the relevant publications, in an effort to simplify the technician’s problem in
locating instructions and parts.
 Something, established for use as a rule, or basis of comparison, in
measuring or judging capacity, quantity, content, extent, value or quality, or a In the ‘Arrangement of Material’ section, in Chapter 1 (1-2) of the ATA 100, the
level or grade of excellence standard details the use of a three-element identifier number. Each element of
 Any measure of extent, quality or value, established either by law, or by the identifying number consists of two digits. The first element is designed to
general use, or by consent. provide identification of all topics or systems, within the respective manuals, by
reference to specific Chapters. The second element identifies sub-systems (sub-
In the normal performance of their duties, technicians can find a wide array of topics) as Sections, while the third element identifies associated sub-sub-systems
standards, establishing the characteristics of the materials and components that (sub-sub topics) as Subjects.
they encounter in their day-to-day work of maintaining and repairing aircraft.
Table 4 illustrates an example of how the ATA 100 numbering system (in this
5.6.1 Air Transport Association Specification No. 100 instance using numbers ranging from 27-00-00 to 27-31-14) is used, to identify
the material which is covered at particular locations within a typical Maintenance
Since 1 June 1956, the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), has used a Manual.
specification, to establish a standard for the presentation of technical data, by
aircraft, engine or component manufacturers, that is required for their respective
products.
Table 4
This specification is known as ATA Specification No.100 (ATA 100), and its two EXAMPLE OF ATA 100 NUMBERING SYSTEM
Chapters clarify the general requirements of the aircraft industry, with reference First Element, Second Element, Third Element, Coverage
to the coverage, preparation and organisation of all technical data. Chapter Section Subject
(system) (sub-system) (unit)
Chapter 2 of the ATA 100 covers policies and standards applicable to specific 27 00 00 Material which is applicable to
manuals and it details the names and contents of the various manuals that must the system as a whole (in this
be prepared by the manufacturer. Such manuals include the: instance Flight Controls).
27 31 00 Material which is applicable to
 Aircraft Maintenance Manual the sub-system as a whole (in
 Wiring Diagrams this instance Elevator and Tab
 Structural Repair Manual Control System).
 Aircraft Illustrated Parts Catalogue 27 31 00 Material which is applicable to
 Component Maintenance Manual the sub-sub-system as a whole.
 Illustrated Tool and Equipment Manual This number (digit) is assigned
 Service Bulletins by the manufacturer.
 Weight and Balance Manual 27 31 14 Material applicable to a specific
unit of the sub-sub-system
 Non-Destructive Testing Manual
(Elevator Feel Computer). Both
 Power Plant Build-up Manual
digits are assigned by the
 Aircraft Recovery Manual manufacturer
 Fault Reporting and Fault Isolation Manuals
 Engine Manual
 Engine Illustrated Parts Catalogue.
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The subject is broken down yet further – into Page Blocks – to provide
5.6.2 International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)

maintenance personnel with more detailed information on specific topics (or sub-
topics) which relate to the Subject material. This is an international organisation, which has representatives from each
member country, usually consisting of that country’s own standardising
Table 5 shows an example of a Page Block system along with the topics and sub- organisation.
topics, which are allocated to the relevant Page Block numbers.
5.6.3 British Standards (BS)
These are controlled by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and are the
Table 5 recognised body for the preparation and promulgation of national standards and
EXAMPLE OF ATA 100 PAGE BLOCK NUMBERING SYSTEM codes of practice. The BSI represents the United Kingdom on matters pertaining
Topic or sub-topic Page Block to ISO.
Description and Operation 1 to 100
Trouble-shooting 101 to 200 5.6.4 Military Standard (MS)
Maintenance Practices (if brief) 201 to 300
(Otherwise) Servicing 301 to 400 This standard was developed by the military, and has found its way into all
Removal/Installation 401 to 500 aspects of aviation. The MS (also MIL) standard has, all but, replaced the AN
Adjustment/Test 501 to 600 system and, in many cases, former AN parts are now being produced as MS or
Inspection/Check 601 to 700 MIL parts.
Cleaning/Painting 701 to 800
Approved Repairs 801 to 900 The suffix usually consists of a letter, which identifies the item (R for rivet, S for
steel, C for cable, etc.), and a serial number. These standards apply both to
hardware and materials. For example, MIL-C-5424 is a standard 7 x 19, aircraft
Note: The word EFFECTIVITY - which may appear on the left hand side of the cable, made of carbon steel.
bottom of a page – is used to identify the aircraft serial number, or manufacturer’s
serial number (MSN), or aircraft model to which a particular Subject topic may 5.6.5 Air Force and Navy (AN)
refer and those numbers will be shown. If the word ALL appears adjacent to the
EFFECTIVITY then the information concerns all types of aircraft (or components), The AN system is one of the most widely used standards in aircraft hardware. It
regardless of any serial numbers. was developed, together with the MS system, by the US military to ensure quality
and uniformity. Items manufactured to this standard are not limited to the military
Chapter 1 of the ATA 100 also details the policies and standards applicable to all and are found in all classifications of aircraft.
publications with reference to the:
5.6.6 National Aerospace Standard (NAS)
 Physical Requirements: Format of media (Paper, Film, Page layout/numbering
Items of hardware used within military aviation, which have been proven
etc.) and Indexing (List of Effective Pages [LEPs], Table of Contents [TOC],
satisfactory by the aerospace industry, can be granted a NAS designation.
Text, Divider Cards, Sequence, etc.)
 Issuance and Revision Service
 Aircraft and Engine Zoning: Access Door, Port, Panel and Area identification.
Many airlines and similar companies also organise their spare parts in stores
departments under the relevant ATA specification numbers and, irrespective of
the aircraft type, information on similar components will be found in the same
Chapter and Section. A complete table of the ATA numbering system, sub-
system and titles, allows the technician to establish, precisely, where the
information required can be found in the respective manuals.
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The item dimensioned to include the allowance also has high and low limits and,
6 FITS AND CLEARANCES
therefore, a tolerance. The correct allowance would be the difference between
For ease of manufacture and replacement, it is essential that the components of the high limit of the shaft and the low limit of the hole.
similar mechanisms should be interchangeable. For this reason limits (tolerances
and allowances) are imposed on the manufacturing procedures. 6.1.2 Tolerances
The limits on dimensions ensure that, if any two mating parts are manufactured to The tolerance on a dimension is the variation tolerated and may be considered as
the tolerances and allowances, stated on the drawing, then they will assemble a numerical expression of the desired quality of workmanship. It is the difference
without the need of further hand working or machining to achieve the required between the high and low limits of size for that dimension (refer to Fig. 1). Thus, a
standard of fit. part that should be exactly 25 mm nominal diameter, will be accepted for a
certain purpose if it is within the limits 25.1 mm, (the high limit); and 24.9 mm,
Because shafts are much easier than holes to machine small diameters, the main (the low limit). The difference between the two (0.2 mm) is the tolerance.
systems of Limits and Fits, for engineering purposes, is usually the ‘hole-based’
system. The holes are created to a certain tolerance and the sizes of the shafts
are altered to provide the required class of fit between the two items.
6.1 Dimensions
Mass production has long been the basis of the approach to the most economic
methods of manufacturing and the complete replacement of a defective item is
common practice in the maintenance of aircraft and aerospace components.
For this reason, limits are imposed on the manufacturing processes, to ensure
that, if any two mating parts are manufactured to the dimensions as stated on the High limit Low limit
Low limit High limit
relevant drawings, then the parts will assemble without need of further major of hole of hole
of shaft of shaft
adjustments and in the least time possible.
The limits are based on the allowances and tolerances imposed on the
dimensions of the manufactured parts. These dimensions will be given the
accuracy required by the designer of the respective parts.
6.1.1 Allowances
Shaft/Hole Tolerance Terms
An allowance is a difference in dimension that is necessary to give a particular Fig. 1
‘class of fit’ between two parts. If, for example (and using a typical limit system), a
shaft were required to locate with a corresponding hole in a component. Then, to
assist in the economy of manufacture, either the hole or the shaft is made as
accurately as possible to the nominal size and an allowance is applied to the
associated item. The term ‘shaft’ also includes bolts and pins.
If the shaft is constant and the hole varies in size, then the system used is said to
be ‘shaft-based’. If the hole is constant and the shaft varies in size, then the
system is ‘hole based’. The hole-based system is the one in more general use.
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Table 1 shows that tolerances may be stated in one of three ways, using a hole
that has a nominal size of 100 mm diameter and a tolerance of 0.02 mm as an

example.
Table 1
TYPES OF TOLERANCES
Bilateral 100 mm  0.01 mm
Unilateral 100 mm + 0.02 mm
100 mm – 0.00 mm
Limits 100.01 mm
99.99 mm Interference Fit Transition Fit Clearance Fit
With sheet material, such as patch plates, used in certain repairs, the dimensions
quoted in the repair scheme usually have a tolerance in one direction only, the
Hole-Based System
nominal size being the lower limit. In effect the patch plate must never be below
the nominal size, although it can be slightly over, in accordance with the repair
scheme in the manual. British Standards System of Fits
Fig. 2
6.2 Drilling Sizes for Holes
6.3.1 Newall System
In the early Newall hole-based system of limits, the holes are classified as Class
The size of hole to be drilled depends upon the purpose of that hole. A hole A and Class B fits. Class A holes are manufactured to a closer tolerance than are
drilled for a rivet with a specific diameter would differ from those drilled to take a Class B holes. Table 2 shows how the shafts are classified, using the letters F, P,
screw thread, or the plain shank of a bolt, of the same diameter. Similarly the size D, X, Y, and Z.
of a hole which is to accommodate a shaft will depend on the size of the shaft
and on the manner in which the hole/shaft combination is to be used. Table 2
NEWALL SYSTEM OF FITS
Additionally, if the hole is to be reamed, then it must be drilled slightly smaller Class of Fit Type of Fit Remarks
than its nominal size, to allow for the metal removed by the reamer. Interference Force Mechanical pressure is
F required for assembly and,
Drill sizes (as discussed in the Tools topic) are fixed and can be found on charts once assembled, no
that list each standard drill size, together with other columns such as clearance dismantling is likely to be
and tapping sizes. These charts may also include equivalent sizes displayed in required.
metric, fractional, letter and in the number/letter system. Driving These are a little less tight
D than Force Fit and one
6.3 Classes of Fits part can be driven into the
other.
There are three principal classes of fit, between shafts and holes, and they are Transition Push Slight manual effort is
the: P required to assemble the
parts. Suitable for
 Interference Fit: where the shaft is larger than the hole detachable or locating
parts but not for moving
 Transition Fit: where the shaft and hole are approximately the same size parts.
Clearance Running Suitable for various types
 Clearance Fit: where the shaft is smaller than the hole. X, Y and Z of moving parts. Class Z
provides the finest fit
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6.3.2 British Standards System
(mechanical)
engineering
6.4.1 Limits for Wear
(mechanical)
The British Standard (BS 4500) hole-based system of fits (refer to Fig. 2), also The four dimensions, typically covered in wear tables are:
uses the basic terminology for holes and shafts. The terminologies are similar to
those used in the Newall system (and several other systems), the holes and  Dimension New
shafts are identified by a more extensive alpha/numeric identifier.  Permissible Worn Dimension
 Clearance New
It can, however, be seen that, in an Interference Fit, the upper and lower limits of  Permissible Worn Clearance.
the shaft are greater than the corresponding limits of the hole and, thus, force is
necessary to achieve the fit. Dimension New relates to the size of the part when new, and will show the
relevant tolerances.
In the Transition Fit, the differences in the upper and lower limits of both items are
negligible so that only light effort is required to insert the shaft into the hole. Permissible Worn Dimension refers to the size to which a part may wear before it
must be rejected as unserviceable. Parts, which are not worn beyond this size,
The upper and lower limits of the shaft, in a Clearance Fit, are always less than can be used again, providing a suitable mating part is chosen to keep the
those of the hole, so that the shaft moves easily within the hole. clearance within the permissible figure. This will frequently involve choosing a
new part to mate with the worn part.
6.4 Schedule of Fits and Clearances
Clearance New is the desired clearance in limit form. Interference fits are quoted
Wear occurs at any time that there is motion between two parts. This motion can as negative clearances.
be intentional, such as when a shaft rotates in a plain (journal) bearing or when a
roller moves back and forth over a track. Wear can also be accidental, where two Permissible Worn Clearance refers to the maximum allowable clearance when
parts, that should be immovable, chafe together. reassembling the component.
If the parts are intended to move together, then the maintenance documentation 6.4.2 Limits for Ovality
will have a Schedule of Fits and Clearances, based on the limit system, issued for
each mechanism, used on the aircraft. This usually occurs as a result of the surface wearing, through friction or linear
movement. Ovality and can apply equally to holes and shafts (refer to Fig. 3).
If the parts are not intended to move together, it will depend upon inspection
procedures to discover the problem and repair schemes will be initiated, in an Holes may be tested for ovality, using such instruments as Go/No-Go gauges,
attempt to prevent recurrence. internal micrometers, or callipers, as were previously discussed in the Tools topic
of this course.
The Schedule of Fits and Clearances contains tables, which specify the limits on
wear and other characteristics such as: A shaft may be tested for ovality, by the use of snap gauges, external callipers
and micrometers, which were, again, discussed in the Tools topic.
 Ovality (of a hole or shaft)
 Bow of a shaft It is important to test for ovality of a shaft, before testing it for bow, as the results
 Twist of a shaft. may be suspect if bow is done first.
Bow in a shaft can be determined, in a workshop, by utilising V blocks, a surface

gauge and a DTI (in conjunction with a surface table).
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6.4.4 Limits for Twist
(mechanical)
Twist is the result of applied torsion on circular or square-sectioned shafts. If the

twist disappears, as a result of removing the force, then the shaft will have been
loaded below its elastic limit. If the shaft remains twisted, after removal of the
Wear load, then it has been loaded above its elastic limit.
The action of a shaft (of whatever section), carrying a torque load is to twist in
proportion to the torque applied. The result of cyclic loading of shafts is that, at
certain times, the shafts have to be checked for permanent twist. If the shaft has
Wear
a square section, it can be checked for twist on a surface table using a DTI
mounted on a surface gauge.
Hole Shaft
Ovality of a Hole or a Shaft Solid or tubular shafts that have to be checked for twist will possibly have witness
Fig. 3 marks or lines engraved or etched at each end of the shaft. The shafts can be
checked, by mounting the shaft in V blocks and, then, locating these marks in the
horizontal position.
6.4.3 Limits for Bow
It is possible to measure the amount of twist, to which a shaft is subjected, whilst
When dealing with shafts and tubes, it is vital that not only are the ends square in operation or rotation, by the use of strain gauges. These emit varying amounts
with each other, but that the centreline of the complete shaft or tube is straight. of electric current when under strain, giving an indication (on a calibrated
instrument) of the load being applied.
If the centre line of the shaft is not straight, then the item is bowed. When the
shaft or tube is rotating, especially at a high speed in a bowed state, there is the The designer of the aircraft or equipment will set all limits, with regards to the
risk of vibration, which can lead to mechanical failures, loosening of fasteners and distortion of parts and set them down in the relevant manuals. The methods used
(most critical of all) fatigue. to measure the distortion will either be standard procedures, such as using a DTI
and surface table etc., or will have a special procedure included in the manuals.
All cylindrical items, both tubular and solid, can be given a limit to the amount of
bow permitted. For example a drive shaft, which rotates about 1500 rpm, may
have a limit of 0.25 mm (0.01 in) bow over the length of the shaft.
This ensures that, within the limits of production, the drive shafts are effectively
straight, giving the least possible vibration.
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7.1.1 Rivet Materials
(mechanical)
7 RIVETING
Rivets are a non-detachable form of fastening device, used extensively on Unless otherwise stated, the rivets must be of the same material as the work
aircraft, to secure the items of components built up from sheet metal. They are being riveted. The rivet material may be identified by markings, colour, anti-
ideal for forming liquid-tight joints, are cheaper, lighter in weight and are more corrosion treatment or magnetic properties.
rapidly fastened than bolts.
Solid rivet markings are usually situated on the head or tail of the rivet. Tubular
Rivets, however, have the disadvantage that they are not really suitable for rivets are not marked. When in doubt as to the identification of rivets, reference
tensile loads. A riveted assembly cannot be readily dismantled. Rivets, basically should be made to the packaging label.
fall into two classes, which are:
Solid rivets can be made from a variety of materials with aluminium alloy being
 Solid rivets the most common. The material and specifications of British and American rivets
 Hollow or tubular rivets are not the same. The type of rivet used for repair is dictated by an aircraft’s
maintenance manual. Permission from the aircraft manufacturer is required
Rivets are supplied with one head already formed, the tail being formed by hand- before any changes, to rivet specification, are allowed.
operated or machine tools.
7.1.2 Basic Rivet Location Terminology
7.1 Types of Solid Rivet
Basic terminologies (refer to Fig. 2) are employed, to describe the location of
Solid rivets are available in a variety of shapes and metals. The common types of rivets relative to each other and to the limiting boundaries of the assembly.
British rivet (refer to Fig. 1) are the snap head, which is used for general
purposes, the mushroom head, where less resistance to the air is essential, and The most common terms are the:
the countersunk head, where a flush finish is required.
 Pitch: which is the distance between two rivets in a row, measured centre to
In the USA the common heads are the universal (similar to the mushroom head) centre, and it should be at least four times the rivet diameter (4D).
and the countersunk head. Countersunk heads are available in a variety of
different head angles, usually 60, 90, 100 and 120, with the most common  Spacing: which is the distance between adjacent rows, and it should be
being the 100. between 3D and 4D. A zigzag pattern of spacing is normally used for liquid-
tight joints.
 Land: which is the distance between rivet centres and the edge of the metal
sheet and it not should be less than 2D.
 Allowance: which is the amount of rivet shank that protrudes beyond the
material before the rivet is formed.
 Clearance: which is the amount that the rivet hole is larger, than the rivet
Snap Head Mushroom Countersunk Head shank diameter.
(or Universal) Head
Rivet Types
Fig.1
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7.2 Types of Riveted Joints
(mechanical)
The location of the riveting dictates the type of joint (refer to Fig. 3) that is made.
An ordinary lap joint is used on lightly loaded members and, to provide a flush
surface on one side, the joint may be joggled. Where one flush surface and
greater strength is required, the single butt joint is used. The strongest joint is the
double strap butt joint.
Pitch
Spacing
Lap Joint Joggled Lap Joint
Land
Single Strap Butt Joint Double Strap Butt Joint
Types of Riveted Joints

Fig. 3
7.3 Closing Solid Rivets

Allowance
Clearance
This is usually done during a repair or modification to the aircraft structure. The
repair scheme or modification leaflet will detail the rivet size, type and spacing to
be used which, usually will be the existing layout and materials used in adjacent
Terminology of Rivet Locations parts of the structure. The rivet diameter will normally be approximately three
Fig. 2 times the thickness of a single sheet of the material being joined.
The tools required to close (set) a solid rivet are a rivet snap, reaction block
(dolly) and pneumatic hammer (rivet gun). If access is restricted, then two people
will be required to complete the task, - one holding the work and one riveting.
A solid rivet may be closed as follows:
 It should, first, be ensured that the plates are secured by use of gripping pins
 The hole is prepared and the correct rivets obtained
 A rivet, of the correct diameter and length, is inserted into the hole
 The rivet head is supported in the snap and the dolly placed on the tail of the
rivet
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
(mechanical)
Light blows are applied, with a hammer, to the snap whilst the dolly is kept on
the rivet’s tail

 The partially formed rivet is inspected and (if satisfactory) more blows are Mandrel
applied with the hammer until the rivet is formed correctly.

7.4 Closing Hollow Rivets
There are a variety of hollow rivets, designed primarily for application where there
is access to only one side of the job. These include Tucker-pop, Chobert, Avdel,
Cherry and the Hi-Lok family of modern fasteners.
7.4.1 Tucker-pop
Hand-operated pop-rivet pliers or Lazy-tongs pliers can be used to close Tucker-

pop rivets. A procedure for using the Lazy-tongs type pliers is as follows:
 The Lazy tongs are fully extend and the mandrel shank inserted into the chuck
 The tongs are slightly compressed and the rivet inserted into the hole in the
material being riveted Closing a Chobert Rivet
 The chuck is held firmly and squarely against the material, while the tongs are Fig. 4
further compressed, until the head of the mandrel closes the rivet and the
stem break off. 7.4.3 Avdel
The broken off mandrel stems, swarf, rivet heads and shanks, which are Where the strength of a solid rivet and a sealed joint is required, Avdel rivets
discarded during a repair operation, must be removed after completion of the (refer to Fig. 5) are one of the possible choices. These leave part of the mandrel
task. The danger of such waste material fouling items such as control cables, firmly in place, the top of which can be milled off to leave a flush surface finish.
cannot be over-emphasised.
7.4.2 Chobert Mandrel

Avdel Rivet
Chobert rivets (refer to Fig. 4) are very similar to Tucker Pop rivets, excepting that
the mandrel pulls fully through the rivet and is used many times, (including some
which have a magazine facility allowing repetitive operation). To operate the tool:
 The mandrel is lubricated and threaded with the rivet

 The rivet is then threaded into the jaws of the tool with the operating handle
fully anti-clockwise
 The rivet and mandrel are pushed fully into the tool jaws
 The rivet is place into the hole, in the work, and the tool is checked for square.
 The operating handle is turned clockwise, to pull the mandrel through the
rivet, and, when the resistance ceases, the rivet is secured Mandrel milled
flush with skin
After closing the Chobert rivet a pin is inserted through the centre of the rivet, to
provide additional shear strength and some sealing properties. Closing Avdel Rivets
Fig. 5
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7.4.4 Cherry Max
(mechanical)
engineering
7.4.5 Hi-Lok
(mechanical)
One of the most common riveting systems is the ‘Cherry Max’ system, produced One other ‘family’ of fasteners that have taken the place of rivets in certain high
in the USA, by Cherry Textron. The system is one of a range produced by the load situations is the Hi-Lok (refer to Fig. 7), Hi-Lok Hi-Tigue and Hi-Lite group.
company, others include Friction-lock and Mechanical-lock Cherry rivets.
These fasteners vary from those mentioned before, not only because they are
Cherry Max rivets (refer to Fig. 6) consist of four components, assembled as a screwed down to full closure, but they are also installed using ordinary hand tools
single unit. The components consist of a: such as open-ended spanners or Allen wrenches, avoids the need for complex
and expensive special closing tools.
 Stem with a break notch shear ring and plug section
 Locking collar, which locks the stem The collar is tightened onto the pin to close the two sheets of metal, and when it
 Fastener sleeve with a locking collar dimple reaches the correct torque the hexagonal drive portion shear off. The collar part
 Driving anvil, to ensure correct installation. of the fastener may have a fibre washer attached to aid sealing properties.
Collar
Mandrel
Fibre Collar
Driving Anvil
Formed
Locking
Tubular Collar
Rivet
Sleeve Pin
Unformed
Closing a Hi-Lok Rivet
Locking
Fig. 7
Collar
7.4.6 Rivnuts
Rivnuts are a form of blind rivet, which can be used as an anchor nut, because
Bulbed
the internal bore is threaded to receive a bolt or screw. These fasteners can be
Head
found with either countersunk or flat heads and are installed with a special tool,
fitted with a threaded mandrel.
Cherry Max Rivets
Fig. 6 This mandrel is screwed into the rivnut and, when the gun is operated, the pull
force on the mandrel expands the shank, leaving the rivnut securely fastened and
able to receive a bolt or screw after the tool is removed.
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7.5 Inspection of Riveted Joints
(mechanical)
If there are any signs of damage to the airframe structure, then a thorough
inspection of the whole area must be made. Hidden damage may extend beyond
Riveted joints must be inspected at all stages of production and operation. This the area of visible deformation, so that any riveted joint that shows an indication
means that the manufacturing stages must be thoroughly inspected to ensure of damage should be inspected well beyond the last deformed rivet.
that the finished work meets the required specifications.
Inspection of a rivet head for stretch can be achieved by sliding a feeler gauge
Whilst in service, rivets must be inspected regularly, to check for a number of under the head or tail. A staining colour of black or grey around a rivet head is an
faults that might have occurred, such as corrosion, fretting and fatigue. indication that it has stretched. If any doubt exists it may be necessary to drill out
the rivet and examine the hole for indications of elongation or tearing. Any
After the rivets have been closed, they should be inspected to ensure that they stretching will become apparent when the rivets are removed, as the skin will
are tight and fully formed. Rivet heads must not be deformed or cracked and the move position.
surrounding area must be free from distortion and undamaged by riveting tools.
Once the material has settled it may be necessary for the holes to be drilled out
All aircraft maintenance manuals contain diagrams of formed rivets and their oversize, providing this is in accord with the repair publications.
possible faults (refer to Fig. 8). These diagrams show what is acceptable and
what is not. 7.6 Rivet Removal Procedure
As with all maintenance tasks on aircraft, the procedure for removing solid rivets
will be detailed in the AMM. The following procedure explains a basic method of
rivet removal:
 The centre of the manufactured rivet head is carefully marked with a centre
punch
 Using a twist drill the same size as the rivet shank diameter, the rivet is drilled
to the depth of the head
Clinched Head Cocked Head  The head is carefully removed, with a flat chisel or is prised out with a pin
punch
 The remaining shank is then punched out with a parallel pin punch of the
same diameter as the rivet shank.
An alternate method, occasionally used by some manufacturers, is to drill the tail

of the rivet off first and remove the remaining shank from the opposite end.
Care needs to be taken, during rivet removal, to ensure that the least possible
damage is done to the original hole and its surrounding structure.
Cracked Shop Head Countersinking too Deep
When removing rivets from bonded assemblies it is essential not to apply shear
Typical Rivet Faults loads, which are liable to part the bond.
Fig. 8
Whilst rivets that are clearly not satisfactory must be changed, care must be
taken when considering replacing those only slightly below standard. It is possible
that more harm could be done replacing them, than leaving them in place.
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After bending, the pipe should be unloaded, by immersing it in boiling water until
8 PIPES AND HOSES
all the alloy has run out. The pipe must then be cleaned internally to ensure that
Pipes and hoses can be called upon to carry a wide variety of different fluids any alloy adhering to the walls of the pipe is removed. This is accomplished by
within an aircraft, including fuel, hydraulic and engine oils, de-icing fluids, pitot using a ‘pull through’ with the pipe immersed in boiling water or by using a steam
and static air. cleaner.
The pressure within these pipes can vary from ambient to 300 M Pa (300 bar or The complete removal of the fusible alloy from the pipe is extremely important as
4000 psi). All pipes and hoses must be manufactured, installed and connected so its presence may lead to blockages or corrosion and, in steel tubes, which may
that no leaks occur in service, because a leak in a very low-pressure pitot air tube be subsequently heat-treated, the presence of any alloy would cause inter-
can be just as dangerous as a leak in an extremely high- pressure hydraulic line. crystalline cracking.
Rigid pipelines are, generally, made from stainless steel, Tungum (Trade name 8.1.1 Simple Bending Jigs
for a high-tensile, copper alloy) and aluminium alloy. Replacement pipelines are,
usually , supplied by the manufacturer, ready for installation, with the pipe bent to A simple bending jig (refer to Fig. 1) is supplied with a range of rollers and stops
the correct curvature and the pipe ends flared and provided with the appropriate and the pipe is bent using the correct combination of components checking the
end fittings. new pipe against either a template or the old pipe.
In certain circumstances, it may be permissible to manufacture new pipelines

from lengths of pipe. A new pipeline will be made, by cutting the basic pipe to the
correct length, attaching the correct couplings and expanding the ends by the use
of a flaring tool.
Requests for the basic pipe material will require details of the:
 Metal specification (DTD, BS, AN etc.)

 Outside diameter (OD)
 Gauge of the wall thickness (SWG)
 Length of pipe required.
Flexible hoses are obtained from the aircraft manufacturer using the aircraft’s Simple Bending Jig
Illustrated Parts Catalogue (IPC). It is possible that, in certain circumstances, a Fig. 1
replacement hose can be manufactured in a workshop or hose bay. Approval to
manufacture the replacement hose must be sought from the aircraft’s 8.1.2 Hand Pipe-Bending Machines
manufacturer.
Hand pipe-bending machines are available for pipe sizes up to 12 mm (< ½ in)
8.1 Pipe Bending and for sizes of 12 mm to 25 mm (½ in to 1 in). A typical hand pipe-bending
machine (refer to Fig. 2) would have a matching former and guide for each pipe
To lessen the possibility of the pipe wall kinking when it is being bent, it may be size in the range, giving a bend radius of approximately four times the pipe
filled with a special alloy, which can be removed after the bending operation. diameter.
These alloys are known as ’fusible alloys’, some of which melt below 100C and
can, therefore, be melted out by immersion in boiling water. A pressure indicator allows adjustment, so that when bending thin wall pipes,
there is no risk of ‘wrinkling’ or ‘flattening’. The roller ensures that the load of
The pipe is oiled first, to prevent the alloy adhering to the tube wall. It is next bending is transmitted axially to the pipe, via the guide, which ensures that no
plugged at one end, pre-heated and then filled with the melted alloy. Once sliding and so no damage, takes place between the guide and pipe.
cooled, the pipe can then be bent as required.
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Accurate bends can be made either from a drawing or a template, by following

simple instructions when marking out the bend. This is especially true when the
bends have to be a specific dimension from the end of the pipe or a series of
bends have to be made to produce a complex shaped pipe assembly.
Half Bushes
Pressure Indicator
Adjustable Stop Latch Fitting
Pipe Threaded Sleeve

Adjustable Screw Rotation Handle
Latch Fitting
Securing Screw
Former
Roller Bending Arm

Pipe Expander Cone
Guide
Pull this way to Rotation Handle
Bend Pipe Expander Cone
Hand Pipe-Bending Machine Threaded Sleeve
Fig. 2
8.2 Pipe Flaring Pipe Flaring Tool

Fig. 3
Flaring can be achieved only when the end of the pipe has been accurately
squared off and cleaned out. Once a flare has been formed correctly, it should
remain completely fluid tight at all normal pressures. The threaded sleeve is slowly fed into the end of the tube whilst simultaneously
turning the expander cone via the rotation handle. This spreads the end of the
8.2.1 Flaring Tool tube until it contacts the inner face of the bushes. A correctly finished flare should
leave prescribed amount of the tube projecting from the collar.
Pipe flaring tools, come in a variety of sizes, with a range of pipe sizes that can
be flared by each particular tool. A typical flaring tool (refer to Fig. 3), is used to The finished flared end with the union nut and collar can be connected to a
flare tubes in the range 12 mm to 25 mm ((½ in to 1 in). Sets of half-bushes or variety of other end fittings. These can include other pipes, and both internal and
dies cover the range of tube sizes for each machine. The flaring tool is usually external adapters fitted to a number of different components.
mounted in a hand vice or some other rigid mounting.
8.2.2 Standard Flared Pipe Couplings
Once the half-bushes have been installed, the union-nut and collar are placed
onto the tube and the tube is then clamped into the bushes, with the tube end Various types of standard flared pipe couplings (refer to Fig. 4), are available in
flush with the end of the dies or half bushes. aircraft fluid systems. These couplings have different angles and whilst they may
look similar, they are not interchangeable. The AGS system uses a 32 flare
whilst the AN system uses flares of 74 included angle. Care must be taken to
ensure that the correct couplings are fitted when manufacturing these pipes.
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Hooked Sleeve
Externally coned
Collar Internally
adapter coned adapter
Flared Under-ightened pre-set
pipe
Spherical-ended
Union Correctly tightened pre-set
Spherical-ended adapter nipple
nut Sleeve
adapter nipple Pipe to internal
Pipe to external
cone adapter cone adapter
Over-tightened pre-set
Pipe to pipe
Flareless Pipe Coupling Pre-set
Fig. 5
Standard Flared Pipe Couplings
Fig. 4 After pre-setting, the pipe should be inspected to ensure the sleeve is correctly
bowed (It is permissible for the sleeve to rotate on the pipe).
8.2.3 Flareless Couplings
In service, the nut should be tightened until a distinct resistance is felt, then
The flaring operation leaves the tube end in a stressed condition which, as the tightened further, - the amount depending on the tube size and material.
flare takes a large amount of the vibration loadings, can result in fatigue failure.
Under no circumstances should the nut be tightened further to stop any leaks,
To overcome this situation, the ‘flareless coupling’ was introduced. The flareless this action will permanently damage the tube end and sleeve.
coupling, achieves its sealing properties by the deformation of a sleeve, built into
the coupling (refer to Fig. 5). The end of this sleeve has a sharp, hooked shape, 8.3 Inspection and Testing of Pipes and Hoses
which is known as a ‘pilot’. It is the action of this sharp hook, cutting into the pipe,
which provides the required sealing properties. Before any inspections can be done, it must be ensured that the components are
scrupulously clean and that all critical areas are visible if the inspection is done
The individual parts of the coupling are assembled and the nut is simply screwed while the component is in its normal, installed location (in situ).
down on to its union until finger tight, then turned one further turn with a spanner.
Rigid pipes should be inspected for signs of:
This action bows the sleeve and causes it to bite into the tube at its forward end.
 Chafing
When the nut is slackened, the sleeve remains permanently bowed and attached  Corrosion – both externally and internally where possible
to the pipe. This pre-setting can be done either with the service union or with a  Cracking of flared ends where appropriate
special hardened steel union that is only used for pre-setting.  Deformation and Dents
 Deterioration in condition of end fittings and their threads.
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Hose assemblies should be inspected for such defects as:

After a pipe has been tested, it should normally be flushed out using a suitable
solvent, dried out using a jet of clean, dry air and blanked off, using the approved
 Blistering – Both externally and internally where possible blanks.
 Burn damage or discolouration Pipes that will be used in high-pressure air and gaseous or liquid oxygen systems
 Chafing, circumferential cracking or crazing of the outer cover must be scrupulously clean and free from any possible contamination by oil or
 Date of manufacture – to ensure that it is within its prescribed life, and that it grease. It is normal to recommend that pipes for use in these systems are flushed
will remain so until the next inspection with Trichloroethane or some other suitable solvent, blown through with double
 Deterioration in condition of end fittings and their threads filtered air and blanked-off, with the approved blanks immediately afterwards.
 Flattening, kinking or twisting.
8.3.5 Testing Flexible Hoses
The relevant maintenance manual will state the intervals of inspections and the
Once the manufactured hose has been checked for satisfactory physical
criteria which must be met before rigid pipes or hose assemblies may be
condition, the hose must be flow and pressure tested. The flow test will verify
considered fit for further service.
whether the hose inner lining is secure and not acting as a form of non-return
valve. This is achieved by passing the fluid through the hose assembly both ways
8.3.1 Bore Testing of Pipes
to confirm that there is an equal and free flow.
Pipes should be tested to ensure that the bore is clear and dimensionally correct
Where a replacement hose has been manufactured in a local hose bay, a bore
after forming. One method of satisfying this requirement is to pass a steel ball,
test may be done, in the same manner as that with rigid pipes, by use of a ball
with a diameter of 80% of the internal diameter of the pipe, through the pipe in
bearing being rolled in both directions through the hose. In this instance,
both directions. When the design or size of the pipe and end fittings, makes this
however, the diameter of the ball should be 90% of the internal diameter of the
test impractical or when a more searching test is required, the drawing will
hose’s end fittings.
normally require a flow test to be performed.
The hose should then be ‘proof-tested’ by capping one end of the hose and
8.3.2 Hydraulic Pressure Testing of Pipes
applying the test pressure, usually twice the working pressure, to it for between
one and five minutes.
Hydraulic pressure testing consists of firstly carrying out a flow test. This means a
full bore flow by pumping fluid through the pipe and checking the flow at the open
8.4 Installation and Clamping of Pipes
end. If this check is satisfactory, the open end should be suitably blanked.
Prior to installation, the pipe should be checked to establish that it is of the correct
Once the flow test has been carried out, the oil pressure should then be built up
type and that there is evidence of prior inspection and testing. This may involve
to that prescribed on the drawing, usually 1½ times the maximum working
checking the inspector’s stamp and part number. Once the pipe has been
pressure. The duration of the test must give the pipe a chance to show any leaks
checked for signs of damage, dirt or corrosion, and found serviceable, it must
or other problems.
then be immediately installed.
8.3.3 Pneumatic and Oxygen Pressure Testing of Pipes
When transporting lengths of pipe, especially long lengths, great care must be
taken not to kink or otherwise damage the pipe prior to installation. Once in
These pipes are usually given an initial hydraulic pressure test, using water as
position, the pipes should be loosely placed into position in the supporting
the test medium, followed by a compressed air test that is limited to maximum
clamps, and adjusted so that the connections align correctly. The connections
system pressure. Using high-pressure air during the test is very dangerous and
can then be tightened up, the clamps fastened and any bonding leads attached.
the pipe(s) under test should be placed behind a protective screen and/or
submerged in water.
8.4.1 Pipe Supports
8.3.4 Cleaning After Test
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Multiple pipe supports are often used to save space and these can be made from
In some instances, packing will be installed between the pipe and the clamping
a variety of materials, such as fibre blocks, aluminium alloy, moulded rubber or material. This will usually be to reduce vibration or to insulate the pipe and clamp
nylon. The clamp halves are usually joined together and attached to the aircraft material, if they are likely to suffer from electrolytic corrosion.
structure by bolts. It is important that the edges of the semi-circular recesses are
not sharp and are of the correct size for the pipe in use. Individual pipe clamping is usually achieved using ‘P’ clips. These are light alloy
loops with a rubber sleeve, which wrap around the pipe and are held by a single
bolt to the aircraft structure.
To avoid the risk of fretting occurring between the pipe and various parts of the
aircraft, minimum dimensions must be observed between these components,
which can be found in the AMM. The CAAIPs list these dimensions as 6 mm
(0.25 in) from fixed structure, 18 mm (0.7 in) from control rods and 25 mm (1 in)
from control cables, but the AMM must always take precedent.
8.5 Connection of Pipes
When connecting pipes with brazed, flared or flareless couplings, there are a
number of points to be considered.
 Union nuts must be free to rotate and can be slid back from the end of the
pipe without fouling.
 All loose items such as nipples and washers, are of the correct type and
correctly located.
 All pipe ends align correctly without any undue pressure on the pipe. (Pipes
should never be forced into position, neither should they ever be pulled-up
into position by their union nuts).
8.6 Maintenance of Pipes and Hoses
The correct methods of installing pipes and hoses (refer to Fig. 6) must be
followed if damage (and possibly disaster) is not to result. Pipes attached to the
airframe structure, are often shielded and will not usually be liable to accidental
damage. Other pipes may be located in exposed positions, where they may be
susceptible to damage or corrosion.
Pipes located in wheel bays or attached to an undercarriage leg could easily be

damaged by stones and mud or corroded by thrown-up water. Some pipes may
be badly sited and may be subject to abuse from carelessly performed and
unrelated servicing activities.
Chafing can occur in many places, such as clamps and clips, so care must be
shown to eliminate or at least reduce the chances of this happening. Cracking of
pipes can occur when pulsations are present and/or the pipe has sharp bends.
This risk must also be considered when inspecting pipe runs.
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Liquid leaks can be found by the presence of fluid, or at least dampness, on the
9 SPRINGS
pipe or clamps. Gaseous leaks must be searched for using one of the proprietary
leak-detecting fluids. Module 6 (Materials and Hardware) dealt with the various types of springs, the
materials from which they are made, their characteristics and their applications
The relevant AMM will give details on how a particular hose is installed in the within the aerospace industry.
aircraft, but, in general, a hose should be at least 3% longer than the maximum
distance between end fittings. Consideration should also be given to the Consideration in Module 7 is given only to the inspection and testing of springs.
orientation of a hose and, once correctly installed, the witness lines, marked on
the hose, should be straight. 9.1 Inspection and Testing of Springs
Structure
Springs will generally require little in the way of maintenance. Those that are in
exposed areas can become corroded over time and those in areas of high
temperature can, if they become overheated, lose their temper and cease to have
the necessary mechanical compliance to satisfy the task for which they were
designed.
Corrosion, that occurs on static springs, can reduce the loads that the spring can
carry, whilst if a spring that carries cyclic loads becomes corroded, then the
Hose to tight combination of fatigue and corrosion can result in a serious loss of fatigue
strength.
Over heating, usually shown as blistering of the surface protection can, in

extreme circumstances, show a change of colour of the metal due to the loss of
temper. It must be assumed in this event that the spring is not suitable for the
designed task.
Hose twisted and under tension
It is important that any exposed springs are carefully inspected for signs of either
of the problems of corrosion and overheating.
In some instances, springs have to be checked against figures or graphs to prove

whether they are in a suitable condition to continue in service. Some checks have
to be done out at prescribed intervals whilst others are done on an ‘opportunity
Hose correct tension basis’, such as when a brake unit a hydraulic actuator is dismantled for overhaul.
Correct and Incorrect Methods of Hose Installation. The most common check, done on coil springs is on its static measurement.
Fig. 6
The manufacturer will publish the exact dimension of the unloaded spring with
some small tolerance, whilst the servicing technician will accurately measure the
8.7 Pipe Identification Tape spring’s length and compare the two dimensions.
Once a pipe has been fitted to the aircraft, it should have system identification Providing that the spring is within the published figures, then the spring is
tape attached to enable engineers to identify which system each pipe belongs to. considered to be serviceable.
The tape comes in rolls of about 25 mm wide and uses colours, symbols and
letters to differentiate between different pipes. A small length of the tape is wound
around the pipe at convenient points.
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The other check,
(mechanical)
usually completed in a workshop environment, is the

10 BEARINGS
load/deflection check.
When correctly installed and efficiently lubricated, bearings require little but
A special test rig is used, to load the spring with either a compressive, tensile or a thorough, attention during service, to ensure a long working life. The majority of
torsional loading and a meter on the rig will display the load versus deflection bearings used in aircraft engineering are of the sealed or shielded type. These
figures. A series of loads are, subsequently, applied to the spring and the bearing are designed to prevent the ingress of foreign matter, which will damage
relevant deflections noted. or contaminate the bearing contact surfaces.
On completion, the figures are compared to a graph, published by the spring 10.1 Cleaning and Inspection of Bearings
manufacturer, to establish the serviceability of the spring.
Cleaning
If a spring fails any of these checks it is, simply, replaced by a serviceable item.
Before a bearing can be checked it must be cleaned thoroughly to remove any
dirt and the old lubricating fluid. The manual will dictate the cleaning process
including use of any solvent, but a typical method is as follows.
 Remove any excess grease with clothes and dry compressed air, whilst
ensuring that the rolling elements remain stationary or only rotate slowly.
 Soak the bearing in an approved solvent, such white spirit, to remove the
remaining grease. The solvent may be applied as a forced jet if necessary.
 Dry the bearing by using clean warm and dry compressed air, again avoiding
fast rotation of any rolling elements.
 Lightly lubricate all bearing surfaces with oil to prevent the onset of corrosion.
Testing
Testing a bearing is usually restricted to rotational checks and excessive

backlash or free play. Slow rotation of the rolling elements and raceway will
highlight any roughness due to damage, corrosion or wear. A serviceable bearing
should have a smooth actuation. Free play should be tested in both a radial and
axial direction and is normally done by using a DTI. Some wear is usually
permitted and will depend on the grade of fit, but any wear that leaves excessive
backlash in the system is unsatisfactory.
The rate of this wear depends on the speed the bearing is rotated at, with high
speed bearings failing quicker than those which rotate slowly or through
distances of less than one complete revolution. A bearing that has any indication
of a fault should be discarded immediately.
Due to their construction internal inspection of shielded bearings will be restricted.

Taper bearings can be dismantled and a thorough inspection of the rolling
elements and raceway surfaces can be completed.
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10.2 Inspection of Bearings
(mechanical)
engineering
10.2.3 Installation and Misalignment
(mechanical)
Once clean the bearing should be inspected for signs of failure, some of the more Installation damage is usually the result of an impact that occurs when a bearing
common being: is fitted incorrectly. This may be due to a sharp strike from a drift or pressing the
wrong raceway when mounting the bearing.
1. Normal Fatigue
2. Excessive Loading Misalignment damage can be seen on the raceway of the non-rotating ring
3. Installation and Misalignment because the rolling element wear path is not parallel to the raceway edge.
4. Loose Fitting or Spinning Excessive misalignment can cause high temperatures as well as heavy wear of
5. Brinelling the cage.
6. Overheating and Lubrication Deficiency
7. Contamination and Corrosion 10.2.4 Loose Fit
10.2.1 Normal Fatigue A bearing should always be mounted onto a shaft or housing with an interference
fit. If the raceway becomes loose then it will rotate on these surfaces and cause
Normal fatigue failure is often shown as a fracture of the running surface, with fretting. This fretting will remove metal particles, which oxidise and leave a
subsequent removal of small particles of metal and is commonly called spalling. distinctive brown colour. It usually occurs when the bearing outer raceway rotates
(Refer Fig. 1) inside a worn housing. The external surface of the raceway will be scored and
discoloured as a result of a loose fitting bearing. (Refer Fig. 2)
It occurs on both rolling elements and raceways, and is always accompanied by
an increase in vibration. Moderately spalled areas show the bearing has reached
the end of its normal service life.
10.2.2 Excessive Loads
Excessive loading of a bearing is usually the same as normal fatigue, but the
rolling elements wear path is usually heavier. There is also increased evidence of
overheating with a widespread and deeper fatigue or spalled area. This often
causes premature bearing failure. (Refer Fig. 1)
Fig. 2
Loose Fit Damage
10.2.5 Brinelling
Spalled Brinelling marks on a bearing raceway resemble the indentations that result from
Area a Brinell Hardness Test. They are described as being either True Brinell or False
Brinell marks.
Ball
Path True Brinelling occurs when loads on the bearings raceway exceed the elastic
limit of the raceway material. Brinell marks are indentations on the rolling element
caused by an excessive static or dynamic loads.
The indentations can be seen on the raceways and will increase bearing noise
Fig. 1 and vibration, which leads to the bearings premature failure. The damage is often
Spalled Areas caused by dropping the bearing or installing it incorrectly. (Refer Fig. 3 Left)
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False Brinelling occurs when there is only small relative motion between the
engineering
10.2.7 Contamination and Corrosion
(mechanical)
rolling elements and raceways during non-rotation periods. It is characterised by

elliptical wear marks in the axial direction at each rolling element position (Refer Contamination is one of the leading causes of premature bearing failure. The
Fig. 3 Right). symptoms are dents or scratches embedded in the bearing raceway and rolling
elements, resulting in bearing vibration and wear. (Refer Fig. 4 Left)
If the bearing is not turning then an oil film cannot be formed to prevent raceway
wear. False Brinelling marks are normally perpendicular to the line of motion, well The contaminant would be an abrasive substance that gets into the bearing, such
defined and maybe surrounded by debris. as sand, grit or dust. The principal sources are dirty tools, contaminated work
areas, dirty hands and foreign matter in the lubricant or cleaning solutions.
Corrosion is usually the result of a chemical attack on the bearing material by an

incompatible fluid such as moisture. It manifests itself as either black pitting
marks or red/brown rust coloured areas on the rolling elements, raceways, or
cages. It usually results in increased vibration followed by wear. (Refer Fig. 4
Right).
Fig. 3
True Brinelling (Left) Fig. 4
False Brinelling (Right) Contamination (Left)
Corrosion (Right)
10.2.6 Overheating and Lubrication Failure
10.3 Safety Precautions
Excessive heating of a bearing manifests itself as discoloration of the rings,
rolling elements and cages from gold to blue. Excessive temperatures will usually The cleaning of bearings for inspection normally involves the use of solvents, so
be in excess of 400°C. In extreme cases the rolling elements and raceways will the appropriate PPE should be worn. This will include respiratory, eye and skin
deform. A blue/black colour indicates an area close to the heat source and protection by using breathing masks, goggles and inspection gloves. The
changes to a silver/gold discoloration the further you move away. moisture from the human hand may contaminate a bearing surface, as easily as
the lubricant can cause damage to the skin through dermatitis.
Failure or lack of lubrication often has similar signs as overheating because good
lubrication should cool the material and transfer away any heat produced during 10.4 Storage
rotation. Restricted flow and excessive temperatures can also degrade the
chemical composition of the oil, making it ineffective and increase wear rates. If a bearing is to be used immediately after inspection, it should be lubricated with
correct lubricant and installed. If there is liable to be a delay before installation,
The outcome of either overheating or lubrication failure will always result in the then the bearing should be coated in rust-preventing inhibiting oil, wrapped in
eventual failure of the bearing. greaseproof paper, boxed and labelled. The bearing should always be stored
horizontally, in a clean dry atmosphere.
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In some installations, the drive from the high-speed engine to the low-speed
11 TRANSMISSIONS
propeller is accomplished by the use of a ‘toothed’ belt drive. The teeth on the
The various types of transmission mechanisms were described in Module 6 inside of the belt engage with grooves machined onto the drive (and driven)
(Materials and Hardware). Here, in Module 7, consideration is given to the pulleys. This reduces the chance of slippage. Most piston engines on smaller
inspections relative to such transmission mechanisms as: aircraft have a belt drive to the ac generator or the vacuum pump, similar to that
found on many motor cars.
 Gears
 Belts and Pulleys The same maintenance applies to most belts, in that the security is checked
 Chains and Sprockets before each flight. The belts must also be checked, at regular intervals, for signs
of wear, by fraying and splitting, in addition to a tension check on the either the
 Screw Jacks
belt itself or the tensioning mechanism. The majority of belts (whatever their
 Levers
usage), have a finite life and are also subject to ‘on-condition’ monitoring.
 Push-Pull Rod Systems.
11.3 Chains and Sprockets
11.1 Gears
Chain assemblies should be inspected at the specified frequency, which is laid
Gears can be found in a wide variety of applications, throughout aircraft and down in the aircraft maintenance manual. One of the major checks should be that
engine installations. The most common applications are those used to reduce or the chain passes smoothly over the sprockets. If there is any roughness or
increase the rotational speed of an input shaft. binding, then further checks will be required.
Some aircraft engines utilise a reduction gearbox to slow the main shaft speed to Another major check of the chain assembly is that for wear, which involves
a lower figure for either the propeller or the fan. Accessory drive gearboxes, applying a load to detect whether the chain is worn. The load can be applied to a
actuators, flap mechanisms and some flying control runs use gears of one form or free length of chain where the amount of deflection can be measured and
another. compared to a limit published in the manuals. An alternative would involve pulling
the chain at a pulley and seeing if the chain can be lifted from the sprocket by a
Wear in gears, assuming that the bearings are not worn, will be found on the significant amount.
faces of the gear teeth. This wear shows up as excessive backlash, which can be
easily found by simply rotating the input mechanism, such as the main drive Failure of either of the preceding checks, followed by a check for chain
shaft, whilst holding the output rigidly. It should be borne in mind that a small elongation, would require replacement of the chain. A typical percentage limit of
amount of backlash is essential for the correct operation of bearings. elongation could be 2% when the cleaned and dried chain is loaded with the
correct tension.
By rotating the input in both directions, the angular difference, when measured, is
the accumulation of wear of all the gear teeth. The maintenance manual should Chains should also be checked for normal faults that can befall most
give the total backlash figure for the particular train of gears, to indicate whether mechanisms; these include damage, corrosion, cleanliness and insufficient
the train is serviceable or if further inspection is needed. lubrication.
Because the majority of gears, whether in a train or a single pair of gears, are One other inspection, which could be done on a chain assembly, might be for
within some other component, any signs of wear or other problems are usually correct articulation. This check involves the chain being drawn over the plain
solved by replacement of the major component. shank of a screwdriver. Tight joints, found by this method, should be carefully
inspected and the chain rejected if there are any doubts as to its serviceability.
11.2 Belts and Pulleys
It is rare to find belt drives being used on modern aircraft. Due to the risk of
slippage once the belt has taken on a slight stretch, there has to be some
method, often automatic, to retain the set tension over a long period.
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11.4 Screw Jacks
(mechanical)
The rotation of the flap motor drives a number of the gearboxes simultaneously,
which transmit rotation to their respective screws. The ball nuts are all driven
There is little maintenance to be carried out on screw jacks, apart from regular down the screws and these push the flaps to their selected position.
greasing of all the exposed threaded portions and checks for backlash between
the ‘nut’ and the screw. Some screw jacks are in the form of actuators and some Because the screw jacks and their ball nuts are exposed to the elements, it is
are used to drive flaps and other aerodynamic devices. essential that all checks and lubrication required must be thoroughly done.
A screw jack actuator (refer to Fig 1) is a fairly simple design and correct As previously mentioned, the screw jacks must be thoroughly greased but only
maintenance is vital because it is part of the flying controls. The actuator has a after all dirt, sand and other materials have first been completely removed.
grease nipple fitted, which allows not only the bearings to be kept well lubricated,
but the screw will also pick up some grease when the actuator is extended and The nuts will be checked for wear at regular intervals and this check will probably
retracted. require special tools and measuring jigs. On a day-to-day basis, the backlash on
the nut/screw combination can be checked by an up and down movement of the
In-service checks, other than lubrication will probably only include backlash flap trailing edge.
checks on the actuating shaft. These will probably mean no more than a side-to-
side hand movement of the rudder trim tab, which ensures that the movement is 11.5 Levers
not excessive.
Levers can be found in numerous places within an aircraft and maintenance of
these items can vary, depending on their location and purpose. As a rule, levers
Thrust Bearings will be used to transmit thrust from one medium to another. For example, a
push/pull system may drive a lever that operates a service, with an increase or
Control Surface Attachment decrease of mechanical advantage or a change of direction.
Apart from the bearings of the lever requiring lubrication, (unless they are sealed-
for-life bearings), there is little maintenance required, other than physical checks
for damage, distortion and cracks.
Control Input Threaded Screw Shaft
Screw Jack Actuator

Fig. 1
Another form of screw jack is that used to drive flaps up and down. This form of
jack will usually be found with a drive gearbox, transmitting the motive power to
the screw and ‘ball nut’, that connects to the flap structure.
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11.5.1 Push-Pull Rod Systems
(mechanical)
12 CONTROL CABLES
The majority of aircraft push-pull systems can be found in both the flying and Control cables, their make up and their associated components were discussed
engine controls (refer to Fig. 2). They may consist of a series of hollow aluminium in Module 6. Consideration is given, here in Module 7, to the inspections relative
tubes, which have either fixed or adjustable end fittings. Sometimes, to prevent to control cables and components of various types.
the tubes vibrating, their length is kept short and idler levers are fitted between
each pair of tubes. As an alternative, rollers or bushes can be installed along the 12.1 Swaging of End Fittings
length of the push-pull tubes to provide support.
All cables, used in aircraft controls runs, have some form of end fittings attached
to each end of the cables. These end fittings are usually ‘swaged’ onto the cable,
meaning that the end fitting is slid over the cable before being squeezed, to
Range of Movement reduce its diameter, and cause it to grip the cable very tightly.
During production of these cables, the completed end fitting will be carefully
checked, using a Go/No-Go gauge, to ensure that the cable has been gripped
Engine Fuel satisfactorily. The finished cable assembly will also be proof tested to confirm its
Control Unit suitability for use as an aircraft control cable.
Push-Pull Rods
12.2 Inspection and Testing of Control Cables
Pivot Point
Once in service, the cables will be inspected regularly for a variety of possible
faults, whilst the swaged end fittings will require minimal inspection. In some
Structure installations, red paint is applied at the junction of the end fitting where the cable
emerges, leading to a gap showing if the cable has slipped within the swaged
end fitting during normal service. Some individual ferrules, fitted to non-critical
cables, may be inspected for signs of cracking whilst in service.
Range of Movement
Support Arm
It is rare for cables to be removed from service to have a scheduled proof load
test. If there is any doubt to the possibility of the cables lasting a long time in
service, they will be either checked for stretch by measuring their length under
Push-Pull Rod Mechanisms load, or they will be given a finite life and replaced when that life is reached.
Fig. 2
Cable systems have to receive regular inspections due to their being subject to a
wide variety of environmental conditions and wear. Their degradation, due to
wear, can take the form of wire/strand breakage (which is fairly easy to detect), or
may exist as less visible (internal) wear, or as corrosion and distortion.
The maintenance required for this type of control consists generally of inspection
and rigging. As the bearings in both the idler levers if fitted, and the end fittings 12.2.1 Cable Wear
are normally sealed for life, the only inspections to carry out are for signs of
damage and overheating. If the pilot complained of stiff controls, then a check of Critical areas for strand breakage are where the cable passes over pulleys or
each bearing assembly would be required, to check which bearing was stiff. through fairleads. Examination of cables will normally involve passing a cloth
along the length of the cable, which will both clean any dirt from it and detect
Rigging of push pull rods is relatively simple. The rigging pins hold the rods and broken strands if the cloth ‘snags’ on the projecting wires.
levers in the datum position and the adjustable ends are altered until all the
connecting bolts can be inserted without any force being required.
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There will be limits, published by the manufacturer, which say how many strands
engineering
The maintenance
(mechanical)
carried out on cable runs usually involves both regular

per unit length can be broken. Removed cables can be bent through a gentle inspections and preservative measures. With the majority of cables being steel-
radius, which may show up broken internal strands that would not be visible when based, it is vital that cables, passing through high risk areas such as battery bays,
installed and tensioned. toilets and galleys, receive regular rust preventative treatments in addition to
visual inspections.
External wear (refer to Fig. 1) will extend along the cable, equal to the distance
the cable moves at that location and may occur on one side of the cable or over Most cables have external corrosion preventative compounds applied in varying
its entire circumference. The limits of permitted wear will be found in the AMM. amounts, whilst internally they will have been soaked in some form of thin grease
or low-temperature oil to resist the formation of the difficult to detect internal
corrosion.
Side View Side View Normally in dry and desert atmospheres, the application of certain compounds to
cables is not permitted. This is because the adhesive properties of these
compounds will cause the sand and dust to stick to the cable and, thus, cause
extremely high rates of wear.
Plan View Plan View All controls will be monitored, by the flight deck crew, on a day-to-day basis but,
during maintenance, more subjective tests must be completed. The tension of the
cables will be measured, as will the rigging of the complete runs, to ensure that
the controls remain accurate and precise in their operation.
Whilst it is not usual to find faults on the cable end fittings, these should all be
checked for any signs of damage, corrosion and stressing of the cable at the end
fitting. Items checked will include turnbuckles and ball end fittings, to ensure that
Cable Worn < 50% Diameter Cable Worn > 50% Diameter the cable is operating at the designed angle, tension and over the correct range.
12.2.2 Bowden and Teleflex Cable Systems

External Cable Wear
Fig. 1 A typical Bowden cable control might be a brake lever on the control column
operating a remote brake control valve.
Internal wear occurs in similar places in the wire to external wear, around pulleys Maintenance of Bowden cable systems is usually restricted to cleaning and
and fairleads and is much more difficult to detect. Separating the strands, after lubrication of the inner cable at regular intervals and adjustment of the outer
removing the cable, is the only way to detect internal wear and this only permits conduit (e.g. if the brakes needed adjustment). The lubrication would keep
limited inspection. moisture out of the cable to prevent it freezing at low temperatures.
Generally any signs of internal wear within a cable will mean its replacement. The Teleflex cable system is more complex than the Bowden cable system in that
the operating cable, within the conduit, is actually a number of spirally wound
Broken strands on a cable at a location not adjacent to a pulley or fairlead, could cables which surround a core tension cable, giving it support. This allows the
be an indication that the breakage was due to corrosion. cable to transmit a push force as easily as a pull force, doing away with the need
for any form of return spring.
The inspection of a cable for internal corrosion should be done off aircraft, and
will involve rejection of the cable if corrosion is found. A typical use of a Teleflex system might be a throttle lever to engine fuel control
system connection.
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The Teleflex cable system is a snug fit within the conduit and, because there
13 SHEET METAL WORK

might be the chance of it becoming seized, due to foreign objects, dirt or freezing,
it is vital that the inner cables are regularly removed, cleaned and lubricated with While the majority of metals can be rolled into sheet form, consideration is
low temperature grease. It is also important that the conduits are thoroughly confined here solely to the working with sheets of the light alloys, which are
cleaned using a form of ‘pull-through’, prior to the inner cable being installed. encountered on aircraft and, in particular, those formed from aluminium alloy
ingots.
At longer intervals, it might become necessary to inspect the outer conduit for
signs of damage or kinking; which can cause the control to become tight or Safe working procedures were covered adequately, in the ‘Workshop and Hangar
‘notchy’. Safety’ Section of the SAFETY PRECAUTIONS topic, but there are several
additional points, which need highlighting, with regard to working with sheets of
12.3 Inspection of Control Cable Pulleys aluminium alloy.
When inspecting cables for the previously mentioned wear and breakages, the By definition, sheets of aluminium alloy are comparatively thin in cross-section
complete cable runs must be examined for incorrect routing, fraying, twisting or and, as such, they not only pose a health hazard, through cuts, when being
wear at fairleads, pulleys and guards. handled but they are, also, prone to buckling and creasing if handled carelessly.
Pulleys must be inspected for wear (refer to Fig. 2), to detect indications of Large sheets of aluminium alloys are, usually stored upright, on their longest
seizure, flat spots, embedded foreign material and excessive tension. Any signs edge and supported, clear of the floor, in a wooden framework so they are
of contact with adjacent structure, pipe-work, wiring and other controls must also protected from damage and corrosion. Care must be taken when removing a
be thoroughly investigated. large sheet from its storage rack – a task which normally involves at least two
persons – and good communication between the carriers is important so that the
task is completed in a safe manner and no damage is done to the sheet metal.
Some sheets are covered, on one or both surfaces, with a thin protective plastic
membrane and, if possible, it may be beneficial to leave at least the underneath
protection in place while the marking out is done, to minimise the possibility of the
surface sustaining undesirable scratch marks. If no protective membrane is
applied to the sheet, then care must be taken over the condition of the surface of
the table, or workbench, upon which the sheet is to be laid for the marking out
procedures.
Excessive Cable Tension Seized Pulley Bearing
Other factors, which should be considered (as with all work) concern the
requirements to ensure that:
 Material wastage is kept to a minimum

 The task is done correctly, first time, so that valuable time, also, is not wasted.
The first point is usually obvious, due to the cost of the materials involved, but the
second point quite often gets forgotten, when work is being done, but the actual
Pulley too Large for Cable Cable Misplaced or Incorrectly Installed labour costs far outweigh the material costs on a high percentage of tasks.
Repair or modification drawings must be studied very carefully, to ensure there is

Types of Pulley Wear no doubt about the data and dimensions provided, so that the marking out is
Fig. 2 correctly done and the approved metal is shaped in exactly the manner that the
designer of the drawing intended.
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engineering
13.1 Marking Out
(mechanical)
engineering
13.2 Forming of Sheet Metal Parts
(mechanical)
Having carefully studied all the data and dimensions on the relevant drawing, Once the marking out has been verified as being correct, the forming of the final
the technician, after confirming that the correct metal (to the appropriate heat- shape of the sheet metal component can be achieved by the use of appropriate
treatment standard) is being used, can proceed with marking out the pattern cutting and, if necessary, bending tools.
for the part which is being formed.
13.2.1 Cutting
Firstly the overall dimensions of the part must be computed and, where
necessary, a bare outline drawn on the large sheet, so that the metal can be While metal-cutting tools were discussed in the earlier topic on TOOLS, mention
cut and, thus, allow an easier, smaller piece upon which to work.
is made here of the manner in which the relevant tools should be used when
It must be remembered that, the metal should be cut so that any identification working with sheet aluminium alloys.
markings remain on the larger piece, for future users of the sheet and that
scribers must only be used to mark lines which are going to be removed from The squaring shears has already been used to produce a convenient size upon
the surface. which to work and, of course, to provide an accurate straight edge from which to
make measurements.
Scribed lines penetrate the aluminium cladding of ‘Alclad’ alloys, which can
lead not only to subsequent corrosion, but also can create stress raisers and Note: The squaring shears must only be used to cut metal of the approved
the initiation of cracks in the material. thickness (recommended by its manufacturer) and must never be used on sheets
(or strips) of metal thicker than those specified. The alignment of the blade will be
The drawing of the outline is achieved by establishing a datum line or point on distorted and the accuracy of its cut will be degraded if this caution is ignored.
the surface of the metal and taking all dimensions from the datum so that
errors, due to ‘chaining’ of dimensions, are eliminated. When using shears (whether squaring or the hand type), then the cut must be
made slightly above the line. This allows for filing down to the line, which will
The drawing surface of the metal should be cleaned of any protective oil (or eliminate the possibility of stress raisers being formed at the edges of the metal,
plastic membrane) before marking out commences and the sheet should be
due to the shearing action of the various types of shears.
laid flat on a clean, firm workbench or table in good lighting conditions.
In some instances it may be advantageous to rub chalk on the surface or to Care must be taken when drilling aluminium sheet, due to the danger of cutting
apply a thin coat of zinc chromate, to make it easier to distinguish the marking enlarged holes in the soft, thin metal and to the tendency to distortion, caused by
out lines, which (if they are not going to be removed) should be made with a the application of too great a weight on unsupported aluminium sections. Twist
‘soft’ pencil. drills must be of the correct type and size, with accurately-ground points, and
their passage, through the metal, must be carefully controlled at all times. Off cuts
Once the outline is completed, the sheet may be (carefully) moved to the of scrap wood should be placed behind (or underneath) sheet metal parts while
squaring shears, or guillotine and the outline cut from the main sheet. The drilling is in progress and both the backing piece and the part must be firmly held,
square edge, created by the squaring shears, will make the use of such tools to prevent movement during the drilling procedures.
as engineers’ squares, combination sets and Vernier protractors etc. easier, to
achieve parallel and appropriately angled lines during completion of the Similarly, scrap wood should be used, as backing, when hack-sawing or filing
marking out. sheet metal and protection must be given, against possible damage, when such
components are held in the jaws of vices, by the use of ‘soft’ vice clamps.
Note: Before any centre punch marks are made (for the location of the centres
of radii or holes) it must be confirmed that they are in the required location. Obviously fine-toothed hacksaws (32 tpi) and second cut and/or smooth files
(used with long, smooth strokes), are the cutting tools, used in the shaping of
The punch should be only lightly tapped with a hammer (or a suitably adjusted
automatic centre punch used), so that the punch marks do not distort the thin sheet metal parts. Files, as discussed in the TOOLS topic, must be regularly
metal sheet. cleaned, to prevent the build up of pinnings, and the use of file cards and chalk,
for this task, has also been, earlier, mentioned.
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Square (or sharp) angles, in aluminium alloys, are only formed by adhesive,
13.2.2 Bending and Calculation of Bend Allowance
casting, extrusion or welding methods. Whether it be the bending bars or the
As previously stated, the sheet metal used for aircraft construction and repair, is bending brake method, which is used to bend aluminium alloy sheet, the bend
generally formed from an ingot of aluminum alloy that has been processed will always be formed around a radius, as it is not possible to create square
through a series of rollers. angles by bending without cracking the metal.
This process reduces the thickness of the material to a dimension that meets the It is recommended that the radii of bends, in aircraft-grade, aluminium alloy
sheets, be not less than three times the thickness (3t) of the metal, in sheets
requirements of the design drawing. As a result of this process, the metal
thicker than 22 SWG (0.7 mm) and should, preferably, be greater if possible.
assumes a grain structure, which can easily be detected in a sample of sheet
aluminum alloy. It is, therefore, usual to create bends, in sheets of 20 SWG (0.9 mm), of not
less than 3 mm (3 x 0.9 mm = 2.7 mm) radius and bends in sheets of 18 SWG
When planning any sheet metal work process, the orientation of the metal is to be (1.2 mm), of not less than 4 mm (3 x 1.2 mm = 3.6 mm) radius.
taken into account so that any bends formed will, where practical and achievable,
be made across the grain. Where, however, strength is required along the length As an example, if it were required to form a right angled curve (10 mm radius)
of a long, channel section, then, regardless of any bends, the grain should flow in an 18 SWG aluminium alloy sheet, to provide two legs, effectively 76.2 mm
along the length of the channel. (3 in) in length (refer to Fig. 1), it can be seen that the actual length of metal
involved is obviously less than 2 x 76.2 mm (6 in). The total length of the
Great care must be taken, before bending aluminium alloy, to ensure that it is of metal, required for the curve, is deduced by using the formula:
the correct designation and heat-treatment standard. The subject of the heat- LT = L1 + BA + L2
treatments of aluminium alloys was discussed fully in Module 6 – Materials and Where LT = Total Length of Metal Required
Hardware in the topic on AIRCRAFT MATERIALS – NON-FERROUS. L1 = X – (r + t)
L2 = Y – (r + t)
Some alloys must be subjected to either an annealing, or to a solution treatment BA = Bend Allowance
procedure before (and, again, after) bending but, as this is, usually, beyond the X and Y = Effective Lengths of Unbent Sections
scope of maintenance technicians, mention of it is merely made here to draw r = Radius of Bend
attention to its requirement and for the need for vigilance when bending sheets of t = Thickness (SWG) of Metal
aluminium alloy. X = 76.2 mm
Bending of aluminium alloys is achieved either by the use of: A t = 1.2 mm
L1
 Specially-shaped bending bars: used for small pieces and larger angles and
between which, the sheet is clamped, in a vice, while the metal is bent, by
hitting with a hide-faced or similarly soft-headed hammer
 A large, free standing, bending machine (or bending brake): in which the B r = 10.0 mm
metal sheet is clamped and the bend made, in one movement, by means of a
hinged bending leaf.
L
2
Caution must also be exercised when forming a bend, using the bending bars
and soft-headed hammer method, because too many blows with the hammer will
cause work-hardening of the metal, or the metal, in the bend, will become too thin
and stretched. Subsequent cracking of the metal will result from these faults Total Length of Metal in a Curve
Fig. 1
For this reason the bending brake is preferred but, in a similar manner to the
squaring shears, only the approved thicknesses of metals should be bent in these
machines, as any distortion will destroy the accuracy of the bends.
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The lengths of both L and L can be found by subtracting the sum of the radius
1 2
and the metal thickness from the effective lengths of the unbent sections. In Table 1
this instance, therefore, the lengths are both 76.2 – 11.2 = 65 mm. BEND ALLOWANCES (BA) FOR A 90° BEND
Inside Bend Radius BA - 20 SWG (0.9 mm)
To calculate the length of metal in the bend (Bend Allowance) it is necessary 3 mm
to consider the fact that, when metal is bent, the metal on the inside of the 4 mm
bend will be compressed while that on the outside of the bend will be 5 mm
subjected to tension or stretching so that the length of metal on the inside and
Inside Bend Radius BA - 18 SWG (1.2 mm)
outside of the bend will be different.
4 mm
It may, however, be considered that there is a neutral line (at approximately 5 mm
half thickness) where the compression and tensile forces cancel out. It is this 6 mm
line which is taken, to calculate the length of the arc of the circumference of
the circle, which would be described by the radius of the curve. The Bend
Allowance is, thus calculated, using the formula: When the total length of sheet metal, required to form a curve, has been
calculated, it will be necessary to draw the development (refer to Fig. 2) of the
BA = 2π (r + ½t) α intended shape, so that the bend lines can be seen.
360
Where r = Radius of Bend
t = Thickness of Metal Unbent Bend Unbent
α = Angle of Bend Section Allowance Section
65 16.65 65
Note: Some books use the formula:
BA = π (D + t) α
360
Where D = The diameter of the circle

Bend Lines
However, as curves are normally shown as radii, in engineering drawings, the
previously given formula is preferred here.
Substituting figures, in the preferred formula, it will be seen that the bend Development of Shape
allowance equates to 16.65 mm (0.66 in). When this figure is added to lengths Fig. 2
L1 and L2, it can be seen that the total length of metal, required to form the
curve, is only 146.65 mm (5.77 in) and not 152.4 mm (6 in). An additional line must be drawn on the development drawing before the metal is
placed in the bending brake. This line (refer to Fig. 3), is referred to as the
In a simple, single curve, this represents a saving in metal of only 5.75 mm sighting line or the brake reference line.
(0.23 in) but, in a multiple bend component, and with larger radii involved,
considerable savings of metal can be made by using these formulas to It is drawn at a distance, equal to the radius of the curve (in this instance, using
calculate the correct amount of metal required to forms bends in sheet metal. the figure of 10 mm from the previous example), parallel to, but away from, the
bend line, which is under the clamping nib of the bending brake and towards the
Table 1 shows data relating to bend allowances for forming 90º curves of
bend line which is free of the clamping nib.
various radii in both 20 SWG and 18 SWG metals. Using the preferred
formula, the student should be able to calculate the bend allowances and enter
them in the empty spaces in the table. The sighting line, as the name implies, is then used, to align with the front of the
clamping nib and, in this way, allowance is made for the thickness of the metal in
the formation of the curve.
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14 WELDING, SOLDERING AND BONDING

Sighting Line
Clamping Nib Welding, Soldering and Bonding are methods of creating permanent joints
between materials and use is made of all three methods in the aerospace
Bend Lines industry, primarily at the production stage and to a more limited degree during
maintenance and overhaul stages.
Metal to be Bent Within the aircraft industry welding is considered to be a specialist skill and only
suitably approved and authorised personnel can undertake welding procedures.
Approved welders must satisfy the CAA of their competency, by submitting

Brake Bed several ‘test pieces’ of their typical work for testing and they are subjected to
similar re-tests every 12 months in order to retain their approvals.
Maintenance technicians may, however, be called upon to do some soldering and

bonding procedures so, with these facts in mind, only the basic methods of
Hinge Point welding will be discussed in this topic, while greater emphasis is placed upon
Bend Leaf Bends procedures involving soldering and bonding.
Counter-clockwise
14.1 Welding
Use of Sighting or Brake Reference Line
Fig. 3 Welding may be defined as the permanent joining, by fusion, of two pieces of
material (usually metals), by the progressive melting and subsequent
solidification of the materials at the site of the joint.
13.3 Inspection of Sheet Metal Work
The basic principle, of fusion welding of metals, is the same for all processes, in
As far as aircraft maintenance technicians are concerned, the inspection of sheet that the surfaces, or edges, of the metal to be joined, are brought to a molten
metal work is confine to visual or assisted visual methods. Personnel who have state and allowed, or caused, to intermix (with or without the addition of a filler
approval may also perform dye penetrant procedures in the search for cracks in metal), so that the parent metal and filler metal (if used) form a homogeneous
suspect areas. molten pool which, when cooled, forms the complete weld.
Specially trained and approved NDT personnel may use Eddy Current, Ultrasonic 14.2 Methods of Welding
or Radiographic procedures to detect faults in aluminium alloy sheet metal work.
Welds require the application of sufficient heat energy to melt the metals involved
in the joint and the high temperatures are achieved by various methods.
14.2.1 Oxy-Acetylene Flame
The cutting of steel sections and plate material may be done by means of a flame
torch, using a mixture of oxygen, with one of the appropriate fuel gases
(acetylene, hydrogen, natural gas or propane).
For welding, however, only an oxygen and acetylene mixture will provide a
sufficiently, high heat input, needed for the welding process. The temperature of
the oxy-acetylene flame is approximately 3150°C.
The oxy-acetylene method can be used for welding ferrous or non-ferrous metals
but, when welding non-ferrous metals, it is necessary that an additional material
(a flux) be used, usually with a filler metal, to assist in the fusion process.
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The purpose of the flux is to prevent oxidation of the joint site so that the molten
engineering
14.2.5 Flash Butt Welding
(mechanical)
metals can fuse together more easily and, thus, eliminate brittleness in the joint.
The components to be joined are set up as opposite poles in an electric circuit
14.2.2 Manual Metal Arc and, when the current is switched on, the components are moved into and out of
contact with one another. This action causes an arc to be struck and, when
This welding process uses an electric arc as the heat source. The arc is welding temperature is reached, a force is applied to both components, so that
established between a flux-coated, filler metal rod and the workpiece, which are their molten surfaces are fused together.
connected to an electrical power source so that they are the anode and cathode
electrodes of the circuit. When the power is switched on, the heat, generated by 14.2.6 Spot Welding
the resulting arc, melts the flux-coated electrode and the edges of the parent
material to form a weld pool. The temperature of the arc is approximately 4000°C A method used to join comparatively thin sheets of metal, spot welding is a form
to 4500°C.
of resistance welding. The sheets of metal are sandwiched between two, pointed
electrodes on which force is exerted as the current is applied. The heat is
14.2.3 Metal Arc Gas-Shielded (MAGS)
generated at a local spot where the resistance to the flow of the electricity is at its
highest and the metal fuses at these spots. The pointed electrodes are made
In this semi-automatic welding process the heat source is also an electric arc, but
from copper alloy and are usually water-cooled.
the electrode is a bare wire, which is consumable and is supplied, from a reel, to
the welding gun, by a wire feed unit. A shielding gas is employed; in place of a
14.2.7 Seam Welding
flux material, to protect the weld pool. The type of shielding gas, used, will vary
with the application. Some of the gases and gas mixtures used are: The principle of seam welding is similar to that of spot welding (namely resistance
to the flow of electricity). The main difference is that in place of the pointed
 Argon electrodes, this method uses discs or wheels, which are moved along the length
 Carbon dioxide of the weld. The supply of current is intermittent, so causing a spot weld to
 Argon/carbon dioxide overlap its neighbour and, thereby, form a continuous seam weld.
 Argon/oxygen
 Argon/nitrogen 14.3 Inspection and Testing of Welds
 Helium.
The wide use of welding in industry has resulted in an increasing demand for
standards relating to welded constructions in various branches of engineering.
Note: This process may also be referred to according to the type of shielding gas
(or mixture of gases) which is being used and whether those gases are inert or These standards generally include requirements for certain welding tests to be
active. The two types of this process are: conducted, primarily for the qualification of welding procedures and operators.
 Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding: where the shielding is provided by a shroud of Sophisticated methods of non-destructive testing of welds include the use of
inert gas. Radiographic, Ultrasonic and Magnetic Particle testing procedures, all of which
 Metal Active Gas (MAG) welding: where the shielding is provided by a shroud are done by specially trained, and approved, personnel. Specimen welds are also
of active, or non-inert, gas or mixture of gases. destructively tested, by fracturing or sectioning, to test the integrity of a specific
welding procedure.
14.2.4 Tungsten Arc Gas-Shielded (TAGS) These methods are beyond the scope of unqualified personnel, so that aircraft
maintenance technicians are, usually, constrained solely to the visual inspection
This process also uses an electric arc as the heat source, but here a tungsten of welds (following thorough cleaning of the relevant areas).
non-consumable electrode is used to form the arc with the workpiece. An inert
shielding gas (argon) is required to protect both the weld pool and the tungsten It may, however, be possible that, after suitable training, some technicians can be
electrode from the oxygen and moisture in the atmosphere. granted approval to conduct limited Dye Penetrant inspection procedures on
certain welds, which will be specified in the appropriate servicing manual.
For this reason the process is sometimes called argon arc welding and, also,
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding.
A filler rod is usually required to give reinforcement to the weld.
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14.4 Soldering
(mechanical)
As with welding, it is necessary to employ the use of a flux material to assist the
fusion of the filler with the parent metals and to prevent oxidation of the joint.
Soldering differs from welding in that it is done at considerably lower
temperatures so that the parent metals do not melt and fuse together. The flux mostly used for brazing processes is borax, which is based on Sodium
Borate powder, mixed with water, to a thin paste before being applied, by brush
Instead, a fusible and, usually, non-ferrous alloy (with a lower melting point) is or swab, to the site of the joint. Other fluxes are also available where required.
applied between the heated metals of the joint, such that the fusible alloy forms a
metallic bond with the parent metals and, on cooling, creates a solid joint. Silver Soldering entails the use of a Copper/Zinc/Silver or Nickel/Silver alloy as
the joining metal and (again depending on the alloy employed), can be done at
The word ‘solder’ does, in fact, come from the same stem as the word ‘solid’ (as temperatures of between 650°C to 700°C. Brass, copper, monel metal and
does the American term, which is pronounced ‘sodder’, for the same process). stainless steel are typical metals on which silver soldering processes can be
used.
14.5 Methods of Soldering
14.5.2 Soft Soldering
Soldering can be divided into two basic methods, one of which uses higher
temperature ranges than the other, but both of which are conducted at Soft Soldering involves the use of a Lead/Tin alloy (with traces of Bismuth and
temperatures below the melting points of the parent metals of the intended joint. Antimony added when required) as the filler metal, which melts at temperatures
between approximately 180°C to 330°C, depending on the composition of the
The two basic methods of soldering are: alloy. The lower temperature requirement, of the soft soldering process, allows
the use of indirect heat.
 Hard Soldering: done at temperatures in excess of 500°C and which include
the processes of Brazing and Silver Soldering In earlier times, the heat was provided by the application of an implement with a
 Soft Soldering: done at temperatures within the range of 180°C to 330°C, wooden handle and a smooth, flat, base or ‘bit’ (originally made of iron). The ‘iron’
which, consequently, create joints of lower strength (but less expense) than was directly heated in a flame, then quickly cleaned, before being applied to the
those achieved by the hard soldering methods. solder joint, where the transference of its heat would facilitate the melting of the
filler metal. This process possibly needed repeating several times (as the iron
Note: The hard soldering processes are, normally, beyond the remit of the aircraft tended to lose its heat fairly quickly) before a large task could be completed.
servicing technician, so only brief consideration is given to them here, with more
attention being given to the soft soldering method. It was found that copper is a better heat conductor than iron, is less prone to
corrosion and is, therefore, easier to keep clean. Copper, consequently, became
14.5.1 Hard Soldering (Brazing and Silver Soldering) the metal most preferred for use as the soldering ‘bit’, though the implement
retained its name of the soldering ‘iron’. While needing re-heating less frequently,
Brazing, as the name implies, uses a Copper/Zinc (Brass) alloy, as the filler metal it remains necessary to regularly reheat the copper bit of the directly heated
(spelter) between the parent metals of the joint. The degree of alloying will dictate soldering irons.
the temperature at which the process is done but the melting point of the brazing
alloys can be as high as 880°C. The advent of electrically heated (and thermostatically controlled) soldering irons
has overcome the re-heating problem, associated with directly heated irons, and
Brazing is a process of joining in which, during, or after heating, the molten filler consideration is given here only to the method of soft soldering with the use of
metal is drawn into, or retained in, the space between closely adjacent surfaces electrically (or indirectly) heated soldering irons.
of the parts to be joined, by capillary attraction.
While the method described is the most commonly used in small workshops (or in
In general applications, workshops and small factories, a flame, directed onto the
DIY applications), there are, however, three further methods which are used in
joint area, is the source of heat. However, in the more sophisticated applications,
industrial applications. Those methods involve:
used in industry, heating for hard soldering may be provided by a:
 Applying a naked flame to the joint
 Gas, oil or electrically heated, closed furnace  Dip soldering
 High-frequency (HF) induction coil.  Heating by non-contact techniques.
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14.5.3 Using Indirectly Heated (Electric) Soldering Irons

The heated bit of the soldering iron must, next, be ‘tinned’. This is achieved by,
firstly, ensuring that the bit is thoroughly cleaned then dipping the bit in flux (if a
Electric soldering irons are available in a variety of sizes and weights with bits separate flux is being used) and applying solder to the bit until a thin film of solder
shaped to suit the particular application. Typically, the 25 watt, electric soldering completely covers the working area of the soldering bit. It is important that the
iron (refer to Fig. 1), is widely used for making joints in electric circuitry. The tinning of the bit is done correctly, otherwise problems will be experienced with
heating element contained in the barrel of the iron is supplied directly from the the soldering operation.
mains electrical supply.
Each surface of the prepared joint must also be carefully tinned (refer to Fig. 2) in
Larger, 40 watt (or as large as 125 watt) irons, with proportionately larger bits, a similar manner, so that a thin film of solder covers the total area of the joint
may be used when it is required to create overlapping joints (lap joints) of sheet surfaces.
metals (though this is a task, not normally done by aircraft maintenance
technicians). Direction of Soldering
Rubber Grip
Solder Stick
Protective Electric
Shroud Power
Lead
Copper Bit
Soldering Iron B
Body C D E
F G
Copper Bit A
Typical 25 Watt Electric Soldering Iron

Fig. 1
Before any soldering operation is attempted, the joint surfaces (and the soldering Parent Metal
iron) must be properly prepared. It is of paramount importance that the joint
surfaces be absolutely free of dirt and grease (and surface oxides), so that the
solder will be able to satisfactorily form intermetallic compounds and, thus, bond
completely with the parent metals.
To ensure this, the approved cleaning methods must be used for the relevant A oxide film on parent metal
metals (abrasives, etchants de-greasants etc.) and, finally, an appropriate flux is B flux solution above oxidised metal surface
C boiling flux solution removing oxide film
applied to the cleaned surfaces, to prevent oxidation at the joint and to assist in D bare metal in contact with fused flux
the flow and fusion of the solder. E liquid solder
F tin reacting with base metal to form
Note: Some solders have a flux included in their hollow core, while others, require Inter-metallic compound
the application of a separate flux material. G solidifying solder
After the surfaces have been carefully prepared, the electric soldering iron can be
switched on and allowed to reach its operating temperature. This is, usually,
indicated by a small, integral warning lamp but may be deduced by applying a Tinning the Joint Surface
piece of solder to the bit and seeing the solder melt when the temperature is Fig. 2
adequate.
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Care must be taken, when applying solder to the joint surfaces, to ensure that it is
Fluxes for soft soldering are often classified into two groups, which are the:
as thin and as smooth as possible and that the heat is maintained, to allow the
inter-metallic compound between the parent metal and the layer of solder to form.  Active group: which are corrosive or acid fluxes
 Passive group: which are non-corrosive fluxes.
This compound is an important factor and contributes greatly to the strength of
the joint, as it is, actually, stronger than the solder.
The flux can be applied separately, or as a constituent within the solder. Fluxes
may take the form of a liquid, paste or solid, and the application, for which they
When the two surfaces of the joint are correctly tinned, they are placed together
are being used, will govern the type selected.
and the hot iron is applied to an outer surface of the joint. The heat is transmitted
through the metal and melts the solder interfaces so that they fuse together and a
typical soldered lap joint (refer to Fig. 3) of the metals is completed. Active (corrosive) fluxes are used where conditions require a rapidly working and
highly active flux. The common active fluxes are listed below.
WARNING: THESE FLUXES CAN CAUSE BURNS TO FLESH AND CLOTHING.

PROTECT THE EYES WITH GOGGLES AND WEAR RUBBER GLOVES AND
Intermetallic
Compound
APRON WHEN USING A CORROSIVE FLUX.
 Zinc Chloride (ZnCl): commonly called ‘killed spirits’. This used on general
sheet-metal work and may be obtained commercially under its trade name of
Solder ‘Baker’s Soldering Fluid’
Parent Metal  Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl): commonly called sal ammoniac. This used, in
block form, for cleaning the face of the soldering bit before tinning, or in
powdered form, with Zinc Chloride, for tinning cast iron
 Hydrochloric Acid (HCI): used in the raw state for pickling the surfaces of the
metal and rendering them clean. As a flux it is extremely active and is suitable
for soldering zinc and galvanised mild steel
Soldered Lap Joint  Phosphoric Acid: used, primarily, on stainless steels.
Fig. 3
Note: Flux residues of acid fluxes remain active after soldering and will cause
corrosion unless removed by thorough cleansing, - first in a weak solution of
caustic soda - and then in water.
Note: Even when making electrical connections, using soft solder, a type of lap
joint must be made, since an end-to-end joint in wire would be impracticable. Passive (Non-Corrosive) fluxes are divided into three types, which are:
14.5.4 Active and Passive Fluxes
 Natural resin: dissolved in suitable organic solvents, it is the closest
Metal surfaces become more reactive to oxygen when they are heated and, as approximation to a non-corrosive flux and is particularly suitable for use in the
previously discussed, to prevent this oxidation, during the soldering process, a electrical industry
suitable flux is applied to the surfaces being joined.  Tallow: used by plumbers, for the jointing of lead sheet and pipes. Similar to
resin, it is only slightly active when heated to the temperature of the soldering
The flux should possess certain characteristics in that it: process
 Olive Oil: used for soldering pewter items.
 Forms a liquid film over the joint and excludes the gases in the atmosphere
 Prevents any further oxidation during the heating cycle
 Assists in dissolving the oxide film on the metal surface and the solder
 Is displaced from the joint by liquid filler metal.
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14.5.5 Flux Removal
(mechanical)
WARNING: CONTROLLED VENTILATION, PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND

ANTI-FIRE/EXPLOSION PRACTICES, ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, WHEN
It is essential that all flux residues be removed, since they can present a WORKING WITH ADHESIVES AND SEALANTS.
corrosion hazard. The method of removal will be determined by the type of flux ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE ADHESIVES IN CURRENT USE ARE SUPPLIED
used, but will entail the use of one, or a combination of, the following: IN FILM FORM, SOME ARE LIQUIDS OR PASTES, FROM WHICH, TOXIC AND
FLAMMABLE VAPOURS ARE EMITTED, PRIOR TO CURING.
 A solution of caustic soda MANY OF THE NECESSARY, SURFACE PREPARATION SOLVENTS, ALSO
 A solution of sulphuric acid GIVE OFF TOXIC/FLAMMABLE VAPOURS.
 A supply of warm water
 Physical abrasion. The warning is reproduced from Module 6 – (Materials and Hardware), where it
also states that the two major groups of adhesives, are:
14.6 Inspection and Testing of Soldered Joints
 Flexible adhesives: used where some flexing or slight relative movement, of
The inspection of soldered joints is done mainly by visual means, though, in some the joint is required, and where high load-carrying properties are not
applications, tensile testing is recommended. paramount. These adhesives are, generally, based on flexible plastics or
elastomers
Electrical contacts, using soft soldering methods, may be tested by gently pulling  Structural adhesives: used in applications where high loads must be carried
on the wires to confirm the security of the joint. These joints may also be tested without excessive creep and which are relatively rigid without being
for electrical continuity and resistance, using appropriate instruments. excessively hard or brittle. These adhesives are based on resins (commonly
of the epoxy or of the polyester types).
14.7 Bonding
Note: Another group of adhesives is the two-polymer type, which has a
Bonding, by the use of adhesives, is the third method of achieving permanent reasonably even balance of resin and elastomer. This results in a flexible, yet
joints between surfaces, to be considered in this part of the course. fairly strong, adhesive.
Comprehensive coverage of adhesives and sealants is provided in Module 6 - 14.8 Methods of Bonding
(Materials and Hardware), along with details of composite materials, the detection
of typical defects and the methods used in their repair, therefore consideration While the two major groups of adhesives are designated as flexible or structural,
here will be limited merely to a summary of: they are further classified as being of the thermoplastic or of the thermosetting
types. Each type’s characteristics will influence the method employed in its use
 Bonding terminologies as a bonding agent.
 Methods of bonding
 The inspection and testing of bonded joints. 14.8.1 Thermoplastic Adhesives
Bonding, in the aerospace industry, is employed to form permanent joints Thermoplastic materials are those which soften on heating and harden when
between materials ranging from composites, fabrics, metals and metal alloys, to cooled but will, again soften and harden as often as the heat/cool cycle is
plastics, - all of which are referred to as ‘adherends’. repeated.
The surface texture of a particular adherend, the type of joint required, and the Thermoplastic adhesives consist of thermoplastic materials (which may be either
manner in which loads are applied to the joint will dictate the type of adhesive to acrylic-, cellulose-, epoxy-, rubber- or vinyl-based), in solution with a volatile
be used, and the method to be employed, in effecting the joint. solvent and which may be applied to the surface of adherends in the form of:
Synthetic resins (and some elastomers) are mainly used as adhesives in the  Direct application adhesives
bonding of aircraft structures and associated components and, while most of  Contact (or impact) adhesives.
them are used at the manufacturing stages, some may well be used, by aircraft
servicing technicians, during routine maintenance tasks.
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Direct application adhesives, are spread over the area of both surfaces of the
15 AIRCRAFT MASS AND BALANCE

joint before the joint is closed and the solvent continues to evaporate. This
method can create problems if the joint area is large, as all of the solvent may not The main purposes, of monitoring the mass and balance of aircraft, are to
evaporate and a weak joint will result. maintain safety and to achieve efficiency in flight. The position of loads such as
passengers, fuel, cargo and equipment will alter the position of the Centre of
Contact adhesives are also applied to both surfaces to be joined but, with these Gravity (CG) of the aircraft.
adhesives, the solvent is allowed to evaporate until the adhesive feels ‘tacky’,
when the surfaces are, then, brought into contact and a complete joint is Incorrect loading will affect the aircraft rate of climb, manoeuvrability, ceiling,
achieved. speed and fuel consumption. If the CG were too far forward, it would result in a
nose-heavy condition, which could be potentially dangerous on take-off and
14.8.2 Thermosetting Adhesives landing. If the CG is too far aft, the tail-heavy condition will increase the tendency
of the aircraft to stall and make landing more difficult.
Thermosetting materials (thermosets), once set, cannot be reformed by the
application of heat and they create permanent heat-resisting bonds. Stability of the aircraft will also be affected with the CG outside the normal
operational limits. Provided the CG lies within specified limits, the aircraft should
Thermosetting adhesives consist of epoxy- and phenolic-based materials in be safe to fly. The unit of measurement for mass and balance are normally
addition to polyesters, polyurethanes, and silicones. Thermosets require a ‘curing’ dictated by the aircraft manufacturer and can be either Metric or Imperial terms.
process (which is achieved by the application of heat), to cause them to harden. Specific definitions for mass and balance ensure they are correctly interpreted.
The heat can be obtained by placing the components being joined into an oven or 15.1 Definitions
into an autoclave (a pressurised oven). Alternatively, the adhesive in the joint can
be heated by the chemical (exothermic) reaction of a hardening agent, which is  Datum: The datum is an imaginary vertical plane from which
added to the adhesive, prior to the joint being made. horizontal measurements are taken. The locations of items such as baggage
compartments, fuel tanks, seats and engines are relevant to the datum. There
Thermosetting adhesives are the types most widely used in the aerospace is no fixed rule for the location of the datum. The manufacturer will normally
industry. specify the nose of the aircraft, but it could be at the front main bulkhead or
even forward of the aircraft nose
14.9 Inspection and Testing of Bonded Joints
 Arm: The horizontal distance from an item or piece of equipment to the
The inspection of bonded joints may be done (as discussed in Module 6) visually, datum. The arm's distance is usually measured in inches (or millimetres) and
usually in good lighting conditions and, possibly, with the aid of magnifying may be preceded by a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign. The plus sign indicates that
glasses or small microscopes. the distance is aft of the datum and the minus sign indicates distance is
forward of the datum
Delamination and de-bonding of aircraft honeycomb panels and control surfaces
may be detected by percussion (ring) testing or coin tapping, while more  Moment: The product of a force multiplied by the distance about which the
sophisticated methods, such as ultrasonic and radiographic procedures, may be force acts. In the case of mass and balance, the force is the mass (kg/lb) and
used by suitably trained and approved personnel. the distance is the arm (m/in). Therefore, a mass of 40 kilograms, at 3 metres
aft of the datum will have a moment of 40 x 3 = 120 kg/m. It is important to
Where repairs are done to composite structures, then samples of the adhesives consider whether a value is positive (+ve) or negative (-ve) when moments
used are kept for testing, while ‘peel’ tests are done on adhesives which are used are calculated and the following conventions are used:
to attach de-icing or anti-icing elements to the leading edges of propellers or
flying control surfaces. Distances horizontal: aft of the datum (+), forward of the datum (-).
Weight: added (+), removed (-).
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 Centre of Gravity (CG): This is the point about which all of the mass of The Dry Operating Mass must be established by weighing or using standard
the aircraft or object is concentrated. An aircraft could be suspended from this masses. The influence items included in the Dry Operating Mass and their
point and it would not adopt a nose-down nor a tail-down attitude. position on the aircraft must also be established, as are other mass items such as
the traffic load, fuel load and ballast.
 Centre of Gravity Balance Limits: For normal operation of the aircraft, Methods for calculating crew and passenger mass values are laid down in JAR-
the CG should be between the Forward and Aft limits as specified by the OPS and include either weighing the individual crew and their baggage or taking
manufacturer. If the CG is outside these limits, the aircraft performance will be standard mass values. Whichever method is used must be acceptable to the
affected and the aircraft may be unsafe. relevant Authority.
 Dry Operating Mass: The total mass of the aeroplane, ready for a 15.2.1 Mass and Balance Documentation
specific type of operation, excluding all usable fuel and traffic load. This mass
includes crew and crew baggage, catering and removable passenger service The Mass and Balance documentation used by an operator must include certain
equipment, potable water and lavatory chemicals. basic information, which is listed below. Subject to the approval of the authority,
some of this information may be omitted.
 Maximum Zero Fuel Mass: The maximum permissible mass of an aircraft
with no usable fuel. Fuel contained in certain tanks must be included if this is A. Aeroplane registration and type
explicitly mentioned in the aircraft’s Flight Manual limitations. B. Flight identification number and date
C. Identity of the commander
 Maximum Structural Take-Off Mass (MTOM): The maximum permissible D. Identity of the person who prepared the document
total aeroplane mass at the start of the take-off run. E. Dry operating mass and the corresponding CG of the aeroplane
F. Mass of the fuel at take-off and the mass of trip fuel
 Maximum Structural Landing Mass: The maximum permissible total G. Mass of consumables other than fuel
aeroplane mass upon landing under normal circumstances. H. Load components that include passengers, baggage, freight and ballast
I. Take-off Mass, Landing Mass and Zero Fuel mass.
 Traffic Load: This includes the total mass of passengers, baggage and J. The load distribution
cargo, including any non-revenue load. K. Aeroplane CG positions
L. Limiting mass and CG values
15.2 Mass and Balance
Any last minute changes that occur after the mass and balance documentation
The document that covers the legal requirements of an aircraft’s mass and has been completed should be brought to the attention of the commander and
balance is ‘JAR-OPS 1 Subpart J’. An aircraft operator must specify in the entered on the mass and balance documentation. The Operations Manual should
Operations Manual the principles and methods involved in the loading and mass specify the maximum allowable changes to passenger numbers or hold load. If
balance system used. This system must meet the legal requirements of JAR- this is exceeded a new mass and balance documentation should be prepared.
OPS, and include all types of intended operations, such as charter, cargo and
scheduled flights. Computerised systems are commonly used to generate the mass and balance
documentation. These systems can only be used once they have gained
The operator has to ensure that, during any phase of operation, the loading, approval from the authorities. The integrity of computerised system must be
mass and CG of the aeroplane comply with the limitations specified in the continually verified by the operator, at intervals not exceeding six months.
approved Flight Manual or the Operations Manual if this is more restrictive.
Onboard mass and balance and Datalink systems can also be used, but again if
The operator must establish the mass and CG of an aircraft by actual weighing the operator wishes to use these systems as the primary source of mass and
prior to entry into service and at specified intervals thereafter. The accumulated balance documentation, he must obtain approval.
effects of modifications and repair on the mass and balance must be accounted
for and documented. If the effect of these changes cannot be established the
aircraft must be re-weighed.
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15.3 Frequency of Weighing
(mechanical)
15.5 Centre of Gravity Limits (CG Envelope)

Aircraft must be weighed before entering service, to determine the individual
mass and CG position. This should be done once all manufacturing processes The certified CG position of an aircraft will have operating margins built into the
have been completed. The aircraft must also be re-weighed within four years calculations, and is known as the CG envelope. This allows for any movement of
from the date of manufacture, if individual mass is used, or within nine years from the CG that may be experienced during flight by passengers and crew moving
the date of manufacture, if fleet masses are used. about the cabin, fuel consumption, landing gear and flaps moving position and
any possible weighing errors or unaccounted modifications.
The mass and CG position of an aircraft must be periodically re-established. The
maximum interval between one aircraft weigh and the next, must be defined by The operator must show that his procedures account for, the possibility of an
the operator, but not exceed the four/nine year limits. extreme CG variation at any time during the operation of the aircraft.
In addition the mass and CG position should be re-established either by weighing 15.6 Records
or calculation when the cumulative changes in the:
All records of weighing, including the calculations involved, must be available to
 Dry Operating Mass exceed ± 0.5% the authority. The aircraft manufacturer, maintainer or operator must retain
 CG position exceeds ± 0.5% of the MAC. weighing records, and when the aircraft is weighed again, the previous records
must not be destroyed, but must be retained with the aircraft records.
An aircraft may be transferred from one JAA operator to another without re-
weighing provided both have an approved mass control programme. Operators must retain all known weight and CG changes that occur after the
aircraft has been weighed. These records are kept for the life of the aircraft.
15.3.1 Fleet Mass and CG Position
15.7 Calculation of Mass and CG of any System
When an operator has a number of aircraft of the same type and configuration,
he may wish to use the average Dry Operating Mass and CG position of this The position of the CG of any system (refer to Fig. 1) may be found using the
group of aircraft. The use of fleet mass and CG position is controlled by strict following process:
rules to ensure that all aircraft in the fleet stay within the specified limits. If one
aircraft exceeds these specified limits, it must be removed from the fleet  Total Mass is calculated, by adding the mass of each load (plus the mass of
calculations and individual mass restrictions will apply. the beam)
15.4 Weighing Requirements  The moment of each load is calculated, by multiplying the mass by the arm
(distance from the reference datum)
Weighing of an aircraft can only by done by the manufacturer or an approved
maintenance organisation, and must be done inside a hanger. The aircraft must  ALL the moments are added together, to provide the Total Moment
be clean and complete, with the correct type of equipment fitted in its proper
position and the required fluids properly accounted for.  Total Moment is divided by the Total Mass to give CG position.
The equipment used to weigh an aircraft must be capable of accurately

establishing its mass, and used in accordance with the manufacturers
instructions. Weighing scales should be zeroed before use and calibrated at least
every two years or more often if specified by the either the equipment
manufacturer or the approved maintenance organisation.
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15.8 Principles of Weight and Balance of Aircraft
2.4 m Aircraft mass and balance is concerned with the force produced by the masses
on the aircraft acting at a distance from a specific datum point on the aircraft.
2.0 m
1.2 m The sum of all moments about any point can be shown to be equal to the moment
0.25 m of the resultant force about that datum point (refer to Fig. 2). As the entire mass
of the aircraft may be considered to be concentrated at the CG, the total moment
B of the aircraft about the datum is the aircraft mass times the horizontal distance
Datum A between the CG and the datum.
Arm
Beam Mass 250 kg
Mass A 100 kg Mass B 200 kg Limits
Arm Fwd Aft
Calculating the Mass and CG of a System

Fig. 1
Load
In the example, shown in Fig. 1, the reference datum is to the left of the beam. A
mass of 100 kg is 0.25 metres from the datum and another mass of 200 kg is 2 Load
Datum
metres from the datum. The mass of the beam is 250 kg and the length of the
beam is 2.4 metres.
Using the data, in Table 1, the position of the CG can be calculated thus: CG (Average Arm)
Mass and Balance Datum, Arms and C.G. Limits

Centre of Gravity position = Total Moment / Total Mass = 725 / 550 = 1.32 m Fig. 2
So the position of the Centre of Gravity is 1.32 metres to the right of the datum.
15.9 Calculation of Mass and CG of Aircraft
Table 1
CALCULATION OF POSITION OF CG The mass and CG position of an aircraft is calculated in much the same way as
ITEM Mass (kg) Arm (m) Moment (Mass x Arm) that for any system. The Dry Operating Mass of the aircraft corresponds to the
Mass 1 100 0.25 25 mass of the beam, and is usually found out by weighing the aircraft.
Mass 2 200 2.0 400 The variable and disposable loads or ‘Traffic Loads’, such as fuel, crew,
passengers and cargo correspond to the beam loads. Before each flight, the
Beam 250 1.2 300 mass and moment of these items should be determined so that the aircraft mass
and position of the CG can be determined, prior to flight, to see if they are within
Total 550 725 kg m the approved limits.
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15.10 Aircraft Weighing Methods
(mechanical)
engineering
15.10.1 Preparation for Weighing
(mechanical)
Aircraft weighing equipment consist of weighbridge scales, hydrostatic weighing Before weighing the aircraft should be in a condition that meets the requirements
units or electrical/electronic strain gauge type weighing equipment. The capacity of JAR-OPS. It is recommended that the aircraft be positioned several hours
of the equipment must be compatible with the load, so that accurate before weighing, so that an even temperature can be assumed and the aircraft is
measurements may be obtained. free from moisture.
All weighing equipment should be calibrated and zeroed before any weighing The aircraft should be placed into the ‘Rigging Position’, so that consistent results
commences, with the accuracy of the scale or load cell used depending on its are obtained and several readings should be taken at each reaction point to
capacity. obtain reliable average readings.
Scale or Load Cell capacity Accuracy Some light aircraft with tail wheels, have a negative load on the tail when in the
rigging position, as a result of the CG being forward of the main wheel centres. In
< 2000 kg ± 1% such instances, it may be possible to use a jack at the nose or a spring balance
2000 kg to 20000 kg ± 20 kg may be anchored to the ground and attached to the tail wheel.
> 20000 kg ± 0.1%
The reaction thus obtained will be a negative reaction and its value deducted
 Weighbridge Scales from the aircraft weight and treated as a minus quantity when calculating the CG
position.
These consist of a separate weighing platform for each wheel or bogey, the mass
at each reaction point being indicated directly on the balance arm or on a dial 15.10.2 Weighing on Aircraft Jacks
indicator. Large aircraft may be weighed in a hangar, using portable weighbridge
scales, or on weighbridges set permanently into the floor. Jacking should be done in accordance with the Maintenance Manual procedures
and suitable jacking adapters should be placed at the jacking points. Weighing
 Hydrostatic Weighing Units units of sufficient capacity should be attached to the jacks and the jacks
positioned at each jacking point.
These are based upon the principle that fluid pressure in a cylinder, in which a
piston is working, depends on the area of the piston and the load applied to it. Zero indication of each weighing unit should be verified, before the aircraft is
The units are placed between the lifting jacks and the aircraft jacking points and raised evenly, until clear of the ground when the aircraft should be levelled.
the weight at each position recorded on a gauge. Readings should be made at each weighing point, and to ensure representative
readings are obtained, a second reading should be made.
The gauge may be calibrated directly into weight units or a conversion may be
required to obtain the correct units. It is important that the jacks used with these The Dry Operating Mass of the aircraft may be deduced by adding all of the
units are vertical and the units correctly positioned, otherwise side loads may be readings from each weighing point. With the aircraft weight correctly established,
imposed on the units and inaccurate readings obtained it remains only to calculate the CG.
 Electrical or Electronic Weighing Equipment
These type incorporate three or more weighing cells, using metallic resistance
elements or strain gauges, the resistance of which varies with change in length,
due to elastic strain. These strain gauges are either incorporated into cells
between the aircraft and the jacks, or they are used in portable weighbridge
platforms placed beneath the aircraft wheels. The output may be measured with a
galvanometer, or sent to an instrumentation unit, which adds all of the platform
values and digitally displays the aircraft load.
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15.10.3 Calculation of Aircraft’s CG
(mechanical)
While the CG of a nose-wheeled aircraft must, obviously, be somewhere near the

Nose Wheel
main wheels, its location may be found, using the previously described methods. Reaction
Taking, as an example (refer to Fig. 3), a nose-wheeled aircraft, which has been 910 kg
weighed and its Dry Operating ass has been calculated to be 1915 kg. The CG is
forward of the main undercarriage and, using the main wheel centre-line position 100 kg Main Wheel
4m
as a reference datum, the CG can be found by means of the formula: Reactions
AxB÷C 2m 905 kg
Where A = Mass at the nose wheel

Reference
B = Distance between the front and rear reactions Datum
C = Basic Mass (the sum of all the reactions)
Thus: A x B = 100 x 6 = 600 kg m Calculation of Aircraft’s CG

(Reference Datum Aft of Nosewheel)
and, as C = 1915 kg Fig. 4
then, the CG = 600 (kg m) ÷ 1915 (kg) = 0.3133 m or 313.3 mm.
The CG is, therefore, calculated (to 3 significant figures) to be 313 mm forward of In this instance it is necessary to use the formula:
the main wheel centre-line.
Reference CG = Total Moment ÷ Total Mass
Datum
Nose Wheel It is also necessary to remember that Moments, which are AFT of a reference
Reaction datum are considered to be positive or additive (+ve), while Moments, which are
FORWARD of the datum are considered to be negative or subtractive (-ve).
910 kg
100 kg Using the data, displayed in Table 2, enables the aircraft’s CG to be calculated.
Main Wheel
Reactions
Table 2
6m CALCULATION OF AIRCRAFT’S CG
905 kg
Position Mass (kg) Arm (m) Moment (kg m)
Left Main Wheel 905 +4 3620
Right Main Wheel 910 +4 3640
Nose Wheel 100 -2 -200
Calculation of Aircraft’s CG TOTALS 1915 +7060
(Main Wheel Centre-Line as Reference Datum)
Fig. 3 Thus Total Moment (+7060 kg m) ÷ Total Mass (1915 kg) = +3.687 m (to three
decimal places).
The main wheel centre-line is not, however, always taken as the reference datum Therefore the CG is located 3.687 metres AFT of the reference datum (which, by
and, as another example (refer to Fig. 4), the reference datum could be taken to observation, remains at 313 millimetres inches forward of the main wheel centre-
be somewhere between the nose wheel and the main wheel positions. line, as previously calculated).
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15.10.4 CG as Percentage Standard Mean Chord (SMC)

In order to find the new Dry Operating Mass and Moment of the aircraft, the mass
and moment of the equipment added or removed must be considered as follows:
Since the position of the CG is an aerodynamic consideration, its position is
sometimes specified as a percentage of the SMC of the wing, measured AFT  When equipment has been added, the mass must be added to the original Dry
from the leading edge (refer to Fig. 5). The percentage SMC may be calculated Operating Mass and, if the arm of the new equipment is +ve (aft of the CG
using the formula: reference datum), then the moment must be added to the original moment
 If the arm is -ve (forward of the CG datum), then the moment must be
(A - B) ÷ C x 100 subtracted
 When equipment has been removed, the mass must be deducted from the
Where A = Distance of the CG from the Reference Datum original mass. If the arm is positive the moment must be deducted from the
B = Distance of the SMC leading edge from the Reference Datum original moment and vice versa
C = Length of the SMC.  The revised CG position is calculated by dividing the revised Total Moment by
the revised Dry Operating Mass.
A – B x 100 = 8 – 7 x 100 = 1 x 100 = 22.2%.
C 4.5 4.5 15.11.1 Examples of Alterations to Dry Operating Mass
The CG is, therefore, located, 22.2% aft of the leading edge of the SMC. To consolidate the information, discussed in this topic, the following examples are
provided, and are typical of an aeroplane with a:
 Dry Operating Mass of 7000 kg.

 CG Reference Datum at Fuselage Station 4000 (i.e. 4000 millimetres aft of
C = 4.5 m Fuselage Station Zero)
B=7m
 CG located at Station 4600 (i.e. + 600 millimetres aft of the Reference Datum)
Reference
Datum Table 3 shows the relevant data when, in the first example, the components of a
Radar System are installed at several locations in the aircraft. The components of
the Radar System (their mass and locations) comprise of a:
 Transmitter (mass 13 kg.), at Fuselage Station 4700

A=8m  Controller (mass 2 kg.), at Fuselage Station 1800
 Scanner (mass 9 kg), at Fuselage Station 400
Calculation of C.G. as a Percentage SMC Table 3

Fig. 5 REVISION TO BASIC MASS AND MOMENT
Mass (kg) Arm Moment
15.11 Changes in Basic Weight (m) (kg m)
Original Aircraft 7000 + 0.6 + 4200
When an item of Basic Equipment is added, removed or re-positioned in an Transmitter 13 + 0.7 + 9.1
aircraft, calculations must be made to determine the effect on both Dry Operating Controller 2 - 2.8 - 5.6
Mass and CG. Scanner 9 - 3.6 - 32.4
Revised Basic Mass and Moment 7024 + 4171.1
In the event of modifications, where the Total Mass and Moment, for additional
parts is not quoted in the appropriate modification leaflet, the additional parts
must be accurately weighed and their moments calculated, relative to the
reference datum.
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With the revised Dry Operating Mass and Moment, the revised CG can be
engineering
15.12
(mechanical)
Loading of Aircraft (Typical Aircraft Load Sheet)

calculated using the formula:
The Captain (or Commander) of an aircraft, must be satisfied that the load,
CG = Total Moment ÷ Total Mass carried by the aircraft, is of such a weight and is distributed and secured in such a
way that it may be safely carried in flight.
CG = 4171.1 ÷ 7024
To ensure this, the Traffic Loads must be added to the Dry Operating Mass of the
= 0.594 m aircraft and the Total Mass and CG position calculated.
The revised Mass and CG Position will, therefore, state: Loading of an aircraft must be completed under the supervision of qualified
personnel, and ensure that the loading of freight is consistent with the data used
Dry Operating Mass : 7024 kg. to calculate the aircraft mass and balance.
Centre of Gravity : 594 mm aft of the Reference Datum.
Additional structural limitations such as the maximum load per unit area,
maximum mass per cargo compartment and the maximum seating limits must
Table 4 shows the relevant data when, in the second example, a Heating Unit also be considered when loading the aircraft.
(mass 66 kg.) is removed from Fuselage Station 1600 and re-installed at Station
6000 in the same aircraft as that in the first example. With large passenger carrying and cargo aircraft, the moment of items such as
fuel, passengers and cargo are considerable and the calculation of CG can be
complicated. In addition to longitudinal CG calculation, it may also be necessary
Table 4 to distribute fuel and cargo in a transverse direction.
REVISION TO BASIC WEIGHT AND MOMENT
Mass (kg) Arm (m) Moment (kg m) Most operators utilise specialists who deal with loading calculations, and produce
Original Aircraft 7000 + 0.6 + 4200 a Load Sheet for each flight. A typical aircraft Load Sheet is reproduced in Table
Item Removed - 66 - 2.4 + 158.4 5.
Item Replaced + 66 + 2.0 + 132
Revised Basic Mass and Moment 7000 + 4490.4
With the Dry Operating Mass unchanged, the revised CG position will (to two
decimal places), again, be found with the formula:
CG = Total Moment ÷ Total Mass
CG = 4490.4 kg. m ÷ 7000 kg.
= 0.641.49 m.
In this instance, the revised Mass and CG Position will state:
Dry Operating Mass : 7000 kg.

Centre of Gravity : 641.49 mm aft of the Reference Datum.
Therefore the datum has moved aft by nearly 41.5 mm.
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16 AIRCRAFT HANDLING AND STORAGE

Table 5 Aircraft need to be moved on the ground, between flights, for a variety of reasons,
TYPICAL AIRCRAFT LOAD SHEET which can include:
Weight (lb) Arm (in) Moment
(lb in/1000)
CG  Moving aircraft into, or within hangars for maintenance
(SMC)
Basic Weight 100 000 210 21000.00 29.2  Re-positioning aircraft for ground running or storm protection
Variable Load  Emergency removal of aircraft from a taxi-way.
Pilot 165 100 16.50
Navigator 165 100 16.50 It is important that the aircraft be moved safely, using the correct equipment, to
Engineer 165 120 19.50
Steward 165 300 49.50
avoid injury to personnel or damage to aircraft. Small aircraft, generally require
Crew Baggage 100 110 11.00 little preparation but, with larger aircraft, some or all of the following points may
Passenger Seats 50 Business 450 170 76.50 be relevant:
100 Economy 600 280 168.00
Drinking Water 250 130 32.50 Preparation for the reception of the aircraft should be made in advance of its
Life-Raft 300 410 123.00
Emergency Transmitter 30 120 3.60
arrival. There should be adequate space available for the aircraft, with
Service Equipment (food etc.) 200 400 80.00 consideration given, as appropriate, to clearances for jacking, access for cranes
Operating Weight 102 590 211 21 596.60 30.0 etc. All equipment required for servicing should be available and serviceable.
Disposable Load
Passengers 1st class (35) 5 775 160 924.00 The aircraft should be in a satisfactory condition to move. The brakes should be
Tourist (83) 13 695 270 3697.65 serviceable and electrical power should be available, if required, for lights and
Cargo No 1 hold 500 100 50.00
No 2 hold 450 200 90.00 indications in dark or poor light.
No 3 hold 500 280 140.00
No 4 hold 400 350 140.00 The route of the proposed move should be free from obstructions, such as
Zero Fuel Weight 123910 215 26638.55 33.3 servicing platforms, passenger steps, vehicles and any other servicing
Fuel Nos 2 and 4 tanks 10000 150 1500.00 equipment. Consideration should also be given to sources of F.O.D. along the
Nos 1 and 3 10000 200 2000.00
Reserve tanks 5000 240 1200.00 route.
Take Off Weight 148910 210 31338.55 29.2
The members of the moving team should be fully conversant with their assigned
tasks. The person controlling the move should adequately brief them all, as to
their individual responsibilities. This applies equally to the re-positioning a light
aircraft in a hangar or to the moving of a giant airliner around a large,
international airport.
The equipment and method of move should be as stated in the relevant aircraft
maintenance manual.
All towing limitations should be observed. These should be stated in the

maintenance manual under "Ground Handling". Examples of limitations include
minimum turning radii and disconnection of nose-wheel steering system on
certain aircraft.
Clearance from the local Air Traffic Control may be required for the move.
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16.1 Moving Methods The aircraft is normally towed backwards, using a tractor attached to the bridle. It
is normal to tow the aircraft backwards as this reduces the stress on the weaker
Normal moving methods of moving aircraft on the ground are by means of: nose undercarriage.
 Hand: by pushing and using a steering arm If towing points are not available, then ropes may be passed round the legs, as
 Tractor: using a bridle and steering arm or with a purpose-made towing arm near to the top as possible, taking care not to foul on adjacent pipes or structure.
 Taxiing: moving the aircraft, using its own power. A separate tractor should then be connected to each main undercarriage and
steering control achieved by using the steering arm.
When an aircraft has to be moved from one place to another, either by man-
handling, by the use of a tractor (also called a towing ‘tug’) or by taxiing, there are 16.1.3 Using a Purpose-Made Towing Arm
a number of safety precautions which have to be applied every time.
This is the normal method used on large aircraft. The aircraft is normally towed
16.1.1 Moving by Hand and Steering Arm with a suitable tractor (or tug) and using the correct, purpose-made towing arm
for the specific aircraft. A person familiar with, and authorised to operate, the
This method is generally used for moving light aircraft small distances. aircraft brake system should be seated in the cockpit (or on the flight deck) to
apply the brakes in an emergency. The brakes should not normally be applied
Care should be exercised, during the move, to avoid damage to the structure, unless the aircraft is stationary.
particularly on aircraft constructed from wood and fabric. On aircraft, which have
a nose-wheel, a steering arm is attached to the wheel axle, in order to guide the The relevant maintenance manual will normally specify details of the towing arm
aircraft, while the moving force is applied to strong parts of the aircraft. and any limitations on the towing procedure. On many aircraft with nose-wheel
steering, it is normal practice to disconnect or depressurise the aircraft steering
It is generally better to push the aircraft backwards, since the leading edges are system before towing.
stronger than the trailing edges. It is also permitted to push at the undercarriage
struts and wing support struts. Areas to avoid include: 16.1.4 Precautions when Towing Aircraft
 Flying Control Surfaces Towing speed should be kept to a safe level at all times (walking pace is a safe
 Propellers limit).
 Wing and Tail-plane trailing edges.
A steering limit is often imposed, so that the radii of turns are kept within specified
limits, thus minimising tyre scrubbing and reducing the twisting loads on the
On aircraft with steerable nose wheels, which are connected to the rudder
undercarriage. It is usual to tow the aircraft forwards in a straight line after
pedals, care should be taken not to exceed the towing limit, which may be
executing a turn, in order to relieve stresses built up in the turn. The steering limit
marked on the undercarriage leg. On this type of aircraft the rudder controls
is often shown by marks painted on the fixed part of the nose leg, but may,
should not be locked during towing. If the aircraft has a tail skid, in place of a
sometimes, be overcome by the disconnection of a pin, joining the torque links.
wheel, it is customary to lift the tail clear of the ground, ensuring first that the
propeller is positioned horizontally, so that it does not strike the ground.
Suitably briefed personnel should be positioned at the wing tips and tail when
manoeuvring in or around confined spaces, so that obstructions may be avoided.
16.1.2 Using a Bridle and Steering Arm
This method is sometimes used, when the aircraft is to be moved over uneven or One person shall be supervising the aircraft movement (NOT the tractor driver)
and should be positioned so that all members of the team can be observed.
boggy ground, because, if normal towing procedures were used, they would be
likely to cause an unnecessary strain on the nose undercarriage.
Particular care should be given, when towing swept wing aircraft, to "wing tip
growth". This is the tendency of the swept wing to "grow" in a turn and was
Using this alternative method, a special bridle (consisting of cables and attaching
discussed in ‘Flight-Line Safety’, which is contained in the early topic concerning
shackles) is attached to specific points on each main undercarriage leg and a
Safety Precautions.
steering arm is attached to the nose undercarriage for directional control.
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Before commencing the towing operation, the brake system should be checked 16.2 Aircraft Jacking
and the brake accumulator charged as necessary. Brake pressure should be
carefully monitored during the move. Aircraft may need to be jacked for a variety of purposes. These may include
component changes, retraction tests, weighing of the aircraft and aircraft rigging
Large, multi-engined aircraft will usually be towed with special-purpose tug and a checks. Care needs to be taken when jacking, to avoid damage to aircraft or
suitable towing arm that includes a shear pin, designed to shear if a pre- equipment.
determined towing load is exceeded.
Jacking points are provided in the wings and fuselage, at strong points, to enable
In an emergency it may be necessary to move an aircraft from the runway if it has the whole aircraft to be lifted, and there are, usually, other points, at the nose and
one or more deflated tyres. Provided there is one sound tyre on the axle the main undercarriages, to enable individual wheels to be changed (refer to Fig. 1).
aircraft may be towed to the maintenance area, but sharp turns must be avoided
and towing speed kept to a minimum. Some aircraft require a jacking pad to be fitted to each jacking point, while in
some, the jacking pads are built into the structure. Special jacking adapters and
If there are no sound tyres on an axle, the aircraft should only be moved the beams may be available to lift individual axles.
shortest distance in order to clear an active runway and serviceable wheels
should be provided before towing. After any tyre failure, the associated wheel and In all instances, the Maintenance Manual should be consulted, so that the correct
other wheels on the same axle should be inspected for signs of damage. equipment and procedures may be used.
16.1.5 Taxiing Aircraft Nose Jacking

Point (Offset)
When aircraft are to be moved under their own power, whether for ground
movements or prior to flight, a fully certified flight crew must be on the flight deck
and in command of the aircraft. It is usual for the aircraft to have received a daily
inspection before the taxi operation, which ensures items such the oil and fuel
levels and brake pressures are sufficient for the task.
It will be necessary for a ‘Starter Crew’ to be present before engine starting. This Main Jacking
crew should include a supervisor (who will be in visual and/or verbal Points
communication with the aircraft crew), a fireman with a suitable extinguisher and
a tractor driver to pull any ground power unit clear after engine starting.
Once the aircraft is moving under its own power, the flight crew has responsibility
for the safety of the aircraft. The ground team should give assistance to the crew,
via the intercom and/or standard marshalling hand signals (refer again to the
‘Flight-Line Safety’ section of the earlier Safety Precautions topic), until the flight
crew no longer require their services. Nose Jacking
Point (Offset)
When approaching its parking spot, providing it is not using the automatic parking
indicating system, found on many parking stands, the pilot may be dependent Typical Jacking Points
upon the ground team for clearance indications and stopping cues. Fig.1
16.2.1 Special Considerations
Once stopped, the aircraft wheels must be chocked, given ground power, if
required, and generally taken control of, by the engineers, prior to its next Because of the position of the jacking points, the C.G. of some aircraft may be
maintenance procedure. well behind, or in front of, the main jacking points. It may be necessary to add
ballast forward or rear of the jacking points or to check the fuel load of the aircraft,
to bring the centre of gravity within safe limits as specified in the Maintenance
Manual.
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Each jacking point may have a load limit which, if exceeded, could result in The tripod jack comprises a hydraulic unit with three equally spaced legs. The
structural damage. To avoid exceeding this limit it may be necessary to install jack is designed for a vertical lift only and not for a lift involving lateral movement
hydraulic or electric load cells. Any special requirements should be listed in the of the jack (such as when raising one side of the aircraft for a wheel change). The
Maintenance Manual. resulting side thrust may cause any one of the following:
Micro-switches, attached to the undercarriage legs, and operated by the  Serious damage to the ram, due to the bending load
extension of the shock absorbers (weight-on switches), are used to operate  Distortion of the jack legs
various electrical circuits, This operation may not be desirable, so circuits should  Damage to the aircraft, due to the .jack head slipping out of the jacking pad
be isolated, by tripping circuit breakers or removing fuses as necessary.  Shearing of the jacking pad fastener
 Dragging sideways of the serviceable tyre.
Aircraft should always be as structurally complete as possible before jacking, It is
essential that any stressed panels which have been removed are re-installed. To change a single wheel, a pillar jack may be used, while two tripod jacks may
be used to raise the complete aircraft (or a bipod jack may be used). The bipod
Failure to do this may result in distortion or failure of the structure. arrangement overcomes the limitations of the tripod jack for an 'arc' lift. On this
type of jack, two fixed legs provide the support and a third, trailing leg, follows the
16.2.2 Aircraft Jacks lift and steadies the load during the lift. The maximum angle of arc should not be
more than 6º.
Aircraft jacks are intended for raising and lowering loads and should not be used
for supporting the loads for long periods. Where a load must remain raised for a The quadruped jack is used more commonly as it possesses the advantages of
long period, it should be supported on blocks or trestles after it has been jacked both types of jack. Two legs are fixed and two are adjustable. This jack may be
to the required height. The most common types of aircraft jacks are the pillar, used as a bipod jack, by removing the adjustable legs, or as an adjustable, stable
trolley, bipod, tripod and the quadrupod hydraulic jacks. There are several sizes jack with one extra leg added. All four legs may be locked solid, by slight
of jacks, with capacities ranging from 4000 kg and greater. adjustment of both adjustable legs.
The Pillar hydraulic jack consists of a cylinder assembly, a fluid container and a Transportation wheels are often permanently attached to some jacks while they
hydraulic pump which, when operated, forces fluid from the container into the may be provided as detachable units on other jacks. The wheels facilitate easy
cylinder and raises the ram. A release valve is provided which, when opened, movement of the jacks that would otherwise need to be dragged around the
causes the fluid in the cylinder to return to the container and the ram to descend. hangar. Jacks, alternatively, can be dismantled for easier transportation.
Because of possible hydraulic failure, some jacks are provided with a mechanical 16.2.3 Jack Maintenance and General Notes
locking collar which, when wound down, will prevent the jack from lowering. An
air/filler valve, which vents the return side to atmosphere, may also be provided. Aircraft jacks should always be positioned correctly and the load raised and
This should always be open when the jack is operated. lowered gradually.
Bipod, Tripod and Quadrupod jacks are used, to raise an aircraft for various All jacks should be stored in the fully retracted position, kept clean and free from
servicing operations. Their methods of operation and hydraulic mechanisms are corrosion. Moving parts should be lubricated regularly and the jack should be
similar to the pillar jack. They consist of a hydraulic unit, supported by the exercised if it is not used frequently.
relevant number of legs (two, three or four).
Jack replenishment is usually through the air valve, up to the level of the bottom
Because of the problems involved in raising an aircraft and to avoid injury to of the air valve. Low oil level is indicated by inability to lift to maximum height,
personnel or damage to the aircraft, care should be taken to use the correct type whilst over-filling is indicated by leakage of oil when the jack is fully extended.
of jack as stated in the Maintenance Manual. Each jack should be used with the
correct adapter head.
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16.2.4 Jacking Precautions Before jacking commences, the chocks must be removed and then the aircraft
should be raised slowly and as evenly as possible. Whilst jacking is in progress,
As a safety precaution, small aircraft should normally be jacked inside a hangar. the locking collars should be continually wound down, keeping them close to the
body of the jack. When the aircraft is raised to the correct height, the locking
Larger aircraft may be jacked outside, provided they are positioned nose into collar should be fully tightened down.
wind; the jacking surface is level and strong enough to support the weight, and
that any special instructions, stated in the Maintenance Manual, are observed. When jacking is complete, then supports may be placed under the wings and
fuselage as indicated in the Maintenance manual.
A maximum wind speed, stated for jacking outside, can also be found within the
Maintenance Manual. The aircraft to be jacked should be chocked fore and aft Note: As previously stated, a pillar (bottle) jack and an adapter are often used for
and the brakes positioned to OFF (brakes released). If the brakes are raising a single undercarriage for changing a single wheel. Alternatively a trolley
inadvertently left in the ON position (brakes applied) stress could be introduced to jack or stirrup jack may be used. The remaining wheels should be checked to
the landing gear or to the aircraft structure, due to weight re-distribution as the prevent aircraft movement, and it may be specified that a tail support be located
aircraft is raised. when raising a nose undercarriage. The jack should be raised only enough to lift
the unserviceable wheel clear of the ground.
16.2.5 Jacking Procedures
16.2.6 Trestles
While the following procedures will, generally, ensure safe and satisfactory
jacking of most aircraft, precedence must always be given to the procedures and These are provided to support to aircraft structures (main planes, fuselages etc.)
precautions specified in the relevant Maintenance Manual. and may also be used to support the complete aircraft. Various types are
available including plain wooden trestles that are purpose-built and not
One person should co-ordinate the operation and one person should control each adjustable. Trestles should only be used at designated strong parts of the
jacking point. On larger aircraft a levelling station will also need to be monitored structure. It will normally be shown in the Maintenance Manual where they should
and all members of the team may need to be in radio or telephone be positioned. Lines are often painted on the aircraft to show where the trestle
communication with the co-ordinator. beam is positioned
Checks should be made on the aircraft weight, its fuel state, and centre of gravity, The ‘Universal’ trestle is made up from lengths of angle iron, bolts and nuts, and
to ensure they are within the specified limits as detailed in the Maintenance has two jacking heads. By using different lengths of angle iron, trestles of various
Manual. The aircraft should be headed into wind (if it is in the open), the main sizes can be produced. The wooden beam across the jacking heads may be
wheels chocked fore and aft, the brakes released and the undercarriage ground replaced by a wooden former, which is cut to the curvature of the component it
locks installed. supports.
It is vital that the earth cable be connect to the earth point on the aircraft and it Padding is normally attached to the former, to prevent damage to the aircraft
must be ensured that there is adequate clearance above every part of the aircraft finish. The two jacking heads, which are hand-operated screw jacks, enable the
and that there is clearance for lifting cranes or other equipment, which may be beam to be adjusted to suit the angle of the component.
required.
Although the trestles have ‘jacking heads’, they should only be used for
Jacking pads should be attached to the jacking points and adapters provided for supporting a load, and not for attempting to raise parts of the aircraft. Damage
the jacks as required. Load cells may also be included if needed. may be caused to the aircraft if attempts are made to do any more than support
the structure.
The jacks should be positioned at each jacking point and checks made, to
confirm that the jacks are adjusted correctly (i.e. release valve closed, jack body The ‘Tail’ trestle is not suitable for heavy loads and must only be used for
vertical, weight evenly distributed about the legs when the adapters are located supporting a load vertically. Adjustment in height is made by a screw thread. In
centrally in the jacking pads, and the weight of the aircraft is just being taken by the same manner as a universal trestle, the beam can be made in the same
the jacks). shape as the contour of the aircraft.
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16.2.7 Lowering Aircraft off Jacks 16.3.1 Lifting Tackle
Before lowering the aircraft to the ground, all equipment, trestles, work stands The following is a list of safety precautions that must be used when using lifting
etc. should be moved clear of the aircraft, to prevent collision or contact with the tackle:
aircraft structure. The wheels should be rotated by hand, to ensure the brakes are
off. The jacks should be lowered together, by opening their respective release  Do not exceed the safe working load of the lifting devices
valves, and the locking collars (if used) unscrewed (but kept close to the jack  Do not leave a suspended load unattended at any time
body), whilst the jacks are lowered. The jacks should be fully lowered after the  Do not walk or work under a suspended load
aircraft is resting on its wheels and the release valves then closed.  Do not tow the hoist at greater than walking pace
 Do not tow the hoist, other than by hand, when a load is suspended from the
On no account should the top of the jacks be handled until the jack is clear of the lifting hook
aircraft. It is common for the aircraft shock absorbers to stick and to suddenly
 Do not allow the load to swing, especially when it is being hand-towed
collapse, resulting in damage to equipment or serious injury to parts that might be
 Do not using a hoist or crane on soft ground
between the aircraft and jack.
 Do not use a crane or hoist if the lifting tackle shows signs of damage.
After the aircraft is lowered and the jacks removed, the jacking pads and adapters
should be removed and the chocks placed in position. Wire rope, chain or fibre rope may be used for lifting purposes. Before use, the
tackle should be inspected to ensure that it is serviceable, is of the correct type
Any fuses or circuit breakers should be re-set in their correct position. and, when used, that the Safe Working Load (SWL) is not exceeded. The SWL
should be stated on an identification plate, attached to the lifting sling, and should
16.3 Slinging never be removed from the sling.
Slings may be required for lifting various parts of an aircraft during maintenance, Wire Rope is used with cranes, hoists, gantries and various slings. Before use,
repair, dismantling and assembly. Sometimes a complete aircraft may need to be the wire rope, splices and attachments should be inspected for damage such as
lifted for transportation or to clear a runway quickly. wear, corrosion and broken wires.
The use of the correct equipment for lifting aircraft parts will minimise the risk of In use, care should be taken that the rope does not kink under load. Before
damage to the aircraft and personnel. A list of special equipment is usually in the multiple leg wire rope slings are used, they should be laid out on the floor to
front of the Maintenance Manual. This list will usually include special slings to be ensure shackles are correctly attached and the fittings are not twisted. Knotting of
used on the aircraft and any other special equipment or tools required. ropes, to shorten them, is prohibited.
Slings may be of the three-point type, as used for lifting-main planes, while other Wire rope slings may be treated against corrosion by immersion in oil and the
types, used for lifting engines, fuselages or other large items may be provided surplus oil wiped off, but this treatment must not be applied to slings used for
with spreader bars or struts. oxygen cylinders. They must always be free from oil or grease.
Before removing a main plane, the opposite main plane must be supported with Chains are used with cranes and various types of sling. Before use, all chains
trestles. To attach a sling, some aircraft have special slinging points with must be inspected for damage such as cracks, distortion, excessive wear and
threaded holes in the airframe, which are used to accommodate the eye or fork- ‘socketing’.
end bolts of the sling. These holes are normally sealed, with removable plugs,
when not in use. As an alternative to screw-in devices, some slings are used in Socketing is the name given to the grooves, produced in the ends of links, when
conjunction with strong straps that pass under the component to be lifted. the links wear against each other. Any reduction in diameter will render the chain
unserviceable.
Fibre rope slings may be used for lifting lighter components, and are made from
natural fibres such as sisal, hemp or nylon fibres. They must be inspected for
frayed strands, pulled splices, excessive wear and deterioration.
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When not in use, fibre rope slings should be hung on pegs, in a sheltered When severe weather is anticipated it is recommended that covers for cockpit,
position, and free from dampness. Immediately before use, the rope should be canopy and wheel are fitted if available. Blanks and covers should not be left in
opened up, by slightly untwisting the strands, to ensure they are not damaged or position when the aircraft is prepared for service. Servicing instructions should
mildewed internally. include a pre-flight check to ensure that all covers etc, are removed.
A damaged or mildewed fibre rope sling should not be used, and it must be 16.4.2 Mooring (Picketing)
destroyed, by cutting into small, unusable sections, before final disposal.
In certain weather conditions, particular in high winds, it would be recommended
In addition to before-use checks on the rope, all loaded components such as that the aircraft be parked in a hangar. If they must be left outside, then smaller
pulley blocks, shackles, pins, spreader bars and hooks are to be inspected for aircraft may need to be tied down. The aircraft may be provided with picketing
excessive wear, cracks and flaws. Moving parts must be lubricated periodically. rings or attachment points at the wings and tail or adjacent to the undercarriage
legs (refer to Fig. 2).
16.4 Parking and Mooring Aircraft
When an aircraft is out of service and in the open it should be secured against
inadvertent movement and protected against adverse weather conditions. The
operations recommended in the relevant Maintenance Manual depend on the
type of aircraft, the length of time it will be out of service and the prevailing or
forecast weather conditions.
16.4.1 Parking
Between flights it is usually sufficient to apply the parking brakes, lock the control B C
A
surfaces and chock the wheels but, in a strong wind, light aircraft should be
headed into the wind. Light aircraft without wheel brakes should be headed into
wind and their wheels chocked front and rear.
Flying controls, on many aircraft, are locked by movement of a lever in the

cockpit/cabin. The lever is connected to locking pins at convenient positions in
the control runs or at the control surfaces. When this type of control lock is not
provided, locking attachments may have to be fitted to the control column and
rudder pedals.
A more positive method entails the use of external control surface locks, that
prevent control surface movement and, thus, prevent strain on the control
system. All external locks should have suitable streamers attached, to make them View A
more visible.
If an aircraft is to be parked overnight or for longer periods in the open, then

additional precautions should be taken, to guard against the effects of adverse View B View C
weather.
Aircraft Picketing Points
The undercarriage ground locks should be fitted, and all openings, such as static Fig. 2
vents, engine and cooling air intakes, should be blanked, to prevent ingress of
dirt, birds, insects and moisture. Items such as pitot head and incidence
indicators should also be covered.
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If outside, the aircraft should always be parked nose into wind and secured, from Cables or chains should be attached from the aircraft picketing points to prepared
the picketing points to suitable ground anchor points such as heavy concrete anchorages. In some instances the picketing cables are special components and
blocks or specialised screw pickets. include a tension meter that is used to apply a pre-load to the cable.
Cable or nylon rope of adequate strength should be used where possible but, if a If an aircraft is to be parked for a longer period, then additional precautions must
natural fibre rope is used (sisal or hemp), then sufficient slack must be left to be taken. Landing gear down-locks must be installed (if so equipped) and all
allow for shrinkage in damp conditions. openings such as static vents and engine intakes should be covered or blanked
off (refer to Fig. 3) to prevent the ingress of dirt, birds, insects and all forms of
Additional picketing from the undercarriage legs may be recommended in strong precipitation.
winds and, if so, care should be taken not to damage any pipelines or equipment
attached to the legs or wheels.
Intake Blank
16.4.3 Typical Small Aircraft Procedures
When mooring small aircraft in the open, the aircraft, if possible, should be Pitot-Static Blanks
parked head into the wind. The control surfaces should be secured with the
internal control lock and the brakes applied.
Care must, however, be exercised in extremely cold weather and parking brakes
must not be set if there is a danger that accumulated moisture may freeze the
brakes. Another danger, in cold weather, exists when the brakes are overheated,
because, if they are set in this condition, serious distortion and cracking of the
brake (and wheel) components can occur as they cool down. Exhaust Blank
Nose Wheel Covers Main Wheel Covers
Ropes, cables, or chains should be attached to the wing mooring (tie-down)
points, and their opposite ends secured to ground anchors. A tie down rope (no
chains or cables) should be fastened to the exposed portion of the engine mount Typical Aircraft Blanks
and the opposite end of the rope also secured to a ground anchor. Fig. 3
The middle of a rope should be attached to the tail tie-down ring and each end of
the rope pulled, at a 45º angle, and secured to a ground tie-down point either side
of the tail.
A control lock should be applied to the pilot’s control column. If a control lock is 16.4.5 Chocking of Aircraft
not available, then the control may be tied back with a front seat belt.
When aircraft are parked, it is normal to place a chock ahead and behind at least
These aircraft are usually equipped with a spring-loaded steering system that one wheel set. The parking brakes are usually left in the ‘off’ position once chocks
affords protection against normal wind gusts. However, if extremely high winds are in position, to allow the heat, generated by the brakes, to dissipate evenly.
are anticipated, additional external locks may be installed.
At high wind speeds, it is normal to chock all the wheels and apply the brakes (if
16.4.4 Large Aircraft Procedures they have cooled). Some aircraft chocks can be chained together, to give a more
secure hold. During ground runs (and especially those involving high power), it is
These may only require picketing in very strong wind conditions. The maximum common sense to place chocks at the front of all main wheel sets, to reinforce the
wind-speed will normally be stated in the Maintenance Manual (including gusting parking brake.
winds). The aircraft should be headed into wind and the parking brakes applied.
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16.5 Aircraft Storage Table 1 (a)

TYPICAL AIRCRAFT STORAGE TASKS
If an aircraft is de-activated for an extended time it will need to be protected ITEM Repeat Intervals
against corrosion, deterioration and environmental conditions during its period of (days)
storage. Landing Gear
Clean and dry main and landing gear bays
Check landing gear for hydraulic leakage 7
The following notes are based on the storage procedures applicable to BAe 146 Lubricate main & nose landing gear
aircraft that have been de-activated for periods in excess of 30 days and up to a Clean/Check Shock struts for leaks. Wipe sliding tube with hydraulic fluid 30
maximum of 2 years. It is not intended for the information given here to be Clean Gear & Door Uplock Mechanisms. Protect with grease 60
complete, but merely to give the student examples of some of the activities Clean and apply thin coat of hydraulic fluid to actuator and piston rods
Spray micro-switches and proximity switches with water dispersion fluid
performed. Specific details of an aircraft’s storage procedures can be found in
Check tyre pressures and mark position of tyres with date 7
Chapter 10 of the relevant Maintenance Manual. Rotate wheels one quarter of a term and mark tyre with date 15
Should aircraft be stored in a hangar, deflate the shock absorbers. The aircraft
A list of equipment and materials is normally given. This will, typically, include: may be manoeuvred in the hangar with deflated shock absorbers
 Hydraulic fluid and lubricating oils and greases Flight Controls

Fully extend flaps 7
 Specialised water-displacing fluids and corrosion-preventative compounds Open and tag flap valves and airbrake circuit breakers
 Aircraft covers and blanks Fully extend lift spoilers and install safety sleeves to all spoiler jacks 7
 Plastic sheeting and adhesive tape. Depressurise hydraulic system 7
Lubricate the flight controls 30
Protect flap carriages, upper surfaces of flap tracks with grease
Prior to the storage period certain tasks are completed. These may include Protect all control cables accessible with oil 30
replacing the tyres with ‘dummy’ tyres (those not suitable for flight), or the raising Check for corrosion and where found repair affected areas 90
of the pressures of the normal ones. The various tanks are either filled (water), Power Plants
drained (toilet), or part-filled (fuel). If the aircraft has propellers, they must be Carry out special long term storage procedure for engines 180
feathered, to prevent them rotating in the wind. (they may also be restrained by Note: Renewal of engine long term storage is preceded by engine run
straps).
Oxygen System
Check test date of oxygen cylinders.
Generally there would be an initial procedure, this being repeated at specified Disconnect distribution lines from oxygen cylinders, blank off pipelines and
intervals, as shown in Tables 1 (a) and 1 (b). If no repeat interval is given, then cylinder outlet connection
the item is only done initially. Check cylinder pressure is above 50 p.s.i.
Remove crew masks for storage
Once the aircraft has been prepared, there are routine, weekly checks to keep it
in good condition.
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Table 1 (b)
TYPICAL AIRCRAFT STORAGE TASKS To allow the circulation of air around the inside of the aircraft, all the doors and
ITEM Repeat Intervals curtains are fixed open, whilst all the external doors and panels are shut. The
(days) battery will be removed from the aircraft and kept in the battery bay.
Water Waste
Drain potable water system
Purge potable water system with dry air or nitrogen More active checks might be done on the two-weekly checks. These checks will
probably involve re-installing the battery, running the engines for a period and
Fuel System functionally testing a number of the aircraft’s systems that require the engines
Refuel aircraft with fuel treated with an approved biocidal agent operating. The flight controls might require cycling throughout their ranges and, if
Check fuel tanks for water accumulation 7
dummy tyres are not fitted, the aircraft must be moved slightly to prevent ‘flat
Air Conditioning System spots’ forming on the tyres.
Install blanks in the ECS ram air inlet, exhaust, APU intake, APU oil cooler, front 7
and rear discharge valves In addition, when power plants are stored separately, their fuel and oil systems
must be inhibited and all their external mechanisms protected with grease or
Hydraulic System
Check system for leaks 7
other suitable preservative. They must be stored in a clean, warm, dry
Replenish system 180 atmosphere with inspections at intervals to check for deterioration. Some engines
Coat all unpainted hydraulic pipe-work with preservative compound are stored in an airtight bag, which has moisture-absorbent crystals (a desiccant)
inside.
Aircraft Exterior
Wash aircraft
After the storage period all of the covers, blanks and preservative compounds will
Coat all unpainted metal surfaces with preservative compound
need to be removed. All of the systems will need to be restored to their original
Aircraft Interior condition prior to aircraft use. A further set of procedures will be followed, similar
Remove passenger seats and carpets for bay storage to those previously discussed.
Remove, service and store all galley portable equipment
Remove, check and store windshield wiper arms complete with blades
When the aircraft is to be returned to service, it is simply a case of initially
Remove rain repellent cannisters
removing all covers, blanks and tie-downs. Once access to the inside of the
Electrical/Electronic System aircraft is obtained and the battery re-installed, all of the systems must be
Remove and service batteries 7 checked and tested.
Remove for bay service, all rack mounted electronic equipment
Apply power to and function installed electronic equipment 7
All the tanks must be replenished to their correct levels and all pressure vessels
will require their gases charging to their normal operating pressures. If the cabin
furnishings, such as seats, carpets and galleys have been removed, they are to
be inspected and, when serviceable, re-installed in the cabin.
As already stated, the foregoing summaries are only examples of the form that a
basic aircraft storage procedure might take. If the aircraft is smaller or larger and
more complex it will require a different form of inspection and routine checking.
The correct storage procedures will be found in Chapter 10 of the relevant

aircraft’s Maintenance Manual.
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16.6 Aircraft Fuelling Procedures

Electrical bonding of the fuel system is vital during fuelling operations, as when
The use of the term ‘fuelling’ can include both refuelling and defuelling fuel flows through the refuelling hose, static electricity may be generated. This
procedures and these notes contain examples of the essential points to be may lead to potential differences at adjacent metal parts and initiate a spark, fire
considered when refuelling and defuelling aircraft. or explosion. To minimise this risk the following actions should be completed
before fuelling operations commence
There may, however, be some further, local instructions, regarding the
responsibilities of the various personnel involved in fuelling procedures and these  The aircraft should be earthed
will always take precedence in conjunction with the relevant Maintenance  The refuelling tanker should be earthed
Manual.  The nozzle of the fuel hose should be electrically bonded to the fuelling point.
16.6.1 Fuelling Safety Precautions 16.6.2 Refuelling
Particular care must be taken when fuelling aircraft, so that the operation may be When refuelling the AMM should always be consulted so that the positions and
accomplished in the safest possible manner. capacities of the fuel tanks and also the type of fuel, position of the refuelling
point(s) and refuelling procedures are known. There are two general re-fuelling
Whenever possible, aircraft should be fuelled in the open, and not in a hangar methods:
(although this is, sometimes, necessary as part of a maintenance programme).
This will minimise the fire risk from high concentrations of flammable vapours.  Gravity or over-wing refuelling: which is, essentially, the same method as
used to refuel a motor car (automobile), with a similar type of refuelling hose
Fire appliances should be readily available during all fuelling operations. Carbon being used. As the name suggests, the filler points are, generally, on the
dioxide, or foam, extinguishers are recommended but, if there is a perceived upper surface of the wing and the tank is open when refuelling is done
increased fire risk, then fire-fighting vehicles should be standing by.
 Pressure refuelling: in which the fuel may be pumped into the aircraft via a
Within the specified danger area, around an aircraft being fuelled, no sources of pressure refuelling coupling at very high rates. The refuelling pressures and
ignition or sparks should be allowed and no electrical power should be switched the rates of fuel delivery may be quite different for individual aircraft types, so
on or off during the fuelling operation. great care must be taken, to ensure no damage occurs to an aircraft through
incorrect refuelling settings.
It is vital that the correct type and grade of fuel is used for the fuelling operation.
Use of a turbine fuel in a piston aircraft will certainly cause an engine malfunction, 16.6.3 Checking Fuel Contents
or failure, that could lead to loss of an aircraft. The correct type and grade of fuel
is always detailed in the Maintenance Manual and marked adjacent to the This is normally done, using the aircraft fuel gauges, which may be calibrated in
aircraft’s fuelling point(s). kilograms (kg), gallons (Imperial or US) or pounds (lb).
Care should also be exercised so as to avoid contamination of the fuel system If a double check is required, then the contents may be determined, on the
with water or other contaminants. The fuel supply should be regularly checked for ground, by using ‘dip sticks’ (installed into the top of the tanks) or by ‘drip sticks’
water contamination and a sample of fuel drained off after refuelling, so that a (or magnetic ‘drop sticks’) which are installed in the bottom of some aircraft tanks.
water check may be done.
The aircraft fuel gauges will normally be positioned on the flight deck, but they
It will sometimes be necessary to filter the fuel during over-wing refuelling, can, on some aircraft, be duplicated at a fuelling panel, adjacent to the pressure
particularly in dusty climates. refuel coupling.
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The Relative Density (RD) of fuel will vary with temperature and so the weight of 16.7 Ground De-Icing/Anti-Icing of Aircraft
a certain quantity of fuel will also vary.
16.7.1 Ice Types
For example, ten gallons (Imperial) of fuel, with an RD of 0.8, will have a weight
of 80 lb, while ten gallons (Imperial) of fuel, with an RD of 0.78, will weigh 78 lb. There are three main types of ice/frost that can effect an aircraft’s performance,
Hoar Frost, Rime Ice and Glaze Ice. The temperature and weather conditions will
It is crucial, for balance purposes, that the weight of fuel is known and this is the determine the type of ice that forms, but all three types can have a detrimental
reason why many aircraft fuel gauges are calibrated in units of weight rather than effect.
in volume.
The Dew Point is the temperature at which moist air becomes saturated and
When fuelling aircraft, it is essential that the technician is aware of the RD of the deposits dew if in contact with a colder surface or the ground. Above ground,
fuel, so that the necessary weight calculation may be done, if necessary. condensation into water droplets takes place.
16.6.4 Defuelling. Hoar Frost is a deposit of ice crystals that form on an object when the dew point
is below freezing point. High humidity will normally produce hoar frost, as these
Occasionally, it is necessary to remove fuel from an aircraft, to facilitate fuel tank are similar to conditions that produce dew. Hoar frost can form when the air
maintenance, or because the aircraft is too heavily loaded for the next flight. temperature is greater than 0°C, but the aircraft skin temperature is less than
0°C. This type of frost produces a very rough surface which leads to turbulent
Removing fuel from an aircraft can be accomplished by either the gravity or by airflow.
the pressure defuelling method.
Rime Ice is a light coloured opaque rough deposit that has a porous quality. At
The gravity method entails draining the fuel into a suitably earthed container, and ground level it forms in freezing fog from water droplets with very little spreading.
this is typical of light aircraft, which are normally ‘gravity’ refuelled. The fuel It adds very little weight but it can disrupt the smooth flow of air over the wing,
removed must be disposed of in the correct manner, with regard to local and block pitot and static vents.
instructions and to the environment.
Glaze Ice can be either transparent or opaque and can form into a glassy surface
Aircraft that are normally pressure refuelled are normally equipped with a due to liquid water flowing over a surface before freezing. It is the most
pressure defuelling facility. Pressure defuelling is achieved by utilising a small dangerous type of ice found on an aircraft and is dense, heavy and tough. It
negative pressure (suction), which effectively draws the fuel out of the tank and adheres firmly to a surface, is difficult to shake off, and if it does breakaway, it
returns it into the fuel tanker (bowser). does so in large chunks.
Current rules will normally only allow the fuel, removed from an aircraft, to be During cold weather operations, it may be necessary to remove ice and snow
placed into a dedicated defueller vehicle and the fuel will not be permitted to be from the aircraft, while it is on the ground, and to keep it clear long enough, to
used in another aircraft. This ensures that any contamination such as water or allow the aircraft’s systems to cope with snow or ice removal. This may not occur
debris will not be transferred to other aircraft. until the aircraft is flying.
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On the ground, the aircraft must be cleared of all snow and ice from its wings, tail, The formation of ice on aircraft structures can produce many adverse effects, and
control surfaces, engine inlets and other critical areas (refer to Fig. 4) before the if allowed to remain may result in some or all of the following:
aircraft can take-off.
 Decreased aerofoil lift
 Increased aerofoil drag
 Increased weight
Rudder
 Decreased engine thrust
 Freezing of moisture in control hinges
VHF Ailerons  Freezing of micro-switches that affect systems such as the landing gear
Antenna retraction
 Ingestion of ice into the engine.
TCAS 16.7.2 Definitions

Antenna Elevator
The terms ‘de-icing‘ and ‘anti-icing’ have specific definitions, and it is essential to
know the differences.
Pitot and Flaps
Static  De-icing is the removal of ice that has already formed
Heads  Anti-icing is the prevention of initial ice formation.
Slats 16.7.3 De-Icing and Anti-Icing Methods

Engine Nacelle
The de-icing procedure for removal of ice, frost and snow from an aircraft’s
Critical Surfaces for De-icing and Anti-icing surface can be achieved by mechanical or chemical methods. Mechanical
Fig. 4 methods use blowers, brushes and rubber scrapers whilst chemical methods
utilise de-icing fluids.
Ice formation on an aircraft on the ground may result from a number of causes: The anti-icing procedure provides protection against the formation of ice, frost
and snow on aircraft surfaces for a short period known as the ‘Holdover Time’.
 Direct precipitation from rain, snow and frost This is achieved by applying an anti-icing fluid, but the aircraft must be either
 Condensation freezing on external surfaces of integral tanks following clean or de-iced prior to this anti-icing fluid application. There are two ways of
prolonged flight at high altitude aircraft de-icing and anti-icing:
 After taxing through snow or slush, ice may accumulate on landing gear,
forward facing surfaces and under-surfaces.  One Step Method
 Two Step Method.
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The One Step method utilises hot fluid to de-ice the aircraft, and this fluid remains Alcohol based de-icing fluids, may cause dilution or complete removal of oils and
on the aircraft surfaces to give a limited anti-icing capability. greases from joints or bearings. This may allow water ingress, which can
subsequently freeze and jam controls. De-icing spray nozzles should not be
The Two Step method consists of two separate fluid application procedures. The directed at lubrication points or sealed bearings.
first step is the de-icing part and the second step the anti-icing. This second step
must be done within three minutes of starting the first step, surface by surface if Hot air blowers may be used to remove snow, ice or frost, and the liquid residue
necessary. The second anti-icing step protects the aircraft surfaces for a holdover should be dried and not allowed to accumulate in places such as hinges or micro-
period. switches as any re-freezing may cause damage.
Whilst the AMM will detail the exact areas for de-icing and anti-icing, particular 16.7.6 Removal of Ice and Snow Deposits
attention should be paid to areas around probes, antennas, and pitot/static ports
as well as control surfaces, landing gear and inlets and exhausts. There are several methods of removing snow and ice from an aircraft, prior to
applying liquids if required.
16.7.4 Chemical De-Icing
Removal by hand can be accomplished by the use of soft brooms, hand brushes
Freezing Point Depressant (FPD) compounds are often used in conjunction with or rubber scrapers. The aircraft can be de-iced using cold air from a pressure
mechanical methods, and there are two main types of FPD compounds: supply unit, or by using hot air from a hot air blower designed for the purpose.
 Type 1 (unthickened) Deep wet snow should be removed with a brush or rubber scraper, taking care
not to damage components such as aerials and pitot probes, which may be
These fluids have a high glycol content and a low viscosity. They provide good covered in snow. The snow should also be cleared from items like vents and
de-icing performance but only a limited protection against re-freezing. control hinges.
 Type 2 (thickened) Light dry snow should be blown off using a cold air blower. Hot air is not
recommended as it may melt the snow which may accumulate and freeze
These fluids have a minimum glycol content of approximately 50%, and due to a requiring further treatment.
thickening agent, are able to remain on the aircraft surfaces for longer periods.
The de-icing performance is good and provides protection against re-freezing Moderate to heavy ice deposits or residual snow should be cleared with de-icing
and/or build up of further accretion, when exposed to freezing precipitation. fluid applied by spraying. The two methods of fluid spraying involve the:
16.7.5 Treatment of Frost Deposits  Cold Fluid Spray

 Hot Fluid Spray.
Frost deposits are best removed by the use of a de-icing fluid such as Kilfrost
ABC (Aircraft Barrier Compound). These fluids usually contain either: When using these sprays, it is necessary to observe certain precautions, because
of the risk of damage to the aircraft structure and associated components. With
 ethylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol this in mind it is important to know that:
 di-ethylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol
 propylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol.  High-pressure sprays may cause damage to pitot-static probes and other
sensing devices
This process is not lengthy and one application is usually sufficient provided it is  Covers and bungs should be fitted during de-icing operations to prevent
applied within two hours of flight. Only fluids recommended by the manufacturer ingress of fluid into intakes and exhausts
should be used and any instructions for their use should be strictly observed. Use  High-pressure sprays may cause erosion of the aircraft skin. Consult the AMM
of incorrect de-icing fluids may adversely affect glazed panels or paint finish. for recommended maximum impingement pressure
 No attempt should be made to remove ice by using an impact force to break
the bond
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 De-icing should proceed symmetrically, to prevent excess weight on one side

of the aircraft. 16.7.7 Hold Over Times
The Cold Fluid Spray method is the simplest method of applying de-icing fluid, When used for anti-icing, the FPD fluid should be sprayed onto the aircraft cold
but in severe conditions one application may not be sufficient to remove all and undiluted, before the onset of icing or after any hot de-icing. The fluid film will
deposits. Brushing followed by a second or third application may be required. prevent ice and snow from sticking to the aircraft skin and, given time, will melt
any fresh precipitation. Typical times for which the fluid remains effective are
The Hot Fluid Spray method has been adopted specifically to reduce turn-round known as the ‘Hold Over’ time (refer Table 2).
time. The FPD fluid is mixed with water in proportion to suit prevailing weather
conditions, and heated to between of 60ºC (minimum) and 85ºC (maximum). Table 2
TYPICAL HOLD OVER TIMES
The fluid is normally sprayed onto the aircraft at a pressure of 100 psi (689.5
Ambient Weather Conditions Type II (AEA) fluids Type I
kN/m2) by use of spray lances. The nozzle of the lance is held close to the aircraft Temp C Frost Freezing Steady Freezing Rain on Anti- De-Icing Fluids
skin, to prevent heat losses. fog Snow Rain cold Icing (See note 2)
soaked 100% 75/25 60/40 50/50
wing Cold (hot) (hot) (hot)
The heat transfers to the skin of the aircraft, breaking the ice bond, and large See
areas of ice may be flushed away by turning the nozzle sideways. The fluid film Note 1
Above 0 * 8 hrs 5 hrs 4 hrs 3 hr 45 min
remaining on the skin, has only been slightly diluted beyond its original dilution * 3 hrs 2 hrs 1¾ hr 1½ hr 30 min
and is effective in preventing further ice formation. * * 1 hr 45 min 35 min 30 min 15 min
* 20 min 10 min 7 min 5 min 5 min
0 to –7 * 8 hr 5 hr 4 hr 3 hr 30 mins
Hot water de-icing is a method that must not be used below -70C and may need * 1½ hr 1 hr 50 min 45 min 15 mins
to be performed in two steps. * 45 min 30 min 20 min 15 min 15 mins
* 20 min 10 min 5 min 3 min 3 mins
 Step 1: Snow and ice are normally removed initially with a jet of hot water not -8 to * 8 hr 5 hr 4 hr 30 mins
-10 * 1½ hr 1 hr 50 min 15 mins
exceeding 95C * 45 min 30 min 20 min 15 mins
 Step 2: If necessary a light coating of de-icing fluid is then sprayed on
immediately (within 3 minutes) to prevent re-freezing. -11 to * 8 hr 5 hr 30 mins
-14 * 1½ hr 1 hr 15 mins
* 45 min 30 min 15 mins
On some aircraft, not equipped with aerofoil or propeller de-icing systems, the
use of a de-icing paste may be specified. The paste is spread evenly, by hand, -15 to * 8 hr 30 mins
over wing, tail and propeller leading edges. It provides a chemically active surface -25 * 1½ hr 15 mins
* 45 min 15 min
on which ice may form but not produce a bond. Any ice, which forms, is blown
away by the airflow. The paste should be re-applied before each flight in
accordance with the AMM.
Under extreme cold conditions it may be necessary to heat the fluid (60C max) to
give it sprayability. No significant increase in hold over time is achieved by
strengthening the mix of type I (AEA) fluids.
Stations using Kilfrost will normally provide a mix of 50/50 or 60/40. It may be
difficult to get stronger mixes at short notice unless the temperature conditions at
the stations involved are below limits for that mix.
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16.8 Ground Electrical Supplies

Certain precautions should be observed when applying chemical anti-icing fluids,
and these are: Ground electrical supplies are normally limited to either 28 volts dc or 115 volts
ac, depending upon the systems of the aircraft. Most modern aircraft have at
 Anti-icing fluid must NOT be applied on top of a similar, earlier coat least one 115 volt ac system (as well as a 28 volt dc one), so they will normally
 If possible, the engines or the APU should not be operated during snow/ice be supplied with 115 volts ac from an external power supply.
removal
 The fluid should not be sprayed directly onto windscreens, windows, vanes, Airfields normally supply electricity to aircraft through external generators called
pitot heads or probes Ground Power Units (GPUs), or have underground supplies, which are connected
 The minimum quantity of fluid should be used in the air conditioning intake to the aircraft via the air-bridge, or from beneath the ramp surface.
areas
 If possible the fluid should not be sprayed onto lubricated parts, such as When an external electric supply is required inside the hangar, its generation will
landing gear legs normally be through transformer rectifier units. An external power control box may
be installed on the hangar wall and the required output for a particular aircraft can
16.7.8 Inspection after De-Icing/Anti-Icing Procedures be selected.
The following inspections should be done on completion of a de-icing procedure: To prevent accidentally connecting-up of incorrect supplies, all aircraft have
separately-shaped plugs and sockets. The 28 volt dc supply usually has a three-
pin connection whilst the 115 volt ac utilises a much larger, six-pin plug and
 External surfaces, for signs of residual snow or ice, particularly in the vicinity
socket (refer to Fig. 5).
of control surface gaps and hinges
 All protrusions and vents, for signs of damage
The 28 volt dc connection has two pins which are longer than the third. The
 Control surfaces for full and free movement by hand. Where this is not longer pins are the supply connections whilst the shorter pin acts as a safety
possible the pilot's controls should be used, bearing in mind that power- interlock, to ensure that the power is cut-off, if the cable is inadvertently pulled out
operated controls exert large forces and could cause damage if any part of the without the power being switched off first.
control surface is frozen
 Landing gear mechanisms, doors, bays and wheel brakes, for snow and ice The 115 volt ac connection has six pins, with four pins being longer than the
deposits other two. The four longer pins provide the three phases and the neutral
 Up-locks and micro-switches, for correct operation connection whilst the short pins provide the safety interlock.
 Tyres to ensure that they are not frozen to the ground. They should be freed
by the application of hot air to the ice (not the tyre) and the aircraft moved to a
dry area
 Engine air intakes for ice and snow deposits
 Gas turbine engines for freedom of rotation by hand. Restriction may indicate
icing in the compressor region and the engine should be blown through with
hot air immediately before starting until the rotating parts are free
 Shock absorber struts and hydraulic jacks for leaks caused by contraction of
seals and metal parts
 Tyre pressures and shock absorber pressure and extension
Following the inspections an entry should be made in the Tech. Log, indicating
that the De-Icing/Anti-Icing procedure has been completed.
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16.9 Ground Hydraulic Supplies
3 PIN EXTERNAL Hydraulic test rigs are available, to supply aircraft with a source of hydraulic
POWER RECEPTACLE
EARTH
power without the need for running the engines or APU. These test rigs are
normally powered either by internal combustion, or by electric, motors. They must
use the same type of hydraulic pump and fluid as the aircraft under test, to allow
testing of items such as the timing of system operations.
The aircraft has an access panel, behind which are a set of ‘quick-connect’
couplings, allowing the rig hoses to be easily connected to the aircraft’s system
without the need for ‘bleeding’ the system of air. This is achieved by use of non-
EXTERNAL return valves, which only open when the couplings are fully tightened.
SUPPLY SOCKET
POSITIVE D.C.
Before connecting a hydraulic testing rig to an aircraft, it must be ensured that all
of the lines and couplings are thoroughly clean, so that no dirt can get into the
3 PIN
PLUG
aircraft’s system.
POSITIVE D.C.
ACCESS 16.9.1 Safety, Health and Servicing Precautions
DOOR
Phosphate ester-based hydraulic fluids constitute a major health risk. Extreme

dc Power Socket and Receptacle care should be taken when handling this fluid and the following precautions
should be taken:
 A mask must be worn when the possibility of inhaling the fluid in an atomised
EXTERNAL NOSE
POWER
READY SERVICE
WHEEL
WELL
form exists. The fluid irritates the respiratory passages and can cause
LIGHT INTERPHONE
CONNECTION
LIGHTS
sneezing and coughing
 Eye protection is essential when the possibility of atomised spray exists. If
A.C. PHASE “A” fluid contacts the eyes, they should be flushed with large quantities of
clean/sterile water and medical advice sought promptly
A.C. PHASE “B”  Hands must be washed thoroughly after working with these fluids and
particularly before eating or smoking
 Hydraulic fluid must not be allowed to contact the skin for excessive periods.
Barrier cream and protective gloves must be put on before starting work
A.C. PHASE “C”
 Contaminated overalls should be changed as soon as possible after contact
with the fluid.
A.C. NEUTRAL A typical hydraulic test rig might have a 75kW (100 hp) electric motor, driving the
pump through a gearbox, clutch and a flexible coupling. The output could be in
D.C. the region of 175 litres per minute (38 gallons per minute) at 200 kPa (3000 psi).
The oil would be filtered to the standard required by the aircraft system, typically,
ac Power Receptacle 3 microns.
Ground Electrical Supplies

Fig. 5
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Most hydraulic rigs have a small header tank of system oil. It would utilise the Some aircraft have two separate connections for air supplies at different points on
aircraft’s oil for the majority of operations, with the header tank keeping the the airframe. The forward connection may be for low-pressure air, which is then
system primed during coupling and uncoupling operations. fed directly to the conditioning system, allowing testing of the air conditioning
system and also of the pressure hull. The aft connection may be for a higher-
The flow valves, which are often integral parts the rigs, must be kept closed until pressure bleed air supply that is primarily used to start the engines if the APU is
all the hoses have been connected and the rig is ready to run. The motor is unserviceable.
started and once the operating pressure is indicated on the rig gauges, the valves
can be opened and the rig then forms part of the aircraft system. This will enable Whilst some units are dedicated air starter rigs, some can be used both for
the functional testing of the aircraft’s hydraulic systems using the aircraft’s starting and also for functional testing of the air conditioning and de-icing
selector valves. systems. As with the electric and hydraulic ground power supply rigs, the output
of a pneumatic unit must match the aircraft’s system for pressure and flow.
The rigs may also be provided with special gauges, such as flow meters, which
will allow the testing for internal system leakages. 16.11 Effects of Environmental Conditions on Handling
16.9.2 Rig Maintenance Previous notes have mentioned a range of precautions that need to be applied
when the weather is anything less than perfect. This section will cover actions
The rigs must have an equal or better filtration level than the aircraft being that the technician will need to take for prevailing situations when various weather
serviced. Oil samples of the rig are taken on a regular basis, and the following conditions exist.
checks must be completed on a regular basis:
16.11.1 Cold and Wet
 The rig must be kept clean and all hoses blanked when not in use
 The filters must be changed or cleaned When the ramp is cold and wet, the friction between the aircraft’s tyres and the
 All the gauges should be calibrated ramp can be reduced. This also applies to all self-propelled vehicles and, hence,
 Any electrical equipment on the rigs should be checked. all movements on the ramp should be at a slower speed than normal, with quick
access to chocks, in the event of an emergency.
16.10 Ground Pneumatic Supplies
During engine ground running, it is possible that there may be a maximum power
Pressurised aircraft usually require an adequate supply of low-pressure air, for limitation if the ramp is very wet or flooded. This will be covered in either the
such tasks as engine starting, ventilation, heating and cooling, anti-icing and Airfield Operations Manual or the Ground Handling Procedures Manual (as will
pressurisation testing. This air supply is, normally, provided by the aircraft’s most other precautions and procedures).
engine/s or APU but, when these are unavailable, a ground supply unit can be
used. If large amounts of protective clothing are worn on the ramp, it is the technician’s
responsibility to ensure that nothing can get sucked into a running engine. Also,
Pneumatic units can supply air at the required pressure and flow rate and are during ground running, it is important that extra chocks are placed at the wheels
powered by turbine engines, diesel engines or electrically powered units. The of the aircraft to prevent slippage at the higher power settings.
compressors used by these units are normally axial flow, centrifugal flow, or of
the screw or lobe type. Falling rain (and fog) will demand that more care be taken, due to the reduced
visibility, especially when towing is in progress. The use of all normal lights, day
Depending on the size of the aircraft being serviced and the air requirements, the or night, when moving vehicles in rain, is most important.
compressor can be mounted on a trailer chassis or on a self-propelled vehicle.
Where there is a risk of rain and the aircraft is to be parked, then the appropriate
To ensure the air produced is of a suitable quality, it is normally filtered and aircraft blanks and covers must be used. It is also inadvisable to re-fuel aircraft by
cleaned before being fed to the external air supply connection, which is located the ‘open line’ (over wing) method in rain, due to the high risk of water getting into
on the outside of the airframe. the tank whilst the filler cap is removed. Great care must be taken, to protect the
filler neck orifice, so that very little water enters the tank.
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If a task needs to be completed on the upper surface of a wet wing, it would be 16.11.4 High Temperature
advisable to use a ‘safety raiser’ or ‘cherry picker’. This mobile craning device will
allow safe access to the upper surfaces of a high wing and also provide the Certain items of equipment are temperature-sensitive and, when aircraft are
technician with a safety device, to hook onto, should the need arise. operated in environments of extreme high temperature (+55C), then several
extra precautions have to be taken.
16.11.2 Snow and Ice
Some form of cooling must be provided to ensue that the crew does not suffer
Many of the precautions, already mentioned, also apply in conditions of snow and from heat exhaustion, and reduce their efficiency. The operating temperature
ice. Aircraft towing and taxiing may be restricted until all standing precipitation electronic equipment must also be kept below a critical level, to ensure its
has been cleared from the area to be used. continued serviceability.
The loss of visibility during falling snow can be severe, especially at times of low Most of the larger aircraft have an auxiliary power unit (APU), which can provide
light, so great care must be shown if it is considered essential that an aircraft a supply of bleed air to allow the air conditioning system of the aircraft to operate
movement must take place. This may require a larger than normal towing team on the ground.
and the use of extra lights.
If an APU is not available, then external air conditioning units can be connected
Most airfields that operate continuously have a plan to deal with excessive to the aircraft to keep the inside cool. These cooling rigs should have an air
amounts of snow. This plan might include the application of heater units or conditioning unit of suitable capacity for the size of the aircraft that requires
allowing APUs to run for extended periods to keep the inside of the aircraft warm. cooling.
For aircraft, which are to be left out on the ramp, in sub-zero temperatures, it may Some turbo-propeller passenger aircraft have the facility to run an engine, without
be necessary to drain the potable water tanks, to prevent them freezing the propeller turning, to provide air conditioning on the ground.
overnight. This will involve some care, as they should not be drained onto the
ramp, due to the risk of personnel slipping on the ice. This facility is known as the ‘Hotel Mode’ and, effectively, enables an engine to
operate in a similar manner to an APU, without the need to carry extra weight.
Other items of equipment that use water, such as heaters and pipe-work, may
also need protection in cold temperatures.
16.11.3 High Winds
High winds can cause loose objects to move across the ramp and strike the
aircraft. These can be light items such as twigs and branches but, on occasions,
heavy pieces of ground equipment, that have not been secured correctly, have
been pushed into aircraft, causing major damage.
During very high wind conditions, the smallest objects can be lethal, due to the
energy they contain.
In certain environments, such as desert climates (or at airfields near seashores),

sand and dust, driven by the wind, can enter small crevices, causing problems
with aircraft systems and may also block filters. Where extreme conditions exist,
such as during a sand storm, then the blanking of all orifices may have to be
augmented with tape or other methods, to prevent the ingress of dust and sand.
Great care must be taken, to ensure suitable entries are made in the Technical
Log, for the complete removal of all blanking material, after the storm has abated.
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17 PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE TECHNIQUES  Rubber, Fabric, Glass Fibre and Plastic Parts: such as coverings, ducting,
flexible mountings, seals, insulation of electrical cables, windows. These parts
Preventative maintenance is concerned with the early detection of defects (using would, typically, be inspected for:
whatever inspection techniques are specified by the aircraft or component
manufacturers) and the repair or modification of the defective parts.  Cleanliness
 Cracks, cuts, chafing, kinking, twisting, crushing, contraction –
The inspection techniques may call for the disassembly of components (before or sufficient free length
after cleaning) so that more detailed inspections can be done.  Deterioration, crazing, loss of flexibility
 Overheating
Assessment, of the effect of the defect on the continued integrity of the part, will  Fluid soakage
also be required and, following the repair, modification or rejection of the part, re-  Security of attachment, correct connections and locking.
assembly techniques will be used to restore the aircraft to the appropriate level of
serviceability.  Control System Components: cables, chains, pulleys, rods and tubes would
be inspected for:
Troubleshooting techniques are used in the process of identifying the cause of a
fault, eliminating the fault and returning the aircraft to service.
 Correct alignment – no fouling
17.1 Types of Defects  Free movement, distortion, evidence of bowing
 Scores, chafing, fraying, kinking
An operational aircraft can suffer from many defects and these can be defined as  Evidence of wear, flattening
any event or occurrence, which reduces the serviceability of the aircraft below  Cracks, loose rivets, deterioration of protective treatment and corrosion
100%.  Electrical bonding correctly positioned, undamaged and secure
 Attachments, end connections and locking secure.
The manufacturer should specify the inspection areas and the faults, which are
expected to be found. In most instances the inspector is looking for indications of  Electrical Components: actuators, alternators and generators, motors, relays,
abnormality in the item being inspected. Typical examples are: solenoids and contactors. Such items would be inspected for:
 Metal Parts: as applicable to all metal parts, bodies or casings of units in  Cleanliness, obvious damage
systems and in electrical, instrument and radio installations, metal pipes,  Evidence of overheating
ducting, tubes, rods and levers. These would be inspected for:  Corrosion and security of attachments and connections
 Cleanliness, scoring and worn brushes, adequate spring tension after
 Cleanliness and external evidence of damage removal of protective covers
 Leaks and discharge  Overheating and fluid ingress
 Overheating  Cleanliness, burning and pitting of contacts
 Fluid ingress  Evidence of overheating and security of contacts after removal of
 Obstruction of drainage or vent holes or overflow pipe orifices protective covers
 Correct seating of panels and fairings and serviceability of fasteners
 Distortion, dents, scores, and chafing 17.1.1 External Damage
 Pulled or missing fasteners, rivets, bolts or screws
 Evidence of cracks or wear Damage to the outside of the airframe can occur by interference between moving
 Separation of adhesive bonding parts such as flying controls and flaps, although this is quite rare. The most
 Failures of welds or spot welds common reasons for airframe damage is by being struck by ground equipment or
severe hail in flight.
 Deterioration of protective treatment and corrosion
 Security of attachments, fasteners, connections, locking and bonding.
71811175.doc Issued March 2002 Page 1 Page 2 71811175.doc Issued March 2002
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During ground servicing many vehicles need to be manoeuvred close to the Potable water tanks are often permanently pressurised, so that a leak that starts
airframe and some have to be in light contact with it to work properly. Contact somewhere between the tank and the services will continue, even if the aircraft is
with the airframe by any of these vehicles can cause dents or puncturing of the not flying. Once the pressure is removed, the leak can be investigated, cured and
pressure hull, resulting in a time-consuming repair. the tank re-filled.
17.1.2 Inlets and Exhausts The physical signs of water inside the aircraft or dripping from the hull should be
the signs of a leak that requires investigation. The unpredictable passenger
Any inlet or exhaust can be a potential nest site for wildlife. The damage done by consumption of water means that the tank level is no indication of a leak in the
these birds, rodents and insects can be very expensive to rectify. Other items that system.
have been known to block access holes include branches, leaves and polythene
bags. Windscreen de-icers are usually in the form of a pressurised container, which
supplies fluid on demand to the spray nozzles. If the fluid leaks onto the flight
A careful check of all inlets and exhausts, during inspections, must be made, to deck it will give off a distinctive odour in the enclosed space. As the containers
ensure that there is nothing blocking them. A blocked duct can result in the are replaced when low, it is more likely that the pipe work will be the likely cause
overheating of equipment, or major damage to the internal working parts of the of the leak.
engine.
17.1.4 Gaseous Systems
17.1.3 Liquid Systems
These include gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and air. If the gas is to be used
Liquid systems usually have gauges to ascertain the quantity in that particular from a system during flight, a leak will be very hard to confirm unless a physical
system. A physical quantity check is often done in addition to using the gauges, check is carried out using a leak detector such as ‘Snoop’ or ‘Sherlock’.
as the gauges are not always reliable.
A leak from an oxygen system is extremely dangerous, due to the chances of an
These systems usually include oil tanks for the engine, APU and Integrated Drive explosion, if it comes into contact with oil or grease. Once the leak has been
Generators (IDG), and also the hydraulics, fuel and potable water tanks. cured, the system can be re-charged and leak tested.
The cause of a lower-than-expected level should be immediately investigated, Nitrogen, used in hydraulic accumulators, can leak into the liquid part of the
bearing in mind, that some systems consume specific amounts of fluids during hydraulic system. This will make the hydraulic system feel spongy and reduce the
normal operation. The consumption rate must be calculated before instigating response of the operating actuators.
any trouble-shooting. A low hydraulic system should not be replenished without
first investigating the cause of the leak. If the gas leaks into the atmosphere, the system will not function correctly and the
efficiency of the system may be reduced. The main cause of accumulators
External leaks of oil and fuel systems are normally easy to locate. The leaking externally is due to faulty seals or gauges.
rectification of an external leak is usually achieved by simply replacing the
component, seal or pipe work at fault, and completing any tests required by the Accumulators assist the hydraulic system as an emergency backup, which only
AMM. works correctly if it is charged to the correct pressure.
If the leak is internal, then a much more thorough inspection of the component Pneumatic systems contain high-pressure air of a stated pressure, and should
must be made, as the problem is more difficult to find. The symptoms are usually have the same pressure at the end of the flight as at the start. If the pressure is
signalled by a slower movement of the services or by the erratic operation of low at the end of the flight, then the compressor could be suspected.
services, due to the return line being pressurised.
If the pressure falls between flights, it is probably due to a slow leak in the
Some hydraulic oils, especially the phosphate ester based fluids, are very toxic storage system, and this can be investigated using leak-detecting fluids.
and require personnel protection when working on and replenishing their
systems. Some oils used are slightly toxic so care must be taken if there is a
large leak.
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17.1.5 Dimensions The correct pressure for a specific aircraft is given in the relevant AMM for the
aircraft in question. It is possible for a tyre to lose a small amount of pressure
There are a number of places where checking the measurement of a component overnight. A pressure drop of less than 10% of the recommended pressure is not
can establish its serviceability. Landing gear oleo shock struts can be checked for unusual, but the exact figures are given in the AMM.
correct inflation, by measuring their extension. If the dimension is less than
quoted in the manual, then it may be low on pressure and further checks will be If a tyre is completely deflated with the weight of the aircraft on it, or is one of a
required. These checks are usually only done during line maintenance, with pair on a single landing gear leg, which has run without pressure, all the tyres
checking of the pressure being required for trouble shooting or hangar concerned must be replaced due to the possible, unseen damage within the
maintenance. cover. Again the AMM will dictate the conditions.
Combined hydraulic and spring dampers, fitted to some landing gears, often have 17.1.7 Wheels
one or more engraved lines on the sliding portion of the unit. This can indicate
whether the hydraulic pre-charge is correct or requires replenishment. Defects to aircraft wheels are usually due to impact damage from heavy landings
or from items on the runway hitting the wheel rim. Other problems can arise from
17.1.6 Tyres corrosion starting as a result of the impact damage and the shearing of wheel
bolts, which hold the two halves of a split wheel together. Wheels are usually
Tyres have their serviceability indicated by the depth of the groove in the tyre inspected thoroughly during tyre replacement and it is very unusual for serious
tread. The AMM gives information of what constitutes a worn or damaged tyre. defects to be found during normal inspections of a wheel.
Apart from normal wear, other defects, that can affect a tyre, are cuts, blisters, 17.1.8 Brakes
creep and low pressure.
Brake units are normally attached onto the axle of an undercarriage leg, and
Most tyres can be re-treaded a number of times after they have reached their located inside the well of the main wheels. During braking operation they absorb
wear limits, but the retread can only be completed if the complete tyre has not large amounts of energy as heat. This results in the brake rotors and stators
been damaged badly. wearing away and, if they become too hot, the stator material may break up.
Creep is the movement of a cover around the rim, in very small movements, due Inspection of brake units between flights is essential, to check for signs of
to heavy braking action. This movement is dangerous if the tyre is fitted with a excessive heating and to ensure that they have not worn beyond their limits.
tube, as the movement can tear the charging valve out of the tube, causing a
rapid loss of pressure. Wear results in the total thickness of the brake pack being reduced, which means
that by measuring either the thickness of the pack, the amount of wear can be
To provide an indicator, small white marks are painted across the wheel rim and monitored. Once the amount of wear reaches a set figure, the brake pack will be
the tyre side wall cover so, if creep takes place, the marks will split in half and overhauled.
indicate clearly that the tyre cover has moved in relation to the wheel rim.
If the pads are breaking up there will be signs of debris, excessive amounts of
The installation of tubeless covers has reduced the problem of creep, as the powder and, in extreme cases, scoring of the discs. This will require immediate
valve is permanently fitted to the wheel. It is still possible for tyres to creep a replacement of the complete brake unit.
small amount, but the air remains in the tyre as the seal remains secure.
A rejected take-off at maximum weight will produce the maximum possible
Tyre-inflation devices usually consists of high-pressure bottles fitted with a amount of heat and wear. It is usual to replace all brake units and main wheels
pressure-reducing valve or a simple air compressor. The pressure a tyre should after this has happened, but again the AMM will give the required information on
be inflated to depends on various factors such as the weight of the aircraft. what must be changed and when.
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17.1.9 Landing Gear Locks 17.1.11 External Probes
These items are normally fitted to the aircraft’s undercarriage as a safety device There are several different types of probe, projecting into the airflow, to send
to prevent them inadvertently collapsing. They are usually fitted when the aircraft information to the flight deck. These can include the pitot/static probes and the
is to stay on the ground for some time, and removed before the next flight. The angle-of attack (AOA) probes.
most likely defects will be damage to the locking pin ball bearing device or the
loss of the high visibility warning flags. These flags will, hopefully, attract attention To prevent these from freezing they have electrical heating elements built into
to themselves to ensure that they are not left in position when the aircraft next them and, occasionally, they can become overheated. Usually this is when they
goes flying. are left switched ‘on’ on the ground with a faulty weigh-on-wheels (WOW) switch.
17.1.10 Indicators This switch is designed to reduce or remove power to the probes when on the
ground, and to increase or restore it in flight. On smaller aircraft there is no WOW
The most common type of indicator is the ‘blow-out’ disc used in fire extinguishing switch and it is up to the pilot to turn them off after landing. If the elements
and oxygen systems. This shows that a high-pressure gas bottle has discharged overheat they can burn out and the probes will show this by discoloration.
its contents overboard, blowing the disc from its flush housing in the aircraft’s
skin. Probes are designed to project out from the aircraft skin, and this makes them
vulnerable to physical damage. Probes need to be regularly inspected for signs of
The reason for the ruptured disc (refer Fig. 1) could be due to a fire extinguisher physical damage or discoloration.
having been operated or the extinguishant having been discharged due to an
excessive pressure being reached. 17.1.12 Handles and Latches
Handles and latches usually wear through constant use. The handles and latches
of cargo bays and baggage holds, which are operated every time the aircraft
lands, are particularly prone to wear. Technicians have to be aware that all panel
fasteners will wear slowly and these panels must be secured in flight.
Most fasteners have a ‘positive’ form of closing or locking, whilst the more
important installations use an indication system (such as painted lines and flush
Gas Bottle and fitting catches) to ensure correct closure. These must be regularly checked and,
Pressure Relief Valve when found worn, they should be repaired or replaced. Losing a panel in flight is
dangerous enough, but may be more so if it is drawn into one of the engines, and
causes its destruction.
17.1.13 Panels and Doors

Retaining Ring
These items can be of any size and can be faulty for several reasons. They can
be damaged by excessive use and their frames can become damaged where
items have to be passed through them (such as with baggage hold doors).
If the latches are poorly designed or badly adjusted, they may have been
operated with incorrect tools during service and may have been damaged.
Frangible Disc
Gas Bottle Bursting Disc

Fig. 1
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17.1.14 Emergency System Indication 17.2 Locations of Corrosion in Aircraft
Some systems use protective covers, to prevent inadvertent operation of a Certain locations in aircraft are more prone to corrosion than others. The rate of
switch. These covers are usually held closed by some form of frangible device deterioration varies widely with aircraft design, build, operational use and
that will indicate the system has been operated when it is broken. Thin copper environment. External surfaces are open to inspection and are usually protected
wire is, sometimes, used to hold the protective cover closed on fire extinguisher by paint. Magnesium and aluminium alloy surfaces are particularly susceptible to
switches. A broken wire will indicate that the cover has been lifted and the system corrosion along rivet lines, lap joints, fasteners, faying surfaces and where
may have been operated. Any indication like this must be thoroughly investigated. protective coatings have been damaged or neglected.
17.1.15 Lifed Items 17.2.1 Exhaust Areas
There are a number of items on the aircraft that have a specific length of time in Fairings, located in the path of the exhaust gases of gas turbine and piston
service (known as a ‘life’). They would be major airframe and engine components engines, are subject to highly corrosive influences. This is particularly so where
with finite fatigue lives. The company technical department monitors these and exhaust deposits may be trapped in fissures, crevices, seams or hinges. Such
they will be replaced during major servicing. deposits are difficult to remove by ordinary cleaning methods.
The components which can become unserviceable due to life expiry may include, During maintenance, the fairings in critical areas should be removed for cleaning
engine fire bottles, cabin fire extinguishers, first aid kits, portable oxygen bottles and examination. All fairings, in other exhaust areas, should also be thoroughly
and emergency oxygen generators. cleaned and inspected. In some situations, a chemical barrier can be applied to
critical areas, to facilitate easier removal of deposits at a later date, and to reduce
17.1.16 Light Bulbs the corrosive effects of these deposits.
These have to be checked regularly, to ensure they remain serviceable at all 17.2.2 Engine Intakes and Cooling Air Vents
times. Most bulbs with important functions like fire warning lights and
undercarriage indication will be duplicated. This can be achieved either by using The protective finish, on engine frontal areas, is abraded by dust and eroded by
two separate bulbs or by a single, twin-filament type. The bulb covers can also be rain. Heat-exchanger cores and cooling fins may also be vulnerable to corrosion.
damaged, leading to broken glass or plastic on the flight deck, with its
subsequent foreign object damage (FOD) hazard. Special attention should be given, particularly in a corrosive environment, to
obstructions and crevices in the path of cooling air. These must be treated, as
17.1.17 Permitted Defects soon as is practical.
All aircraft have a list of permitted defects that do not have to be immediately 17.2.3 Landing Gear
corrected. These defects can be left outstanding by the operator until a more
convenient time can be found to rectify them. Landing gear bays are exposed to flying debris, such as water and gravel, and
require frequent cleaning and touching-up. Careful inspection should be made of
crevices, ribs and lower-skin surfaces, where debris can lodge. Landing gear
assemblies should be examined, paying particular attention to magnesium alloy
wheels, paint-work, bearings, exposed switches and electrical equipment.
Frequent cleaning, water-dispersing treatment and re-lubrication will be required,

whilst ensuring that bearings are not contaminated, either with the cleaning water
or with the water-dispersing fluids, used when re-lubricating.
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17.2.4 Bilge and Water Entrapment Areas 17.2.8 Spot-Welded Skins and Sandwich Constructions
Although specifications call for drains wherever water is likely to collect, these Corrosive agents may become trapped between the metal layers of spot-welded
drains can become blocked by debris, such as sealant or grease. Inspection of skins and moisture, entering the seams, may set up electrolytic corrosion that
these drains must be frequent. Any areas beneath galleys and toilet/wash-rooms eventually corrodes the spot-welds, or causes the skin to bulge. Generally, spot-
must be very carefully inspected for corrosion, as these are usually the worst welding is not considered good practice on aircraft structures.
places in the whole airframe for severe corrosion. The protection in these areas
must also be carefully inspected and renewed if necessary. Cavities, gaps, punctures or damaged places in honeycomb sandwich panels
should be sealed to exclude water or dirt. Water should not be permitted to
17.2.5 Recesses in Flaps and Hinges accumulate in the structure adjacent to sandwich panels. Inspection of
honeycomb sandwich panels and box structures is difficult and generally requires
Potential corrosion areas are found at flap and speed brake recesses, where that the structure be dismantled.
water and dirt may collect and go unnoticed, because the moveable parts are
normally in the ‘closed’ position. If these items are left ‘open’, when the aircraft is 17.2.9 Electrical Equipment
parked, they may collect salt, from the atmosphere, or debris, which may be
blowing about on the airfield. Thorough inspection of the components and their Sealing, venting and protective paint cannot wholly obviate the corrosion in
associated stowage bays, is required at regular intervals. battery compartments. Spray, from electrolyte, spreads to adjacent cavities and
causes rapid attack on unprotected surfaces. Inspection should also be extended
The hinges, in these areas, are also vulnerable to dissimilar metal corrosion, to all vent systems associated with battery bays.
between the steel pins and the aluminium tangs. Seizure can also occur, at the
hinges of access doors and panels that are seldom used. Circuit-breakers, contacts and switches are extremely sensitive to the effects of
corrosion and need close inspection.
17.2.6 Magnesium Alloy Skins
17.2.10 Control Cables
These, give little trouble, providing the protective surface finishes are undamaged
and well maintained. Following maintenance work, such as riveting and drilling, it Loss of protective coatings, on carbon steel control cables can, over a period of
is impossible to completely protect the skin to the original specification. All time, lead to mechanical problems and system failure. Corrosion-resistant cables,
magnesium alloy skin areas must be thoroughly and regularly inspected, with can also be affected by corrosive, marine environments.
special emphasis on edge locations, fasteners and paint finishes.
Any corrosion found on the outside of a control cable should result in a thorough
17.2.7 Aluminium Alloy Skins inspection of the internal strands and, if any damage is found, the cable should
be rejected.
The most vulnerable skins are those which have been integrally machined,
usually in main-plane structures. Due to the alloys and to the manufacturing Cables should be carefully inspected, in the vicinity of bell-cranks, sheaves and in
processes used, they can be susceptible to intergranular and exfoliation other places where the cables flex as there is more chance of corrosion getting
corrosion. inside the cables when the strands are moving around (or being moved by) these
items.
Small bumps or raised areas under the paint sometimes indicate exfoliation of the
actual metal. Treatment requires removal of all exfoliated metal followed by
blending and restoration of the finish.
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17.3 Corrosion Removal, Assessment and Reprotection Rubber gloves, acid-repellent aprons and goggles, should be worn by personnel
involved with paint removal operations. The following represents a typical paint
Due to the high cost of modern aircraft, operators are expecting them to last stripping procedure:
much longer than perhaps even the manufacturer anticipated. As a result, the
manufacturers have taken more care in the design of the aircraft, to improve the  Brush the area with stripper, to a depth of approximately 0.8 mm – 1.6 mm
corrosion-resistance of aircraft. This improvement includes the use of new (0.03 in – 0.06 in). Ensure that the brush is only used for paint stripping
materials and improved surface treatments and protective finishes. The use of  Allow the stripper to remain on the surface long enough for the paint to
preventative maintenance has also been emphasised more than previously. wrinkle. This may take from 10 minutes to several hours
 Re-apply the stripper to those areas which have not stripped. Non-metallic
Preventative maintenance, relative to corrosion control, should include the: scrapers may be used to assist the stripping action
 Remove the loosened paint and residual stripper by washing and scrubbing
 Adequate and regular cleaning of the aircraft the surface with water and a broom or brush. Water spray may assist, or
 Periodic lubrication (often after the cleaning) of moving parts the use of steam cleaning equipment may be necessary.
 Regular and detailed inspection for corrosion and failure of protective
treatments Note: Strippers can damage composite resins and plastics, so every effort should
 Prompt treatment of corrosion and touch-up of damaged paint be made to 'mask' these vulnerable areas.
 Keeping of drain holes clear
 Draining of fuel cell sumps 17.3.2 Ferrous Metals
 Daily wiping down of most critical areas
 Sealing of aircraft during foul weather and ventilation on sunny days Atmospheric oxidation of iron or steel surfaces causes ferrous oxide (rust) to be
 Use of protective covers and blanks. deposited. Some metal oxides protect the underlying base metal, but rust
promotes additional attack by attracting moisture and must be removed.
General treatments for corrosion removal include:
Rust shows on bolt heads, nuts or any unprotected hardware. Its presence is not
immediately dangerous, but it will indicate a need for maintenance and will
 Cleaning and stripping of the protective coating in the corroded area
suggest possible further corrosive attack on more critical areas. The most
 Removal of as much of the corrosion products as possible
practical means of controlling the corrosion of steel is the complete removal of
 Neutralisation of the remaining residue corrosion products by mechanical means.
 Checking if damage is within limits
 Restoration of protective surface films Abrasive papers, power buffers, steel wool and wire brushes are all acceptable
 Application of temporary or permanent coatings or paint finishes. methods of removing rust on lightly stressed areas. Residual rust usually remains
 in pits and crevices. Some (dilute) phosphoric acid solutions may be used to
17.3.1 Cleaning and Paint Removal neutralise oxidation and to convert active rust to phosphates, but they are not
particularly effective on installed components.
It is essential that the complete suspect area be cleaned of all grease, dirt or
preservatives. This will aid in determining the extent of corrosive spread. The Corrosion on high-stressed steel components may be dangerous and should be
selection of cleaning materials will depend on the type of matter to be removed. removed carefully with mild abrasive papers or fine buffing compounds. Care
should be taken not to overheat parts during corrosion removal. Protective
Solvents such as trichloroethane (trade name ‘Genklene’) may be used for oil, finishes should be re-applied immediately.
grease or soft compounds, while heavy-duty removal of thick or dried compounds
may need solvent/emulsion-type cleaners. 17.3.3 Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys
General-purpose, water-removable stripper is recommended for most paint Corrosion attack, on aluminium surfaces, gives obvious indications, since the
stripping. Adequate ventilation should be provided and synthetic rubber surfaces products are white and voluminous. Even in its early stages, aluminium corrosion
such as tyres, fabrics and acrylics should be protected (remover will also soften is evident as general etching, pitting or roughness.
sealants).
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Aluminium alloys form a smooth surface oxidation, which provides a hard shell, 17.3.5 Magnesium Alloys
that, in turn, may form a barrier to corrosive elements. This must not be confused
with the more serious forms of corrosion. The corrosion products are removed from magnesium alloys by the use of
chromic/sulphuric acid solutions (not the phosphoric acid types), brushed well into
General surface attack penetrates slowly, but is speeded up in the presence of the affected areas. Clean, cold water is employed to flush the solution away and
dissolved salts. Considerable attack can take place before serious loss of the dried area can, again, be protected, by the use of Alocrom 1200 or a similar,
strength occurs. Three forms of attack, which are particularly serious, are: approved, compound.
 Penetrating pit-type corrosion through the walls of tubing 17.3.6 Acid Spillage
 Stress corrosion cracking under sustained stress
 Intergranular attack ,characteristic of certain improperly heat treated alloys. An acid spillage, on aircraft components, can cause severe damage. Acids will
corrode most metals used in the construction of aircraft. They will also destroy
Treatment involves mechanical or chemical removal of as much of the corrosion wood and most other fabrics. Correct Health and Safety procedures must be
products as possible and the inhibition of residual materials by chemical means. followed when working with such spillages.
This, again, should be followed by restoration of permanent surface coatings. Aircraft batteries, of the lead/acid type, give off acidic fumes and battery bays
should be well ventilated, while surfaces in the area should be treated with anti-
17.3.4 Alclad acid paint. Vigilance is required of everyone working in the vicinity of batteries, to
detect (as early as possible) the signs of acid spillage. The correct procedure to
WARNING: USE ONLY APPROVED PAINT STRIPPERS IN THE VICINITY OF be taken, in the event of an acid spillage, is as follows:
REDUX BONDED JOINTS. CERTAIN PAINT STRIPPERS WILL ATTACK AND
DEGRADE RESINS. USE ADEQUATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT  Mop up as much of the spilled acid, using wet rags or paper wipes. Try not
WHEN WORKING WITH CHEMICALS. USE ONLY THE APPROVED FLUIDS to spread the acid
FOR REMOVING CORROSION PRODUCTS. INCORRECT COMPOUNDS  If possible, flood the area with large quantities of clean water, taking care
WILL CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO METALS. that electrical equipment is suitably protected from the water
 If flooding is not practical, neutralise the area with a 10% (by weight)
Obviously great care must be taken, not to remove too much of the protective solution of bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarbonate) with water
aluminium layer by mechanical methods, as the core alloy metal may be  Wash the area using this mixture and rinse with cold water
exposed, therefore, where heavy corrosion is found, on clad aluminium alloys, it  Test the area, using universal indicating paper (or litmus paper), to check if
must be removed by chemical methods wherever possible. acid has been cleaned up
 Dry the area completely and examine the area for signs of damaged paint or
Corrosion-free areas must be masked off and the appropriate remover (usually a plated finish and signs of corrosion, especially where the paint may have
phosphoric acid-based fluid) applied, normally with the use of a stiff (nylon) been damaged.
bristled brush, to the corroded surface, until all corrosion products have been  Remove corrosion, repair the damage and restore the surface protection as
removed. Copious amounts of clean water should, next, be used to flood the area appropriate.
and remove all traces of the acid, then the surface should be dried thoroughly.
17.3.7 Alkali Spillage
Note: A method of checking that the protective aluminium coating remains intact
is by the application of one drop of diluted caustic soda to the cleaned area. If the This is most likely to occur from the alternative Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) or Nickel-
alclad has been removed, the aluminium alloy core will show as a black stain, Iron (Ni-Fe) type of batteries, containing an electrolyte of Potassium Hydroxide
whereas, if the cladding is intact, the caustic soda will cause a white stain. (or Potassium Hydrate).
The acid must be neutralised and the area thoroughly washed and dried before a The compartments of these batteries should also be painted with anti-corrosive
protective coating (usually Alocrom 1200 or similar) is applied to the surface. paint and adequate ventilation is as important as with the lead/acid type of
batteries. Proper Health and Safety procedures are, again, imperative.
Further surface protection may be given by a coat of suitable primer, followed by
the approved top coat of paint.
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Removal of the alkali spillage, and subsequent protective treatment, follows the  The area should be further checked, using radiography, to establish that all
same basic steps as outlined in acid spillage, with the exception that the alkali is globules have been removed and to check extent of corrosion damage
neutralised with a solution of 5% (by weight) of chromic acid crystals in water.  Examine area for corrosion using a magnifier. Any parts found contaminated
should be removed and replaced.
17.3.8 Mercury Spillage
Note 1: Twist drills (which may be used to separate riveted panels, in an attempt
WARNING: MERCURY (AND ITS VAPOUR) IS EXTREMELY TOXIC. to clean contaminated surfaces) must be discarded after use.
INSTANCES OF MERCURY POISONING MUST, BY LAW, BE REPORTED TO Note 2: Further, periodic checks, using radiography, will be necessary on any
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE. ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS airframe that has suffered mercury contamination.
RELATING TO THE SAFE HANDLING OF MERCURY MUST BE STRICTLY
FOLLOWED. 17.4 Permanent Anti-Corrosion Treatments
Mercury contamination is far more serious than any of the battery spillages and These are intended to remain intact throughout the life of the component, as
prompt action is required to ensure the integrity of the aircraft structure. distinct from coatings, which may be renewed as a routine servicing operation.
While contamination from mercury is extremely rare on passenger aircraft, They give better adhesion for paint and most resist corrosive attack better than
sources of mercury spillage result from the breakage of (or leakage from) the metal to which they are applied.
containers, instruments, switches and certain test equipment. The spilled mercury
can, quickly, separate into small globules, which have the capability of flowing 17.4.1 Electro-Plating
(hence its name ‘Quick Silver’) into the tiniest of crevices, to create damage.
There are two categories of electro-plating, which consist of:
Mercury can rapidly attack bare light alloys (it forms an amalgam with metals),
causing intergranular penetration and embrittlement which can start cracks and  Coatings less noble than the basic metal. Here the coating is anodic and so,
accelerate powder propagation, resulting in a potentially catastrophic weakening if base metal is exposed, the coating will corrode in preference to the base
of the aircraft structure. metal. Commonly called sacrificial protection, an example is found in the
cadmium (or zinc) plating of steel.
Signs of mercury attack on aluminium alloys are greyish powder, whiskery  Coatings more noble (e.g. nickel or chromium on steel) than the base metal.
growths, or fuzzy deposits. If mercury corrosion is found, or suspected, then it The nobler metals do not corrode easily in air or water and are resistant to
must be assumed that intergranular penetration has occurred and the structural acid attack. If, however, the basic metal is exposed, it will corrode locally
strength is impaired. The metal in that area should be removed and the area through electrolytic action. The attack may result in pitting corrosion of the
repaired in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. base metal or the corrosion may spread beneath the coating.
Ensure that toxic vapour precautions are observed at all times during the 17.4.2 Sprayed Metal Coatings
following operations:
Most metal coatings can be applied by spraying, but only aluminium and zinc are
 Do not move aircraft after finding spillage. This may prevent spreading. used on aircraft. Aluminium, sprayed on steel, is frequently used for high-
 Remove spillage carefully by one of the following mechanical methods: temperature areas. The process (aluminising), produces a film about 0.1 mm
 Capillary brush method (using nickel-plated carbon fibre brushes). (0.004 in) thick, which prevents oxidation of the underlying metal.
 Heavy-duty vacuum cleaner with collector trap.
 Adhesive tape, pressed (carefully) onto globules may pick them up 17.4.3 Cladding
 Foam collector pads (also pressed, carefully, onto globules).
 Alternative, chemical methods, of mercury recovery entail the use of: The hot rolling of pure aluminium onto aluminium alloy (Alclad) has already been
 Calcium polysulphide paste discussed, as has the problem associated with the cladding becoming damaged,
 Brushes, made from bare strands of fine copper wire exposing the core, and the resulting corrosion of the core alloy.
 Neutralise the spillage area, using ‘Flowers of Sulphur’
 Try to remove evidence of corrosion
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17.4.4 Surface Conversion Coatings 17.5 Non-Destructive Testing/Inspection (NDT/NDI) Techniques
These are produced by chemical action. The treatment changes the immediate Among the many inspection tasks, done by aircraft serving technicians, are those
surface layer into a film of metal oxide, which has better corrosion resistance than involving Scheduled Maintenance Inspections (SMIs).
the metal. Among those widely used on aircraft are:
SMI's are special inspections, detailed by the manufacturer, to be done at a
 Anodising of aluminium alloys, by an electrolytic process, which thickens the specified time period. When doing these inspections the ultimate aim is to ensure
natural, oxide film on the aluminium. The film is hard and inert that the aircraft (or part) being inspected, remains in a safe condition or that it
 Chromating of magnesium alloys, to produce a brown to black surface film complies with the original design specification.
of chromates, which form a protective layer
 Passivation of zinc and cadmium by immersion in a chromate solution. The common factor, in all the inspection/test procedures is that they entail
techniques that do not affect the continued serviceability of the components
Other surface conversion coatings are produced for special purposes, notably the under inspection. They are, in fact, non-destructive testing/inspection techniques.
phosphating of steel. There are numerous proprietary processes, each known by
its trade name (e.g. Bonderising, Parkerising, or Walterising). Non-destructive testing (NDT) or, in America, Non-destructive inspection (NDI)
techniques, involve the use of such methods as:
 Visual and Assisted Visual Inspections

 Remote Viewing Instruments
 Penetrant Flaw Detection (PFD)
 Magnetic Particle Flaw Detection (MPFD)
 Eddy Current Flaw Detection (ECFD)
 Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (UFD)
 Radiographic Flaw Detection (RFD).
It is incumbent on all aircraft servicing technicians, regardless of trade or level of

certification, to be constantly vigilant and to use their eyes to detect the slightest
imperfection in and around the areas of aircraft or component parts on which they
are working.
When approaching an aircraft, a perfunctory glance may reveal the fact that one
wing is lower than the other, which could indicate a difference in the fluid levels of
the respective landing gear struts, different tyre pressures or, perhaps, a deflated
tyre.
Missing or badly secured panels have often been discovered by such alert
observations, as have potentially catastrophic structural failures, and the student
is urged to adopt this vigilant attitude as quickly as possible to ensure the safety
of all aircraft and the people that fly in them.
While all aircraft servicing technicians can, therefore, do visual and assisted
visual inspections, only those who have received appropriate training will be
authorised to do certain PFD techniques. The more sophisticated MPFD, ECFD,
UFD, and RFD techniques will be done by specially trained and approved NDT
(NDI) technicians.
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17.5.1 Visual/Assisted Visual Inspections This permits a range of angles to be obtained, after insertion of the instrument
into the structure. Some instruments come equipped with integral non-dazzle
The appropriate visual or assisted visual inspection techniques will be detailed in illumination.
the relevant servicing manuals but, generally, they will depend on such factors
as: Magnifying glasses are most useful instruments, to assist with the close
inspection of an airframe. They are capable of clarifying details, when normal
 The nature of the item being inspected (i.e. the material from which it is visual inspection only produces a suspicion of a crack or corrosion. Magnifying
made): It may be metallic, plastic, rubber or any other type of material glasses vary in design from the pocket type, with a magnification factor of ‘times
 The purpose of the inspection: It may be to establish whether the item is two’ (x2), to the stereoscopic type with a magnification of up to x32.
suffering from a known fault or to confirm the integrity of a previous repair
 The location of the item to be inspected: It may be installed in an aircraft or The magnification factor relates to the size of an object, seen through the
removed from an aircraft. In most cases the maintenance schedule will specify magnifying lens, compared with the size of the object, viewed with the naked eye,
that an item is always inspected without removal from the aircraft. The term at a distance of 250 mm (10 in).
‘in-situ’ has previously been used to describe this instance
 The inspection surface: Whether it is an internal or an external surface. The For day-to-day inspection of structures, a hand instrument with a x8 magnification
normal convention is that inspections are external unless otherwise stated and integral illumination could be used. Magnification above this value should not
 The time available for the inspection: This is often dictated by circumstances, be used unless specified, because the limited area of observation does not reveal
in that, if a tyre needs to be inspected for wear, it should be able to be the surrounding area. A higher magnification lens can be used, once the lower
checked in a few minutes. A major aircraft inspection, on a large aircraft, is powered lens has identified a problem.
however, normally planned to take many days
Note: Magnifying glasses and similar inspection instruments will provide the best
 The degree or depth of the inspection: Depending on the ‘criticality’ of the
results only when the area under inspection is well illuminated.
component, or its adjacent structure, to the safety of the aircraft.
17.5.2 Remote Viewing Instruments
It should be stressed here that, whenever a visual inspection is being done, there
must be adequate illumination of the inspection site, to ensure that small defects
These instruments have a variety of different names, although they all, basically,
are able to be detected.
operate on similar principles. Whether they are called borescopes or fibrescopes,
(or, collectively, introscopes), they are optical instruments used for the inspection
Some visual inspections may dictate that a specific amount of illumination (in a
of the remote areas of structures, components or engines, which would be,
stated number of lux) be available during the inspection.
otherwise, not directly viewable.
To assist in visual inspections, use is frequently made of such aids as:
Note: A detailed knowledge of the internal structure of the component under
inspection is essential, and proper training in their use should be obtained, before
 Inspection Mirrors
inspections involving remote viewing instruments are attempted.
 Magnifying Glasses.
Borescopes consist of ostensibly rigid tubes of nickel-plated brass or of stainless
Inspection mirrors enable the technician to see the remote surface of components steel. The outer diameters of the tubes may range from approximately 5.5 mm
and into places that normal vision is restricted. Selections of inspection mirrors (0.22 in) to 11 mm (0.43 in) with lengths from 230 mm (9 in) to 1 750 mm (69 in).
are available, mounted on the end of a handle or rod. Such mirrors should be
mounted by means of a universal joint so that they can be positioned at various While they do possess a degree of rigidity, they can be very easily bent if too
angles. much sideways force is applied to them, so great care must be taken in their use.
A development of this device has the ability to change the angle of the mirror by Inside the thin metal tube is a complex series of precision optical lenses and
remote control. A rack and pinion mechanism passes through the stem and is mirrors, surrounded by a bundle of very fine glass fibre filaments, which guide
controlled by a knob on the handle. light to the viewing end of the tube.
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The light is provided by a box, containing an electrical transformer, a high- Eye Focus
intensity, light bulb of quartz-iodine, Xenon or something similar (which is Piece Control
mounted in front of a reflector), and a cooling fan.
Operating Fibre Optic Cable
The light source box is usually connected to a mains outlet and the powerful light Knob to from Light Box
is transmitted to the borescope by means of a connecting flexible cable which Control
also contains a guide bundle of glass fibres. Articulating Igniter Plug Hole
Distal End
In this way ‘cold’ yet brilliant light is provided at the viewing area, to give the
necessary high quality illumination without the hazards associated with heat and By-Pass
any flammable fluids which may be present in the viewing area. Duct
Rigid borescopes are provided with several versions of viewing ends, which allow
either a forward view, a lateral view (normal to the longitudinal axis of the tube), a
forward oblique or a retrograde (reverse) view of the inspection area. Distal
End
With the exception of those with a forward view end, all the other borescopes
may also have the capability of rotating the tube around the longitudinal axis, so
that a full 360º internal view of the area is possible. They also have adjustable Burner
focus of the eyepiece, to minimise eye strain on the viewer and to accommodate Turbine Blades
the various levels of acuity of the inspectors’ eyesight. and Nozzle Guide
Combustion
Vanes
Chamber
Fibrescopes are flexible and, probably because of this, they are extremely prone
to abuse and damage. As the name implies, they rely on fibre optic cables rather Use of a Fibrescope inside a Gas Turbine Engine
than a rigid tube and lenses/mirrors to provide the image of the inspection area. Fig. 2
The image is viewed through a bundle of fibre optic strands, while the object is Borescopes and Fibrescopes may be used for the inspection of gas turbine
illuminated by light transmitted through another surrounding bundle of fibre optic engine:
strands. Diameters and lengths of fibrescopes are similar to those of rigid  Compressors: for damage to Fans, FOD, Interference between Rotors and
borescopes and they are also provided with the various viewing ends and Stators, Surge damage, and Bearing Oil Leakage
focussing arrangements.  Combustion Sections: for signs of Burning, Cracking, Distortion, and Carbon
Build-up
Some fibrescopes have a controllable ‘distal’ viewing end, to allow articulation  Turbine Sections: for signs of Burning, Cracks, Dents, Deposits of Melted
through almost 360º on both an X and Y lateral axis. These (refer to Fig. 2) are Metals and Nicks.
most often used (in addition to borescopes) to inspect the inside of gas turbine
engines, but can also be used for many other inspections such as; loose article Note: When using remote viewing instruments for engine inspections it must be
checks, fuel leaks etc. ensured that:
The images, presented by borescopes and fibrescopes, may be viewed directly  The engine must be allowed to cool down before inserting the ‘scopes
through an eyepiece, as stated, or they may be displayed on a TV screen via a  Windmilling (or inadvertent Starting) of the engine must be prevented by
video camera, which can be attached to the eyepiece. gagging or removing the appropriate fuses/circuit breakers and placing
warning placards on the flight deck
The results of the inspection can also be recorded, by means of a video tape, and
 Contamination of the instruments, by Fuel, Grease and Oil, must be avoided
retained, for future comparisons of possible deterioration of the inspection area.
 Borescopes do not get bent and Fibrescopes do not get kinked nor crushed.
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Remote viewing instruments may also be used to inspect many other areas of an  Fire: all the necessary fire precautions must be observed (CO 2 , Foam and Dry
aircraft. Typical areas would include: Powder extinguishers are the recommended types) and, in the event of a fire,
any ventilation should be switched off first
 Electrical Components  Storage: PFD chemicals should be stored in a dry area, away from heat and
 Electrical Looms direct sunlight
 Enclosed Structural Parts  Spillage: any spillages should be soaked up with absorbent materials
 Fuel System Components  Transport: appropriate precautions, depending on the flash point of the
 Hydraulic System Components. particular chemicals should be observed
 Disposal: materials should be treated as oily waste and, where large
Wherever they are used, there are certain difficulties involved with the quantities are involved, must not be discharged into public sewers or
interpretation of what is seen through the instruments. When using remote waterways.
viewing instruments, it is recommended that the inspecting technician should:
Penetrant flaw detection may be used to detect surface-breaking discontinuities
 Be fully trained in the use (and care) of the instruments being used in any non-porous materials, including ceramics metals, and plastics. It may also
 Be familiar with the layout of the structure or component under inspection be used to detect porosity in those materials that should not be porous, leaks in
 If possible, have a spare or an example of the part near at hand with which to tanks and cracking of internal bores.
compare the images from the inspection area
 Use the experience of other inspectors where doubt exists (or consult The basic principle of penetrant flaw detection is that a liquid (usually oil-based) is
previous video recordings etc.) applied, to the pre-cleaned surface of the material under inspection, and is then
 Refer to the appropriate servicing manual for guidance whenever necessary. allowed to dwell on the surface for a specified time (the ‘dwell’ or ‘contact’ time).
17.5.3 Penetrant Flaw Detection (PFD) During the dwell time, and due to its characteristics, some of the liquid penetrates
into any fine surface discontinuities by capillarity (or capillary action). Capillarity is
Before discussing the application of PFD techniques it is necessary to highlight associated with the surface tension of a liquid, which causes it to rise (or fall) in
the health hazards associated with working with PFD materials and to consider fine capillaries or tubes. It is the action, which causes moisture, in the ground, to
the recommended First Aid treatments and the Safety Precautions, which need to be transmitted to the topmost leaves of a tree. The height (or depth) to which a
be observed, during their use. The hazards include: liquid can travel in a capillary tube is given by the formula:
h = 2T Cos θ
 Contact with the eyes: to prevent the possibility, chemical proof goggles
ρgr
should be worn. If, despite this, eye contamination occurs, then the eyes must
initially be irrigated with copious amounts of water and proper medical
Where T = The surface tension of the liquid
assistance sought
θ = The angle of contact (wetting angle) of the liquid with the capillary
 Contact with the skin: due to the de-fatting action of the chemicals, barrier
ρ = The density of the liquid
cream should be applied to the hands before work commences and, where
g = The acceleration due to gravity
prolonged contact is probable, protective PVC-type gloves should be worn.
r = The radius of the capillary.
Contaminated skin should be thoroughly washed with warm soap and water
and, after drying, a lanolin-based cream applied. If irritation persists then
From the formula it can be seen that a liquid with a low wetting angle and a
medical attention is needed
comparatively high surface tension (but lower than that of water) will constitute a
 Ingestion: food must not be consumed while doing PFD procedures and good penetrant.
hands should be carefully washed before eating. If chemicals are ingested
then medical help must be sought. VOMITING SHOULD NOT BE INDUCED After the allotted dwell time the excess penetrant is carefully removed from the
 Inhalation: face masks should be worn where concentrations of fumes or surface so that the surface is, again, clean. A white, fine powder is next applied to
particles are high and there must always be adequate ventilation. Victims who the surface and this is also allowed to remain on the surface for a given time.
become nauseous, dizzy or drowsy should be moved to fresh air and medical
advice sought. Resuscitation methods should be used where asphyxiation
occurs and breathing has stopped and the Emergency Services summoned.
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During this time any penetrant, which has entered a surface discontinuity, will  Post-emulsification penetrants: which do not have a built-in emulsifier and,
(through capillarity) seep out into the fine particles of the powder, in a similar thus, it is necessary to apply an emulsifier to the penetrant and allow an
fashion to the action of blotting paper, and cause a stain in the powder. ‘emulsification time’ before the excess penetrant will be able to be removed
(again by water) from the inspection surface. These are used on the high-
This stain will develop as more penetrant is drawn out during the allotted grade surface finishes of alloy steels (and aluminium and magnesium alloys)
‘developer’ time and will provide an indication of the site of the surface in the search for fine fatigue cracks
discontinuity. Indications within the first thirty seconds can be compared to the  Solvent-removable penetrants: in which the excess penetrant is removed from
fully developed indications, observed at the end of the developer time, and an the surface by a volatile solvent.
assessment made of the likely size of the discontinuity.
Both the Water-washable and Post-emulsification penetrants are (usually)
A quickly formed stain, with very little subsequent development, could indicate a confined to the Type 1 (Fluorescent) penetrants and are used in the controlled
wide, but shallow discontinuity, while an initially light stain, which gradually environment of a manufacturing or overhaul establishment, for the final
spreads over a greater area could indicate a narrow but comparatively deep acceptance of critical aerospace materials.
fissure. In other words:
The Solvent-removable, Colour Contrast (Type 2) penetrants are those which will
 The Rate of staining indicates the Width/Depth of a discontinuity. be more likely to be used by the aircraft servicing technician, as they are the ones
 The Extent of staining indicates the Volume of the discontinuity. which are used for the manual (‘In the Field’) applications on limited inspection
areas of aircraft parts.
Note: This will only give an approximate assessment and is by no means an
accurate method of deciding the actual size of the discontinuity. The solvent is usually trichloroethane-based, which, while being volatile
(evaporates readily), it has a low toxicity and is non-flammable.
Properly applied PFD procedures are capable of detecting discontinuities with
widths of only 0.000004 mm (0.0001 in) but great care is needed in their The manual PFD process is done by technicians, with the use of the three prime
application and technicians will need to attend an approved training course materials - the Penetrant, the Penetrant Remover (Solvent) and the Developer
before they will be authorised to apply PFD procedures to aircraft parts. -contained in their respective aerosol cans, which comprise the usual ‘In the
Field’ PFD inspection kit. The PFD procedure can be broken down into the:
Penetrants are available in two basic types. They are the:
 Initial surface preparation and thorough pre-cleaning of the inspection area
 Type 1 - Fluorescent penetrant: to which is added a dye, that gives very little  Masking of the areas adjacent to the inspection site
colour when viewed in normal light. However, when viewed in subdued  Application of the penetrant (with the stipulated ‘Dwell’ time)
lighting conditions, and illuminated with the rays from a mercury vapour lamp,  Removal of the excess penetrant from the surface
emitting light in the ultraviolet range of the spectrum (referred to as ‘Black  Application of the developer (and the specified ‘Developer’ time)
Light’), the penetrant fluoresces brilliantly (yellow/green)  Inspection and the recording of any significant indications
 Type 2 - Colour Contrast: (or Visible) penetrant: which has a dark red dye  Cleaning and restoration of the surface protective finish.
added to the penetrant liquid so that, when viewed in normal or (better)
enhanced, white light conditions, the red dye contrasts strongly against the Obviously if a defect is found, the fault will need to be rectified, either by an
white background of the developer powder approved repair scheme or by replacement of the defective component.
The penetrants are further sub-classified by the methods, which are used to
remove the excess penetrant from the inspection surface. They are the:
 Water-washable penetrants: in which the penetrant has an added emulsifier,

that allows the oil-based liquid to be easily removed from the surface by the
use of a water spray or wash. These are used, primarily, on rough surfaces
(castings etc.)
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In the initial surface preparation the area of the inspection must be completely  Evaporation of the solvent (and the solvent carrier of the developer powder)
clean and free from corrosion dirt, grease or oil, paint, surface treatments and will be retarded during low temperatures. This will result in the blurring of
water. The presence of any of these contaminants will prevent the penetrant from indications
entering surface-breaking discontinuities.  At higher temperatures the evaporation rate is much shorter and will require
frequent wetting of the surface with penetrant to avoid it drying.
Paint should be removed using an approved paint stripper, taking care not to
apply the stripper to areas which might be damaged (e.g. Redux bonded joints) The time will usually depend on the temperature, the surface texture and the size
by its action. Similar care is needed with the penetrant solvents and such joints. of the suspected defect. A time of 5 - 30 minutes is, normally, recommended.
Care must be taken not to damage the material surface with scrapers as this The removal of the excess surface penetrant is another facet where incorrect
might appear as a defect. The use of non-metallic scrapers is recommended, to procedures will cause poor results. The object of the exercise is to remove all of
avoid this problem. After paint removal, the surface should be washed with water, the surface penetrant without removing any of the penetrant that is in any defect.
dried and finally degreased, by spraying the area with the solvent remover and
allowing it to evaporate. In the past, operators have been known to spray penetrant removers directly onto
the surface, thus washing the penetrant out of the defect. The recommended
Harsh abrasive methods should not be used in the inspection area, as they will method, with solvent-based, spray removers, is firstly to remove the excess
tend to cause ‘metal flow’, which will cover the lips of any surface cracks and penetrant with a clean, lint-free cloth (or paper wipe).
prevent ingress of the penetrant.
Next a small amount of the remover should be applied to a clean cloth and the
If such methods must be used (to remove stubborn corrosion deposits, burnt on surface wiped with the moistened cloth (changing to a clean part of the cloth with
carbon or oil etc.), then it may be necessary to employ some form of surface each wipe), until the surface is quite clean. Wiping should be done carefully and
etching process (if approved) to remove the ‘smeared’ metal. in one direction only, to avoid over-wiping the area with the risk of wiping the
penetrant out of a defect.
Before applying PFD procedures, the areas adjacent to the inspection site should
be protected, by masking off, to prevent contamination by the chemicals of The application of the developer is also a very critical stage of the PFD process
electrical components and other incompatible materials, and to restrict the rather and demands a degree of skill on the part of the technician if small fatigue defects
messy procedure to the smallest possible area. are to be discovered.
The penetrant should be applied to the clean (and degreased) surface, using the Developers consist of either dry powders, or of the powder carried in a liquid.
aerosol spray, a brush or by dipping or swabbing. The penetrant should be left on
the surface for the recommended contact time and, during this time, must be kept Dry powder developers are applied by the use of puffers, electrostatic spray guns
wet. or by using a ‘dust storm’ cabinet.
If the penetrant dries on the surface (and in any crack) it will be extremely difficult Liquid-carried developer powders may be classed as:
to remove and the whole area will have to be thoroughly cleaned before the
process can be re-attempted.  Water-Soluble developers: where the fine particles are in solution with the
water in the same way as sugar dissolves in tea
Note: If the parts are too hot, then premature drying is an obvious danger. Ideally  Water-Suspended developers: where the fine particles are suspended in
the temperature of the part should be in the range of 5ºC – 40ºC. water in much the same way as sand remains suspended in water and does
not dissolve
Outside this temperature range, the application of the PFD procedure will require  Wet (non-aqueous), solvent-based developers: where the microscopic powder
care, because: particles are suspended in a volatile solvent.
 At low temperatures, metals ‘sweat’, and the resulting moisture will
contaminate the area, as previously stated
 An increase in the viscosity of the penetrant, at low temperatures, will require
an increase in the dwell time
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The dry powder developers and the first two wet types of developers are,
normally, confined to those establishments using the Type 1 penetrants, so
further consideration of them is not necessary in this topic.
The liquid in the ‘In the Field’ PFD developer aerosol is, however, the same as
Narrow Crack
that in the solvent remover aerosol (Wet, non-aqueous). With this in mind, Very Fine Crack
extreme care must be taken when the developer is sprayed onto the inspection
area if the penetrant is not to be washed out of a potential defect.
Prior to applying the developer, the aerosol container should be shaken

vigourously so that the contents are agitated sufficiently to ensure that the
powder is thoroughly mixed with the solvent carrier liquid.
Holding the aerosol between 300 mm - 400 mm (12 in - 16 in) away from the
inspection surface, the developer is sprayed, in three or four very short bursts (of Wide Crack Porosity
approximately 1-second duration), with intervals (of approximately 6-seconds)
between each burst, to allow the solvent carrier to evaporate. Typical Penetrant Indications
Fig. 3
The aerosol should continue to be shaken during the intervals, to maintain the
powder in suspension and the result should provide a ‘dusting’ of the developer
over the inspection area. The objective of the procedure is to produce a thin, If there are no defects, then the area should be thoroughly cleaned. It is
even coverage of the inspection area, - just enough to alter the surface imperative that all traces of the developer are removed because, being
background colour - without giving a layer of such thickness which might hygroscopic, it will attract moisture, which could lead to subsequent corrosion
completely blanket the penetrant. problems in the area.
During the specified ‘developer time’ the area should be monitored for indications It is recommended that, after the initial signs of the developer have been wiped
and, as previously stated, the inspection should be made, using the appropriate away, the area be liberally sprayed with the solvent remover which, on
quality of illumination. When using colour contrast penetrants it is recommended evaporating, will leave the area in a clean and de-greased condition.
that the area of the inspection should be illuminated (using daylight or artificial
light) to a level of at least 500 lux. This may be achieved with a fluorescent tube Restoration of the protective surface finish may involve etch priming, painting
of 80 W at a distance of 1 m (39.3 in) or with a tungsten filament pearl lamp of and, possibly, additional anti-corrosive treatment. If, however, the area is to be
100 W at 0.2 m (8 in). inspected regularly, it may be permitted to apply a coating of protective oil,
grease or inhibiting fluid between inspections.
Critical inspections may, however, demand higher levels of illumination and, as
always, the AMM or SRM will specify the precise requirements. There are many different brand names of penetrants, all of which must meet the
Process Specification DTD 929 (or MIL-I-25135-C), but the approved process will
Indications of discontinuities (refer to Fig. 3) will need to be interpreted and always be specified in the relevant Aircraft Maintenance Manual.
assessed for their effect on the serviceability of the part under inspection.
There are available, ‘Dual Mode’ penetrants, which exhibit both visible and
It is important that the exact position of any significant indication is recorded (with fluorescent capabilities. When viewed under white light they provide a contrast
the aid of a drawing or a photograph if required) because it might not be obvious with the developer and, when viewed under ‘black’ light, they fluoresce. Another
where the discontinuity is when the area is subsequently cleaned for repair or for type is the Thixotropic variety, which is a gel that only becomes fluid while it is
eventual return to service. being brushed on a surface and has the capability of remaining in place on
vertical or on overhead surfaces. Special, non-oil-based, penetrants, and others
which are also low in sulphur, phosphorus and chlorine are used for the
inspection of oxygen system components, plastics and rubbers.
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17.5.4 Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (UFD) The sound beams, used in UFD, are produced (and detected) by means of a
piezoelectric transducer (i.e. a device which converts electrical energy to
This form of Non-destructive Testing is done by specially trained, and approved, mechanical energy and vice versa).
technicians, so only brief details of the background and the procedures are given
in this course. The student is, however, required to have a basic knowledge of the A piezoelectric ‘crystal’ (formerly quartz but, more commonly, man-made
principles of the techniques involved in Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (UFD). ceramics such as barium titanate or lead zirconate titanate) is made to vibrate
when stimulated by electrical energy from the pulse generator of a cathode ray
UFD methods may be used to detect sub-surface defects in the majority of solid tube (CRT) oscilloscope.
materials. Ultrasonics can also be used to:
At the same time a pulse is generated across the time base of the oscilloscope.
 Measure the thickness of materials when it is only possible to get access to The pulse repetition frequency (PRF) is set so that the time base of the
one side of the component oscilloscope appears as a straight line.
 Test for the delamination (de-bonding) of composite structures
 Monitor ‘real time’ cracking in spars and struts via Acoustic Emission When the transducer, mounted in a device known as the probe (refer to Fig. 4), is
methods. applied to a material, the vibrations cause a narrow beam of ultrasonic waves to
be transmitted through the material.
The term, ‘ultrasonic’, describes sound oscillations at frequencies too high to be
detected by the human ear. Normal, healthy adults are, usually, able to detect
sound frequencies in the range between 20 Hz – 20 kHz. For example, the lowest Back
note of a typical, full-size, piano vibrates at approximately 27.5 Hz, while the Initial Wall Pulse
Pulse Echo Generator
highest note is in the region of 3.52 kHz. UFD procedures use sound frequencies
ranging from as much as 500 kHz to 25 MHz (and, sometimes, more).
Time Base Probe
Sound is caused by the sinusoidal oscillations of the particles in a medium and Controller Controller
the speed of sound is fixed in different materials, depending on their elasticity and
density. Table 1 shows the speed of sound through some common materials. X-plate
Table 1 Amplifier
SOUND VELOCITIES IN COMMON MATERIALS
Material m/sec ft/sec Y-plate Probe Couplant between
Back Wall Probe and
Air (at 20ºC) 343 1,125
Inspection Surface
Water (at 20ºC) 1,480 4,854 Component
Perspex 2,680 8,793 under
Sound Beam
Pyrex Glass 5,640 18,500 Inspection
and
Steel 5,900 19,351 Echo
Aluminium 6,350 20,827
Low-frequency sound travels outwards, from its source, and goes in all directions, Simplified UFD System
whereas the higher the frequency, the more the sound becomes unidirectional Fig. 4
until, at the extremely high frequencies employed in UFD, the sound can be
considered to be similar to a very narrow beam of light.
In a similar manner to radar waves in air (and sonar waves in water) the sound
The principle of UFD is that a narrow beam of sound is introduced into a material waves travel through the material until they meet an interface with a medium
and the effects on that beam can indicate the structural state of the material. which has a different ‘acoustic impedance’. The acoustic impedance of a material
is a function of the density of, and the velocity of sound in, the material.
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At the interface of different acoustic impedances the sound will be reflected (as Because the narrow beams of sound obey some of the physical laws applicable
with the radar and sonar ‘echoes’) in proportion to their differences. It is usual for to light, with regard to reflection and refraction, it is necessary to employ
the majority of sound to be reflected from an interface and the interface can be Longitudinal sound waves to locate discontinuities which are approximately
caused by: parallel to the surface which is being ‘scanned’ by the probe (refer to Fig. 5).
 The far face (also called the ‘back wall’), of the component under inspection, Compressional Wave
with the air on the other side Probe Initial Back Wall
Pulse
 A crack or a void within the material (which will contain air or another gas) Echo
 An inclusion of a foreign body within the material (such as occurs in welds). (a)
)
The reflected sound (or echo) returns to the transducer probe, where the energy
is converted into an electrical pulse, which is fed (via an amplifier) to the (a) (b)
(c)
oscilloscope. The amplified pulse causes a peak on the time-base, which is ) )
Echo from Flaw
calibrated so that the position of the peak represents the distance the reflected
sound has travelled in the material under inspection. Reduction of
(b) Back Wall Echo
Because the transducer crystal is vibrating against the casing of the probe, a )
great deal of sound is initially reflected within the probe. This is referred to as the
‘initial pulse’ (Americans refer to it as the ‘main bang’) and it is usually placed at
the extreme left of the time base, to act as the surface reference, and is not Total Reflection
considered as part of the search beam. from Flaw
with loss of
The face of the probe also creates an interface with the surface of the material (c) Back Wall Echo
under test, due to the microscopic particles of air between them.
Because of the vast difference in the acoustic impedance of air compared to

other materials, most of the sound would not enter the material, unless a medium,
with a closer acoustic impedance to the probe and the material under test, is Using Longitudinal Sound Waves
interposed between them to act as a ‘couplant’. Typical couplants used are fluids (Straight Beam Testing)
in the form of glycerine, silicon grease, petroleum jelly or medium-viscosity oils. Fig. 5
With this ‘pulse/echo’ method, the location of a discontinuity in a component can

be quite accurately calculated. Unlike the PFD method, it is not only able to Considering the light law, which states that, “the angle of incidence is equal to the
detect subsurface flaws but also tight surface flaws which may be filled with oil, angle of reflection” it can be seen that the incident sound will be reflected back to
grease, paint, rubber or any other contaminants which would create difficulties for the probe when the maximum dimension of the flaw is in a plane parallel to the
the PFD methods. scan surface.
UFD has a greater versatility in that different modes of sound waves are utilised In instances where flaws are oriented at angles which are either oblique or
to locate discontinuities occurring in various planes relative to the inspection normal to the scan surface, the sound would not be reflected directly back to the
surface. Those modes of sound include: probe and the flaws would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to detect.
 Longitudinal or Compressional waves (also called Straight Beam testing) For the detection of these types of flaws it will be necessary to use Transverse
 Transverse or Shear waves (also called Angle Beam testing) sound waves, to enable the sound beam to be reflected back to the transducer
crystal (refer to Fig. 6).
 Surface or Rayleigh waves.
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Using the Through Transmission methods will ensure that enough sound energy
is received to provide useful search information in materials which tend to absorb
Shear Wave
great amounts of sound.
Probe
In Fig. 7 (a), it can be seen that two Compressional wave probes are being used,
where access to two opposite surfaces is possible, while Fig. 7 (b) shows two
Transverse wave probes being used, where access is only available to one
surface.
The disadvantage of the method, however, is that, while the existence of the flaw
can be detected (by the loss of the signal to the Receiver probe), unlike the pulse
Using Transverse Sound Waves
echo method, the actual location of the flaw cannot be determined, because there
(Angle Beam Testing)
will be no peak on the time base to indicate its position.
Fig. 6
As previously stated, UFD techniques can also be used to measure the thickness
Again considering the laws associated with light, the crystal is angled in such a (or the loss of thickness in the event of corrosion) of metals and most other
manner that the Longitudinal waves are refracted out of the material under materials.
inspection, leaving only Transverse waves for the search.
The de-bonding or delamination of composite structures can be achieved by
Note: By fixing the transducer to a more acute angle, it is also possible to refract either the Through Transmission method (already described) or by means of the
the waves in such a way that they travel along the surface of the material. In this ‘Resonance’ technique.
way Surface or Rayleigh waves may be generated, and used, to detect flaws
which are in, but which are normal to, the scan surface. This technique uses the fact that a material will vibrate at its maximum amplitude
when the sound is at the ‘resonant’ frequency for a given thickness of that
In very acoustic absorptive materials it may be necessary to resort to Through material. Thus a certain thickness of properly bonded structure will vibrate at a
Transmission or ‘Pitch and Catch’ methods (refer to Fig. 7) where two probes are maximum amplitude at a specific frequency when an ultrasonic transducer is
used, with one being a Transmitter (Tx) and another a Receiver (Rx). applied to its surface.
The amplitude and frequency of the sound can be displayed on an oscilloscope

and, when the transducer passes over a de-bonded area, the loss of adhesion
Tx will be detected as a change in thickness of the material. This results in a change
Tx Rx of amplitude and a shift in the frequency range on the oscilloscope, such that the
de-bonded area can be quite easily located.
Acoustic Emission techniques involve the placing of piezoelectric transducers at

critical positions on spars or struts and the monitoring of the sounds being given
out as a crack propagates through the metal.
Rx The information is electronically processed and, through appropriate circuitry, can

be linked to recording devices or ‘real time’ warning lamps to indicate the
(a) (b) progress and severity of the cracking or wear in the particular structure.
Through Transmission or ‘Pitch and Catch’ Methods

Fig. 7
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17.5.5 Eddy Current Flaw Detection (ECFD) The magnetic field, associated with the current flowing in the coil, is concentrated
into a small area by the ferrite core of the probe. When the probe is placed on the
ECFD procedures are, normally, restricted to specially trained and approved surface of the metal, the alternating magnetic field couples with the metal and
personnel but there may be instances where (in aircraft wheel servicing bays for induces alternating electrical currents into the metal.
example) locally trained technicians are approved either to do limited and
uncomplicated procedures or to monitor automated ECFD equipment. For these These induced electrical currents circulate in the metal in a plane normal to the
reasons it is necessary for the student to understand the fundamentals of ECFD probe’s coil and, as they are electrical currents, flowing in a conductor, they will
and the techniques involved in its application. also create magnetic fields in the metal.
Flaw detection procedures, utilising eddy currents, are employed on electrically In accordance with Lenz’s Law, the induced magnetic fields will oppose the field
conductive materials (metals) and are capable of detecting: which produces them, and, in so doing, will modify the coil’s magnetic field, which
hence, affects the electrical impedance of the coil.
 Surface and (to a limited degree) subsurface cracks: which may be closed by
metal flow, oil, paint, rubber or other contaminants Any event that changes the value of the induced eddy currents will, subsequently,
 Variations in the thickness of metal skins: due to internal corrosion of closed cause a change in the impedance of the coil. If the coil is included in a bridge
areas, to which normal access is difficult (or impossible) due to time/expense circuit (refer to Fig. 9), within an inspection instrument, which is provided with a
constraints suitable indicating device, it will provide an indication of the condition of the
 Changes in the electrical conductivity of metals: through incorrect heat- component under inspection.
treatments or fire damage
 Cracking emanating from rivet and bolt holes in aircraft skins and structures.
Eddy currents are alternating electrical currents, which are induced, into a
conductive material, by an alternating magnetic field. They circulate in the
material in a plane normal to the field, which produces them. L1 L2
The basic principle is that a probe (refer to Fig. 8), consisting of a small coil, Set Zero
Control
which is tightly wound around a ferrite core and supplied with alternating current
(ac), is held in contact with (or in close proximity to) the surface of the component P1 P
A
under inspection. 2
Sensitivity
Control
ac Supply Ferrite Core
L3
Alternating Magnetic
Field around Coil
L4
Conductive Material
under Inspection Induced Alternating
Electrical Currents
Simplified ECFD Impedance Bridge Circuit
Fig. 9
Principles of ECFD
Fig. 8
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Using the Wheatstone Bridge principle (where the coil is one of the inductances), The proximity of the probe to the surface affects the induced currents and this
when the ratio of L1 : L2 equals the ratio of L3 : L4, the bridge will be in balance phenomenon can be used to provide a ‘coating thickness’ measurement.
and the voltages at points P1 and P2 will be equal. The indicating meter will show
‘zero’, because no current is flowing through it. With the probe placed on a bare metal test specimen, the inspection meter
indicator is set at zero. Known thicknesses of plastic films are then gradually
If the probe is now placed on a metal surface, the induced eddy currents will interposed between the probe and the metal.
change the value of L4 and cause an imbalance of the bridge. The voltages at P1
and P2 will be different and a current will flow between them. The meter will show As the thicknesses increase, the amount of ‘lift off’ will be indicated on the meter
an indication of the current flow. and these indications can be used to compare with readings, obtained when the
probe is positioned on a painted surface of similar metal, to provide a
The variable inductance L1 is adjusted to regain the balance of the bridge, so that measurement of the coating thickness.
the meter, once more, is set at zero and the probe is moved over the inspection
area. The function of the sensitivity control will be explained a little later. Probe handling is also very important and the probe should be maintained at a
constant angle to the search surface (preferably normal to the surface). To
Any factors, which alter the value of the induced eddy currents in the inspection ensure this, probes are often mounted in purpose-made ‘shoes’, which conform
area, will result in an indication on the meter. to the surface under inspection (particularly in wheel flanges and bead seat
areas) to maintain the correct angle of the probe with the surface.
Factors, which affect eddy currents in a metal (and require careful interpretation),
include: Discontinuities will, of course, cause a change in the induced eddy currents but
the type (and severity) of flaws cannot be deduced unless the equipment is
 Conductivity properly calibrated before (and during) the inspection procedure. In order to
 Permeability calibrate the equipment, standard reference pieces, manufactured from a material
 Frequency similar to that being tested, are necessary.
 Proximity
 Probe Handling Aluminium alloy skins, used for engine cowlings, will be affected by exposure
to elevated temperatures (up to approximately 500ºC) and the resulting ‘heat-
 Discontinuities.
treatment’ will cause the material to be below strength, with obvious
implications.
A change in the conductivity and the magnetic permeability of the metal will
obviously influence the induced current flow and subsequent magnetic fields.
Above this temperature, signs of heat damage, such as melted or charred
metal, will become apparent but, below the temperature, the damage is not
The frequency, at which the ‘driving’ current of the probe coil alternates, will
easily seen.
govern the quality of the induced current and influences the depth of penetration
of the eddy currents into the material.
Conductivity changes in the skins, caused by the heat, can however be
detected, using ECFD procedures, and below-strength areas identified for
The higher the frequency of the coil current, then the closer to the surface of the
subsequent repair or replacement.
material the eddy currents remain. This is referred to as the ‘skin effect’.
A ‘Conductivity Meter’ and a surface probe are used for this particular
High frequencies of ac are used to ‘drive’ the coils when searching for fine fatigue
procedure with the meter being calibrated on materials with known levels of
cracks in the surface of metals, while low frequencies are employed for the coils
conductivity.
of the probes used to detect sub-surface defects.
Incidentally, an increase in conductivity, or permeability, will also result in a The meter, in this procedure, registers relative conductivity as a percentage of
the International Annealed Copper Standard (% IACS) where commercially
decrease in the depth of penetration, of the eddy currents, in the material under
‘pure’ copper is set at 100% and the conductivity of other alloys, containing
inspection.
copper, is compared to it.
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Silver, which is a better electrical conductor than copper, is considered to Corrosion of the internal surfaces of aircraft skins can be detected, without
have a relative conductivity of approximately 106 % IACS. resort to time-consuming (and expensive) internal trim removal, and stripping,
by the use of low frequency ECFD procedures.
When searching for corrosion on the remote surface of a single layer skin, a
typical calibration standard might be a simple ‘step wedge’ (refer to Fig. 10).
Step Wedge
Calibration Standard
Step Wedge used for Corrosion Detection

Fig. 10
The probe frequency would be set so that the eddy currents penetrate the full
depth of the thick layer (which represents the correct thickness of the skin)
and the instrument is ‘zeroed’ with the probe on the thick layer. The probe is
next moved onto the thin part of the wedge and the sensitivity control adjusted
to give the required indication.
Following calibration, the probe is moved onto the inspection area and a series of
parallel scans made. Any significant indications are noted and recorded for
appropriate action.
For inspections, searching for corrosion in the remote surfaces of multiple layers
of skins (such as is found in the lap and butt joints of fuselages), it is then
necessary to use a calibration standard with the appropriate number of skins.
The frequency of the probe would be adjusted (lowered) to provide the required
depth of penetration in each plate being inspected.
Low frequency probes may also be used to detect cracks emanating from the
rivet holes of multi-layered skins.
Specially constructed ‘doughnut’ (or ring) probes, which have a clear, plastic
centre, to facilitate accurate placement of the probe over the rivet heads, are
used in these procedures.
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Low frequency probes operate in the 100 Hz to upper kHz range, while high Inspections, of critical bolt holes, are achieved by the use of a (high frequency)
frequency probes are driven at frequencies of 5MHz (or more) and have a much hand-held, bolt hole probe. Where large numbers of bolt holes are involved, use
greater sensitivity, due to the highly concentrated eddy current field at such is made of a specially designed probe which is attached and rotated by a low
frequencies. torque machine resembling an electric rotary drill.
High frequency probes are used in the search for fine fatigue cracks in the The machine is connected to a CRT oscilloscope, which analyses the phase
surfaces of metals typically used in aircraft structures and components. They are difference of the changing eddy currents and displays them as lissajous curves
particularly useful for the inspection of such critical items as: (also called ‘flying dots’) on the CRT screen.
 Propeller Blades (both the ferrous and the non-ferrous metal types) Phase analysis machines provide much more information regarding the cause of
 Compressor and Turbine blades (and guide vanes) of gas turbine engines. the change in the induced eddy currents and are able to discriminate between the
 Wheels and Landing Gear struts various factors (i.e. changes in conductivity, permeability, geometry etc.),
 Window and Door surrounds whereas the simple impedance change machines cannot.
 Front and rear Pressure Diaphragms of pressurised aircraft fuselages
Phase analysis machines can accurately differentiate between the signals
The inspections of these items are achieved with small, portable, battery- received from corrosion, cracks and scores (and even a crack in the bottom of a
operated machines or with automated installations housed in servicing bays or score!) such that the trend has moved towards the use of computer-controlled
workshops. phase analysis machines for all but the most simplest of EFD procedures.
A calibration standard for the detection of fatigue cracks would necessitate either 17.5.6 Magnetic Particle Flaw Detection (MPFD)
a previously failed component with a known defect or (typically) a sample of the
relevant metal, containing spark eroded, simulated defects (refer to Fig. 11) MPFD techniques (in the aerospace industry) are restricted to qualified NDT
against which to calibrate the machine. personnel, usually working in purpose-designed workshops. It is a requirement,
however, that the student is aware of the fundamental principles and the
The probe is placed on unflawed material and the meter ‘zeroed’ before moving applications associated with this method of inspection.
the probe over the appropriate slit and adjusting the sensitivity control to provide
the specified level of sensitivity for the inspection procedure. As the title implies, MPFD procedures are employed on components and
structures which are capable of being magnetised. The procedures are used to
locate both surface and sub-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic metals.
The principle involves the setting up of a magnetic field in a component such that,
Slit Depths if a discontinuity disrupts the lines of magnetic force (flux lines), the resultant flux
Three Spark Eroded Slits
(0.2 mm Wide) leakage (refer to Fig. 12) will create local North and South magnetic poles on the
0.2 mm
surface of the component.
Flux Leakage
(Highly Magnified for Clarity)
0.5 mm Flux Lines
S N
1.0 mm
Metal of Similar Specification to

N S
Area under Inspection
Typical High Frequency EFD Calibration Standard

Fig. 11 Magnetic Flux Leakage
Fig. 12
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The flux leakage may be caused by internal flaws, such as inclusions, or by Establishing a magnetic field, in a component, using Magnetic Flow (MF)
extremely tight fatigue cracks on the surface of the component. Both types of procedures (refer to Fig. 13) involves the use of:
defects would be impossible to see with the naked eye but, when a powder,
consisting of finely divided ferromagnetic particles, is applied to the surface of the  Permanent Magnets: using conventional, portable, U-shaped or ‘horse-shoe’
component, the tiny particles will be attracted to the site of the flux leakage and magnets of varying sizes, depending on the strength of magnetic field
will provide a visible indication of the discontinuity. required.
 Electro-magnets: or ‘Yokes’ (once again portable and hand-operated devices),
To aid detection, the powder may be coloured red, grey, yellow or black (or any with articulating legs, which can be adjusted to accommodate components of
colour which provides the best contrast against the inspection surface’s finish). different shapes and sizes.
 Purpose-built installations: used in workshops and consisting of
Black is the most common colour and, while powders may be applied dry, by electromagnetic machines, with adjustable ‘heads’, between which
puffers or by sprinkling, the particles are normally suspended in a light oil (usually components are clamped so that the magnetic flux flows from one head to the
kerosene), to assist their movement to the flux leakage and (as opposed to using other and through the component under inspection.
water as the carrier) to minimise the onset of corrosion.
ON/OFF Switch
The resulting blackened fluid has earned the name of ‘magnetic ink’, but this term
is used to describe all of the liquid-carried powders, regardless of their colour. ac/dc Supply
Magnetic inks are also available whereby the particles are treated with powerful
fluoro-agents so that, in a similar manner to the fluorescent PFD procedures, they
can be viewed under black light, to provide superior sensitivity to flux leakages
when inspecting Class 1 aerospace materials. Articulating Legs
Note; Flux leakages can also be caused by abrupt changes of geometry, such as Flux Lines
corners, small radii and screw threads. It, thus, demands that great care is Flux Lines
needed in interpreting the indications obtained with MPFD procedures and Discontinuities
requires that personnel applying the procedures receive appropriate training. Discontinuities
There are various methods of establishing a magnetic field in components but (a) (b)
they, basically, fall into the two categories of: Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Yoke
 Magnetic Flow procedures Flux Lines Discontinuities Component under Inspection

 Current Flow procedures.
The choice of method depends on the geometry of the part under inspection and
the expected orientation of any flaw. Fixed Head Adjustable Head
Maximum sensitivity for flaw detection is obtained when the flaw is normal (90º)
to the direction of the lines of flux. Sensitivity is not, however, too greatly reduced
when flaws lie at angles up to 45º from the optimum angle but, beyond 45º,
sensitivity reduces appreciably.
For these reasons, complete inspection of a surface will require that the magnetic (c)
Simplified MF Installation
field be established in at least two directions, mutually at right angles (in separate
applications), to ensure full coverage of the area under inspection. Magnetic Flow Methods
Fig. 13
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Electrical current, used for the electromagnetic methods (portable types or the Both the CF and the MF installations are, in fact, contained in one machine, with
fixed installations), can be either ac, or half- or full-wave rectified ac. It may also the capability (through circuit switching) of selecting either current flow before
be provided from a bank of dc batteries. The type of current used will depend on applying magnetic flow or vice versa, depending on the technique requirements.
the types of defects, which are being sought, and the metal involved.
When current flow is applied to the component, a magnetic field is set up in (and
Sub-surface defects will be detected using dc, or rectified ac, to provide magnetic around) that component, in a direction normal (90º) to the direction of the current.
fields which penetrate to different levels below the surface of the metal (straight
dc penetrates the deepest). This ‘transverse’ (or circular) magnetic field will also be at right angles to the field
created by the subsequent (or previous) magnetic flow procedure.
Unrectified ac, in a similar manner to high-frequency ECFD methods, will create a
‘skin effect’ and is used to locate fine fatigue cracks on the surface of high-grade Once again, maximum sensitivity for flaw detection will be at 90º to the magnetic
steel alloy parts. field (or in the direction of the applied current!) with a lessening of sensitivity up to
45º from the optimum direction.
Establishing a magnetic field, in a component, using Current Flow (CF) methods
involves the previously-described electrical sources and the use of: Using such installations, with both CF and MF capabilities, allows full coverage of
the inspection area and, thus, maximises the possibility of locating potential
 Direct methods: whereby the electrical current is passed directly through the defects in critical components.
component under inspection
 Indirect or induced methods: which involve the use of rigid rods or bars of The parts must always be de-magnetised before, between and after all MPFD
metal or lengths of flexible, heavy duty (welding grade) cable, through which inspections. This ensures that there are no interfering or spurious fields within the
the various types of previously-mentioned currents may be passed. parts before and between each application.
With direct methods of CF inspections it is essential that good electrical contact Demagnetisation also allows easier cleaning after the inspection, when the ‘low-
be achieved between the current-carrying electrodes and the surfaces of the retentivity’ magnetic particles will be able to be cleaned from the demagnetised
component under inspection, in order to avoid damage from arcing or burning. parts.
While direct methods may be used in situ on aircraft structures they are more Additionally, demagnetisation must be performed after the inspection, to ensure
commonly used in workshops, by qualified personnel, using purpose-built that the parts will not affect magnetic compasses or attract metal swarf (from oil
installations, with adjustable ‘heads’ (similar to the MF installations). The parts or fuel systems etc.) which could cause damage when the parts are reinstalled in
are clamped between the heads and, in this instance, the specified electrical their respective locations.
current is allowed to flow through the component (refer to Fig. 14).
One of the indirect or induced methods of CF inspections takes advantage of the
Flux Lines Discontinuities fact that an insulated metal rod may be threaded through annular or cylindrical
components (refer to Fig.15).
When current is passed through the central conductor (also called a threading
bar), the associated magnetic field couples with, and enters, the component. The
induced (circular) magnetic field will allow defects to be detected in the inner and
outer walls of the component in addition to indicating any flaws in the end
surfaces.
Maximum sensitivity will, again, be in the direction of the current flow in the
A central conductor and normal to the circular magnetic field which is induced into
the component.
Simplified CF Installation
Fig. 14
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engineering Direction of Induced Flux

(mechanical)
Discontinuities engineering (mechanical)
Insulation around Threading Bar Larger, rigid or ‘aperture’ coils are used in workshop situations, where the
component under inspection is laid in the coil and the resulting longitudinal
magnetisation will assist in revealing flaws in the component.
The aperture coils are also the most commonly used methods of achieving the
demagnetisation of components, before, between and after MPFD inspections.
Direction of Current Flow When ac is being used, the component is placed in the coil and, while the current
through Threading Bar
is applied, the component is slowly withdrawn (maintaining alignment with the
coil’s axis) to a distance of approximately 1.5 m (5 ft) from the coil.
Demagnetisation may also be achieved, in an ac coil (and, incidentally, by all the

other methods using ac to generate the magnetic field), by gradually reducing the
Central Conductor (Threading Bar) value of the current while the component is lying in the coil.
Fig. 15
Where dc supplies are used to energise coils, there is usually a capability of
Another of the indirect or induced methods of CF inspections entails the use of reducing the amperage in specified increments whilst the direction of the current
heavy-duty, insulated cable, formed into coils (e.g. 4 – 6 turns for ac), which may is alternately switched. This form of demagnetisation is the most thorough as the
be wrapped around the component under test (refer to Fig. 16). dc-induced field penetrates deepest in components under inspection.
When current is applied to the coil, its associated magnetic field will couple with Following demagnetisation a confirmatory test is made, using a special flux meter
the component and, in this instance, a longitudinal magnetic field will be induced (or a suitable magnetic compass) before the component is thoroughly cleaned of
into the component. Maximum sensitivity for flaws will, of course, be normal to the all traces of magnetic ink.
longitudinal magnetic field and in the direction of the current flow in the coil.
Components should then be stored away from all magnetic sources and any
surface protection restored while awaiting reinstallation, repair or replacement.
17.5.7 Radiographic Flaw Detection (RFD)
Flux Lines Because the misuse of radiographic equipment could result in the release of
physically harmful (ionising) radiation, operators must be trained and aware of the
many safety regulations and codes of practice associated with these procedures.
Aircraft RFD inspections are, therefore, only done by qualified NDT personnel
from organisations approved under BCAR A8, and who are nationally registered
Discontinuities
as radiation workers. These workers are subject to frequent medical checks and
Current Flow through Coil wear sensitive film badges to detect any radiation dosage to which they may
Close-Fitting or Wrapping Coil become exposed. Should the dosage exceed stringent limits, then the worker is
Fig. 16 withdrawn from tasks involving ionising radiation.
Coils may also be used in a similar manner to threading bars, where a one- or Interpretation of radiographic images is also very important, as incorrect
two-turn coil may be threaded through the lug of a landing gear strut, for conclusions could result in the acceptance of unserviceable structures or,
example, to search for stress cracks emanating from the centre of the lug. conversely, in the scrapping of safe structures.
Students are, however, required to have knowledge of the fundamental principles

of RFD and its applications in aerospace inspections.
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Potential Difference (kV)
Due to the hazards of radiation, it will be necessary to isolate the aircraft and to
keep personnel at a safe distance from the inspection area. The area should be
Free Electrons
roped off, with radiation warning signs (a black trefoil against a yellow
background), clearly shown. Flashing lights and horns (or klaxons) are also Cathode -ve Anode +ve
employed to signify that ionising radiation sources are in use in the area and that
unauthorised personnel should keep away. Tube Current (mA)
The main sources of ionising radiation, used in aerospace RFD procedures,

involve the use of either X- or Gamma-ray emitters. Both rays have the ability to
penetrate materials, which cannot be penetrated by visible light and are identical Evacuated Glass Tungsten Target
forms of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum (refer to Fig. 17). Envelope set in Copper Anode
X-Ray Beam
Their difference lies only in the way in which they are generated and the names
given them by the scientists who discovered them. Simplified X-Ray Tube
Fig. 18
Radar Infra-red UV Rays On striking the target, the electrons collide with the atomic particles of the
Radio Rays tungsten and the resulting energy exchange is released as heat, light and a
White
TV Light
small percentage of ‘packages’ (photons) of energy. A large copper anode, in
which the target is mounted, dissipates the heat, generated by the electron
stream. The anode and the glass envelope are, in turn, cooled by circulating
gas, oil or water being pumped around them.
X & Gamma Cosmic
Rays Rays The amount of light is confined to a dull red glow at the target and is
insignificant.
100
1m 0.01 m 1m 10 nm 0.1 nm 10 -3 nm 10 -5 nm 10 -7 nm The photons, however, behave in a similar manner to rays of light in that they
 m
travel in straight lines. They also obey the ‘inverse square law’ in that, as they
10 m 0.1m 0.001 m 10  m 100 nm 1nm 0.01 nm 10 -4 nm 10 -6 nm travel from the source, their area of incidence increases but their intensity
decreases in a ratio to the square of the distant from the source.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Fig. 17 One important safety aspect is that X-rays are generated electrically and,
hence, can be switched off, either automatically, by a timer switch, or
manually, by the NDT person at the control panel.
X-rays are electrically produced in a cathode ray tube, (refer to Fig. 18) which
accelerates electrons, released at the cathode, towards a dense metal Gamma radiation is the name given to the photons of energy which result from
(tungsten) target which is embedded in the anode. the atomic collisions occurring during the disintegration of radioactive
isotopes.
The amount of electrons, freed at the cathode, is controlled by adjustment of
the tube current, which is measured in milliamps (mA). The force of the An isotope is an element, the nucleus of which gains or loses particles such
collisions and, hence, the penetrating power of the X-rays, is controlled by the that the atomic weight changes though the chemical properties remain
potential difference between the cathode and the anode. The tube voltage is unchanged.
measured in kilovolts (kV).
Typical aerospace RFD procedures use machines generating X-rays in the

range of 10kV to 250kV, depending on the penetrative power required.
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The naturally occurring isotopes of many elements are quite stable in their Gamma radiation sources, used in RFD procedures, include artificially created
changed state, while others become unstable and, in attempting to regain a isotopes such as Cobalt 60, Iridium 192 and Ytterbium 169 (the number
stable state, emit photons of energy (become radio-active) due to the nucleic following the element name is the atomic weight or relative atomic mass of the
particle collisions. Gamma radiation cannot be switched off (it can only be isotope).
shielded) and continues until the element reaches a stable condition.
As previously stated, Gamma rays can exist over similar wavelengths as X-
rays with similar properties but, generally, the Gamma rays, emitted by the
commonly used radio-isotopes, have a greater penetrative power.
Their power does, however, decrease with the passage of time as the isotope
attempts to gain a stable state. The decrease in power over time is referred to
as the ‘half value period’ (also called ‘half life’) and is a measure of the time
when the activity of the isotope will decay to half that of its original or former
value.
Table 2 shows some typical radio-isotopes, their penetrative power (compared

to X-rays), the metal thicknesses through which they can penetrate and their
half value periods.
Table 2
GAMMA-RAY SOURCES COMPARED TO X-RAY GENERATORS
Radio- Penetrative Power Thickness of Metal Half Value
Isotope (compared to X-rays) (capable of penetrating) Period
Ytterbium 169 0.15 – 0.40 MeV 2 mm – 30 mm Steel 32 days
Iridium 192 0.31 – 1.20 MeV 6 mm – 100 mm Steel 74 days
Thulium 170 0.083 – 0.96 MeV 2 mm – 12 mm Aluminium 134 days
Cobalt 60 1.17 – 1.33 MeV 50 mm – 200 mm Steel 5.3 years
Caesium 137 0.66 – 0.67 MeV 25 mm – 100 mm Steel 26.2 years
The advantage of using a radio-isotope as opposed to an X-ray machine lies not

only in the fact that the penetrating power is superior but also the equipment is
less bulky than the X-ray machines and there is no requirement for a mains
electrical supply. The radioactive source is usually so small that it can be placed
inside objects such as engine shafts, using small diameter, flexible guide tubes.
The disadvantages in their use is the need for greater protection measures,
involving larger isolation areas, and the possibility of longer exposures as the
isotopes decay in strength with the passage of time. Another drawback, and
particularly so with the more powerful Cobalt 60 source, is that the resulting
radiographs tend to be less sensitive than those created with low-power X-rays.
The radiograph is produced when the appropriate radiation source is directed at

the components under inspection and a light-proof envelope (or cassette),
containing a sheet of radiographic film, is placed on the remote side of the
component (refer to Fig. 19). Depending on the size of the inspection area there
may be several sheets of film envelopes, placed simultaneously, to provide
adequate coverage at one exposure.
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Radiographic inspections are often done during the manufacturing stages, to

Radiation Source check for such faults as:
(X- or Gamma Rays)
 Metallurgical defects in castings and welds: these produce patterns
recognisable by an experienced viewer. Porosity will reduce the amount of
material through which the rays must pass and a darker image will result
 Cracks in welds: these are difficult to detect, as the angle at which the
radiograph is taken is important. The source should be absolutely normal to
Metallic
Step Wedge
the direction of the suspected crack.
Typical RFD procedures, done during routine aircraft maintenance, include the
Plastic Film Base search for:
(Emulsion on Both Sides
 Corrosion: this will show up as a fuzzy image, but the presence of paint and
jointing compound will make it difficult to detect. Inter-granular corrosion may
not be detected until it has reached an advanced state and affects the metal
Production of a Radiograph surface. A corrosion pit, where there is a change in thickness, is more readily
Fig. 19 detected
 Cracks: stress cracks often run along a line of rivets, but the edge of jointing
compounds, used during the wet assembly of riveted joints, often gives a false
The films, used in radiography, are very similar to those used in photography indication. Radiographs may show indications of cracks, which, eventually,
except that the emulsion is applied to both sides of the transparent, plastic base. are found to be cracks in tank sealant. It is sometimes possible to open up
cracks, before inspection, by applying a tension load by jacking
The emulsion contains microscopic grains of silver halides, which are sensitive to  Loose articles, riveting faults and poor assembly techniques
the photons of energy (and light). When exposed to the rays, a change takes
 Levels of fluids in accumulators and the presence of water in composite
place in the silver particles such that, when the film is developed and ‘fixed’, they
materials.
turn into different degrees of dark metallic compounds, depending on the amount
of radiation they have received.
17.5.8 Miscellaneous Radiation Techniques
The silver which has not received radiation is unaffected and is washed away in
Other techniques, which involve the use of radiation of one type or another,
the developing and fixing processes. A negative-type image of the component is
include:
thus formed, the darkness (density) of which depends on the quantity of radiation
passing through the specimen. The thicker the specimen, the more radiation it will
 Fluoroscopy: using either of the previously mentioned sources the standard
absorb and, consequently, it will provide a lighter (less dense) image.
sheet film is replaced by a fluorescent screen. This enables moving images to
be captured. For safety reasons a video camera is focused on the screen and
The accurate interpretation of defects, indicated on a radiograph, requires a great
the image viewed at a safe distance. An example of 'fluoroscopy' is where
deal of skill and a good knowledge of the aircraft structure.
oscillation in a turbine shaft of gas turbine engine being 'run' can be observed.
A more common example of its use is provided by the low-energy X-raying of
Without the knowledge it would be easy for the NDT technician to overlook faults
luggage, at airport departure security 'check-ins'
such as distorted or missing parts. Even the presence of leaded fuel in the tank of
a piston-engined aircraft can mask defects. The interpretation may be simplified if
radiographs of serviceable structure are available for comparison.  Thermography: using heat radiation, a heat-sensitive camera is used to
inspect areas of aircraft in particular composites. In the passive mode the
aircraft is inspected shortly after landing and temperature 'cold' spots will
indicate de-lamination or osmosis. The active mode consists of microwave
radiations being targeted at suspect components with the area being
inspected by the camera in the same way as the passive mode.
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17.6 Disassembly and Re-assembly Techniques The instructions for the dismantling operation will be found either in the aircraft’s
Maintenance Manual or in a special dismantling procedure, issued by the
Disassembly and re-assembly, in the terms of aircraft, can cover a range of manufacturer. During the dismantling operation, precautions must be taken to
activities from complete airframes down to component maintenance, with several prevent injury and damage.
steps in between. The reasons for dismantling and re-assembly may include:
General precautions would include such items as:
 Complete airframe disassembly for road/air shipment
 Replacement of major components/modules  The aircraft should, if at all possible, be dismantled within a hangar. If this is
 Replacement of minor components/modules not possible, then level and firm ground will suffice
 Disassembly & re-assembly of major components  Sufficient clearance in the hangar must be available, both to clear the airframe
 Disassembly & re-assembly of minor components when on jacks, and to allow heavy lifting cranes enough room to manoeuvre
over the aircraft
17.6.1 Complete Airframes  All precautions, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, must be
taken prior to the aircraft entering the hangar; such as de-fuelling and the
It may be necessary to dismantle a complete aircraft for the purpose of removal of devices such as emergency oxygen canisters
transportation by road or by air. This could be for recovery from an accident site,  When the aircraft is jacked-up, all trestles must also be placed in position. This
remote from the airfield or for movement of the aircraft when it is totally non- allows the aircraft to be climbed upon and, later, ensures that it will not
airworthy, due perhaps to severe corrosion or an unknown maintenance history. overbalance when a major part (such as a wing), is removed.
Because many larger, modern aircraft are manufactured at several different Whilst the manufacturer’s instructions will give the details for a specific aircraft,
locations, the completed modules are assembled in the final build hall of the the following sequence of dismantling gives an idea of the correct order of
primary manufacturer. The joining points are often known as ‘transportation disassembly:
joints’, and, in extreme instances, can be the points where the aircraft may be
dismantled again to allow transportation (refer to Fig. 20).  Main planes
 Tail unit
 Undercarriage units
 Centre section
 Fuselage.
Re-assembly is in the reverse order of disassembly, and all parts must be

cleaned, protected and serviceable, prior to their installation.
17.6.2 Replacement of Major Components/Modules
This type of operation will normally be completed at a large maintenance base,

where all the required equipment is available. An example could be the
replacement of a wing that has suffered major damage.
Other types of similar work might be the replacement of damaged wing tips,
empennage surfaces and nose cones. If the aircraft is at an ‘outstation’ when the
damage occurs, confirmation should be sought as to whether the aircraft can be
flown back to base for repair, or repaired where it is.
Typical Manufacturer’s Joining Points

Fig. 20
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17.6.3 Replacement of Minor Components/Modules Instruments, electric and electronic components can be dismantled and serviced
by the aircraft operator. It normally requires the use of a dedicated overhaul
Some components have to be repaired by replacement. Repairs to flying control facility, which can provide the correct environmental conditions and is equipped
surfaces, for example, are often done in a repair bay. The component may be with the special test equipment required to carry out maintenance and repair.
replaced on the aircraft by a serviceable item, or reinstalled once the repair in the
bay has been completed. Operators of smaller aircraft, or those who operate only a few aircraft, will usually
send components requiring repair or maintenance to a ‘third party’ maintenance
Other components, which are replaced first and repaired later, might include organisation. This company will have the special facilities, equipment and
some structural items such as doors of all types, and most fairings and cowlings. personnel, to complete the required work on components from a number of
Most of these tasks are simple removal and replacement operations that are different customers.
covered in the AMM.
17.6.6 Basic Disassembly and Re-assembly Techniques
17.6.4 Disassembly and Re-assembly of Major Components
All of the previously mentioned procedures require the use of the correct
Most of the work done, during this phase of maintenance, is scheduled in with techniques over a wide range of working practices. These techniques will ensure
normal aircraft maintenance. The components may not only be removed and that the components are removed, dismantled, re-assembled and re-installed in
reinstalled at different times during the maintenance, but work will also be done accordance with both the relevant manuals and using the correct ‘standard
on the items whilst they are removed. They may also be removed to allow access practices’.
to other parts of the airframe during the maintenance.
An AMM and CMM dictate the correct type and size of locking wire or split pin to
Items such as engines, propellers, landing gears and wheels require some form be used during overhaul or maintenance of a component. These publications also
of maintenance. This may include a simple condition check, or a full overhaul of stipulate exact detail of items such as the lock wire angle of approach and the
its component parts, allowing checks on internal component parts for wear, correct positioning of a split pin. AMM chapters 20 and 70 list the standard
damage and corrosion. practices that should be used during overhaul.
The full procedure for this type of work will be carried out in accordance with the Other locking devices include items such as single tab washers, shake-proof
CMM. This book will give all the operations required to dismantle the component washers, circlips and locking rings. Some can only be used once only whilst
and will advise what to look for whilst the item is undergoing maintenance. It will others are re-used provided they are still serviceable.
also state the re-assembly method, including the fitting of new parts such as
seals, gaskets, oil and other consumables that have to be replaced, during The replacement of spring washers is ‘advised’ during overhaul and repair,
overhaul. especially on engines and pumps. Other devices used for locking or holding
fasteners in position, such as multi-tab washers and locking plates can normally
17.6.5 Disassembly and Re-assembly of Minor Components be reused.
A typical passenger aircraft can contain hundreds of small components that work Stiff nuts with fibre or nylon inserts can be checked to ascertain if a certain
together as parts of a larger system. This can include a wide range of hydraulic degree of stiffness is still available. If the nut can be run along a thread by hand it
and pneumatic components that can be mechanical, electromechanical or should be replaced. They should not be used in high temperature areas.
electrical in operation.
In all matters relating to aircraft, the manufacturer has the final say on which
Other components might include those installed into fuel, air conditioning, fasteners can be reused and which must be replaced.
pressurisation, electrical and electronic systems. These components have their
own CMM to allow maintenance and trouble-shooting to be done. Some Because friction is essential to keep the fasteners secure, sometimes it is
components are only removed once they fail (On-Condition), while others receive necessary to do a ‘torque check’ on the bolt/nut combination, in order to confirm
regular maintenance. their continuing serviceability. This is especially true of all metal fasteners that
can normally be re-used.
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The majority of nuts, bolts and set-screws, on an aircraft, are subject to a 17.6.8 Discarding of Parts
standard torque value. This depends on their material, finish, lubrication, thread
type and size, although the manufacturer’s torque value will be the correct one to A number of items, when they are removed from their original position, have to be
use. discarded. The ‘once only’ policy is a combination of the manufacturer’s
recommendations together with normal engineering practice.
The correct torque loadings are normally applied using a torque wrench that has
been previously calibrated to the correct value. In some special instances, pre- Items that are usually discarded at removal are filters, sealing rings, desiccants,
load indicating (PLI) washers may be specified. fuels and oils of all types.
When assembling any component or major airframe part, the manufacturer will There are many other items that have a given ‘life’. This may be counted in flying
specify whether the torque value is ‘lubricated’ or ‘dry’. Lubricated values are hours, calendar time or operating cycles, which will mean that items have to be
measured with the threads and all mating surfaces lightly lubricated with oil, replaced throughout the life of the aircraft.
sealant or anti-seize compound as appropriate.
If aircraft, or major components of them, have been disassembled, it may be
When assembling some components, it may be vital that certain alignments, policy to replace components with ‘zero life’ items prior to re-assembly. This will
dimensions or profiles are achieved. During initial production, most of the allow the aircraft to fly for considerable time before any parts become due for
airframe and many of the components are assembled in a jig. replacement.
A jig is device that allows the manufacture, repair or rigging of components to a 17.6.9 Freeing Seized Components
high dimensional accuracy. This guarantees consistency over a number of
components. The jig holds all of the items securely, so that, when assembled, the When dismantling any part of an aircraft, it is not unusual for the technician to
whole component is exactly the shape that the designer has stipulated. encounter a seized fastener. Depending upon its location, the AMM may
recommend a range of actions to assist in the removal of the item(s).
Jigs are used to build fuselage and wing sections in the factory. They are also
used to ensure that small actuators are pre-set to the exact length, to assist in These actions may involve use of penetrating oil, which works its way down
‘rigging’ the controls containing the actuator. through the seized threads, providing both an anti-corrosion action and
lubrication for the threads. Other actions may involve the application of heat or
17.6.7 Small Part and Component Identification cold to a specific part, so that their relative diameters change, thus lowering the
friction between the parts.
When disassembling or removing any component, it is vital that all small items
such as bolts, screws, nuts, washers and shims are clearly identified. 17.6.10 Use of Correct Tools
This involves not only identifying the items by part number, but also recording It is normal for technicians to own a comprehensive tool kit, containing tools
their correct location and which aircraft they have been removed from as, in some recommended for the work planned and which are of the highest quality. In a
hangars, more than one aircraft may be in a state of disassembly at any one time. number of situations, it may be possible for a technician to use an incorrect tool
that may appear to be the correct one for the task. It is most important that only
Some items may simply be attached to the major assembly using many small ‘tie the correct tools are used for each and every maintenance task.
on’ bags with identification labels. If a number of different sized fasteners are
removed from a component such as a windscreen, they can be located in a When, for example, using a cross point screwdriver, it is possible to find at least
locally-made holding jig which keeps the different parts in their same relative six different types of screw bits, each of which only fits its own respective screw
position to the original item. This should allow all the screws to be returned to head slot.
their original locations when the screen is reinstalled.
The removal of nuts from bolts is normally accomplished using a socket and
Any part which is removed must have its identity and location retained until it is wrench set and these sockets can be of the twelve-point or six- point type. When
reinstalled. spanners need to be used, preference should be given to a ring spanner rather
than an open-ended spanner. Adjustable spanners or ‘mole grips’ should never
be used on aircraft.
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The manufacturer of the aircraft often specifies special tools, when standard tools 18 ABNORMAL EVENTS
are unable to complete the task. Unless approved to do so, the technician should
never substitute conventional tools for the special tools that are called for in the All aircraft are designed to withstand the normal flight and landing loads expected
manual. Damage to the part being worked upon will almost always result from the during a typical flight cycle. These loads will include the normal manoeuvres the
use of incorrect tools. aircraft is expected to make. The designer will build in a safety factor to
compensate for loads slightly larger than normal. Sometimes extreme
17.6.11 ‘Murphy’s Law’ circumstances occur which cause stresses outside the normal design limits.
This ‘law’ states that: If the design limits are exceeded, then damage may occur to the aircraft. If it is
known or suspected that the aircraft has been subjected to excessive loads, then
‘If a part or component can be installed incorrectly, someone, somewhere will an inspection should be made, to ascertain the nature of any damage that may
install it that way.’ have occurred. The manufacturer will normally have anticipated the nature of
some of these occurrences and detailed special checks for these ‘Abnormal
There are numerous solutions in the fight against this problem. For example, Occurrences’.
when a pair of pipes or hoses are to be joined, there is the risk of the two pairs of
couplings being ‘cross connected’. This could result in serious damage if the 18.1 Types of abnormal occurrences
pipes carried fuel and hydraulic oil.
The aircraft maintenance manual will normally list the types of abnormal
To prevent this happening, pipes and couplings usually have different diameters. occurrences needing special inspection. The list may vary, depending on the
Alternatively, the two sets of couplings would be located at different places, so aircraft. The following items are a selection from a typical aircraft:
the pipes could not be wrongly connected under any circumstances.
 Lightning strikes
The same logic is applied to control cables that, of course, must also never be  High-intensity radiated fields penetration
cross-connected. In this instance, the turnbuckles are located at slightly different  Heavy or overweight landing
locations at each cable break, again making it impossible to connect the wrong
 Flight through severe turbulence
pair of cables together.
 Burst tyre
 Flap or slat over-speed
 Flight through volcanic ash
 Tail strike
 Mercury spillage
 Dragged engine or engine seizure
 High-energy stop.
18.2 Types of damage
It is not intended to describe the types of damage applicable to every type of

occurrence. It is more important to understand that, often, the damage may be
remote from the source of the occurrence.
In many cases the inspection would be made in two stages. If no damage is

found in the first stage then the second stage may not be necessary. If damage is
found, then the second stage inspection is done.
This is likely to be a more detailed examination.
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18.3 Lightning Strikes  Examine fuselage skin, particularly rivets for burning or pitting.
 If the landing gear was extended, some damage may have occurred to the
Both lightning strikes and high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF) are discussed in lower parts of the gear. Examine for signs of discharge.
Module 5. Consideration is given in this topic to their effects and the inspections  After the structural examination it will be necessary to do functional checks of
required in the event of their occurrence. the radio, radar, instruments, compasses, electrical circuits and flying controls.
Lightning, of course, is the discharge of electricity in the atmosphere, usually A bonding resistance check should also be done.
between highly charged cloud formations, or between a charged cloud and the
ground. If an aircraft is flying in the vicinity of the discharge or it is on the ground, 18.4 Example of a Post Lightning Strike Procedure
the lightning may strike the aircraft. This will result in very high voltages and
currents passing through the structure. This procedure is an extract from the Boeing 757 Maintenance Manual. It is
included to give an idea of a typical aircraft inspection procedure. Not all of the
All separate parts of the aircraft are electrically bonded together, to provide a low- details have been supplied, but there is enough information to provide a general
resistance path to conduct the lightning away from areas where damage may idea. The student will not be examined in detail on this procedure, but should be
hazard the aircraft. able to identify specific checks that highlight the previous notes.
18.3.1 Effects of a Lightning Strike This procedure has these three tasks:
Lightning strikes are likely to have two main effects on the aircraft:  Examination of the External Surfaces for Lightning Strike
 Examination of the internal Components for Lightning Strike
 Strike damage where the discharge enters the aircraft. This will normally be  Inspection and Operational Check of the Radio and Navigation Systems.
on the extremities of the aircraft, the wing tips, nose cone and tail cone and on
the leading edge of the wings and tailplane. The damage will usually be in the 18.4.1 Basic Protection
form of small circular holes, usually in clusters, and accompanied by burning
or discoloration. The aircraft has all the necessary and known lightning strike protection measures.
 Static discharge damage at the wing tips, trailing edges and antenna. The
damage will be in the form of local pitting and burning. Bonding strips and Most of the external parts of the aircraft are metal structure with sufficient
static wicks may also disintegrate, due to the high charges. thickness to be resistant to a lightning strike. This metal assembly is its basic
protection. The thickness of the metal surface is sufficient to protect the internal
18.3.2 Inspection spaces from a lightning strike.
The maintenance schedule or maintenance manual should specify the The metal skin also gives protection from the entrance of electromagnetic energy
inspections applicable to the aircraft but, in general, bonding straps and static into the electrical wires of the aircraft. The metal skin does not prevent all
discharge wicks should be inspected for damage. Damaged bonding straps on electromagnetic energy from going into the electrical wiring; however, it does
control surfaces may lead to tracking across control surface bearings, this in turn keep the energy to a satisfactory level.
may cause burning, break up or seizure due to welding of the bearings.
If lightning strikes the aircraft, then all of the aircraft must be fully examined, to
This type of damage may result in resistance to movement of the controls, which find the areas of the lightning strike entrance and exit points.
can be checked by doing a functional check of the controls. Additional checks
may include: When looking at the areas of entrance and exit, this structure should be carefully
examined to find all of the damage that has occurred.
 Examine engine cowlings and engines for evidence of burning or pitting. As in
control bearings, tracking of the engine bearings may have occurred.
Manufacturers may recommend checking the oil filters and chip detectors for
signs of contamination. This check may need to be repeated for a specified
number of running hours after the occurrence.
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18.4.2 Strike Areas 18.4.3 Signs of Damage
Lightning strike entrance and exit points (refer to Fig. 1) are, usually, found in In metal structures, strike damage usually shows as pits, burn marks or small
Zone 1, but also can occur in Zones 2 and 3. Lightning strikes can, however, circular holes. These holes can be grouped in one location or divided around a
occur to any part of the aircraft, including the fuselage, wing skin trailing edge large area. Burned or discoloured skin also shows lightning strike damage.
panels. wing-body fairing, antennas, vertical stabiliser, horizontal stabiliser, and
along the wing trailing edge in Zone 2. In composite (non-metallic) structures, solid laminate or honeycomb damage
shows as discoloured paint. It also shows as burned, punctured, or de-laminated
skin plies. Hidden damage can also exist. This damage can extend around the
visible area. Signs of arcing and burning can also occur around the attachments
to the supporting structure.
Aircraft components made of ferromagnetic material may become strongly

A magnetised when subjected to large currents. Large currents, flowing from the
A&B
lightning strike in the aircraft structure, can cause this magnetisation.
18.4.4 External Components at Risk
A lightning strike usually attaches to the aircraft in Zone 1 and goes out a different
Zone 1 area. Frequently, a lightning strike can enter the nose radome and go out
of the aircraft at one of the horizontal stabiliser trailing edges.
External components most likely to be hit are the:
Zone 1. High Possibility of Strike  Nose Radome

 Nacelles
Zone 2. Average Possibility of Strike  Wing Tips
 Horizontal Stabiliser Tips
Zone 3. Low Possibility of Strike  Elevators
A = Aerials and Protrusions  Vertical Fin Tips
B = Sharp Corners of Fuselage and Control Surfaces  Ends of the Leading Edge Flaps
 Trailing Edge Flap Track Fairings
 Landing Gear
 Water Waste Drain Masts
Risk Areas for Lightning Strikes  Pitot Probes
Fig. 1
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18.4.5 Electrical Components at Risk  Examine the internal and external surfaces of the nose radome for burns,
punctures, and pinholes in the composite honeycomb sandwich structure.
Lightning strikes can cause problems to the electrical power systems and the  Examine the metallic structure for holes or pits, burned or discoloured skin
external light wiring The electrical system is designed to be resistant to lightning and rivets.
strikes but a strike of unusually high intensity can possibly damage such electrical  Examine the external surfaces of the composite components for discoloured
system components as the: paint, burned, punctured, or de-laminated skin plies.
 Use instrumental NDI (NDT) methods or tap tests to find composite structure
 Fuel valves damage which is not visible.
 Generators
 Power Feeders Note: Damage, such as de-lamination can extend to the areas around the
 Electrical Distribution Systems damage area which is not visible. De-lamination can be detected by
 Static Discharge Wicks instrumental NDI methods or by a tap test. For a tap test, use a solid metal
disc and tap the area adjacent to the damaged area lightly. If there is de-
NOTE: Should inaccuracies in the standby compass be reported, after a lightning lamination, it will produce a sound that is different to the sound of a solid
strike, then a check swing will be necessary. bonded area.
Frequently, a lightning strike is referred to as a static discharge. This is incorrect  Examine the flight control surfaces for signs of strike damage. If the control
and may create the impression that the metal static discharge wicks, found on the surfaces show signs of damage, examine the surface hinges, bearings and
external surfaces of the aircraft prevent lightning strikes. These static discharge bonding jumpers for signs of damage.
wicks are for bleeding off static charge only; they have no lightning protection  If the ailerons show signs of a lightning strike, examine the surface hinges,
function. bearings, and bonding jumpers for signs of damage.
 If the speed brakes show signs of a lightning strike, examine the surface
As the aircraft flies through the air, it can pick up a static charge from the air (or hinges, bearings, and bonding jumpers for signs of damage.
from dust/water particles in the air). This static charge can become large enough  If the trailing edge flaps show signs of a lightning strike, examine the surface
to bleed off the aircraft on its own. If the charge does not bleed off the aircraft on hinges, bearings, and bonding jumpers for signs of damage.
its own, it will usually result in noise on the VHF or HF radios.  If the leading edge flaps/slats show signs of a lightning strike, examine the
surface hinges, bearings, and bonding jumpers for signs of damage.
The static discharge wicks help to bleed the static charge off in a way that  Examine the nose radome for pin-holes, punctures and chipped paint. Also
prevents radio ‘noise’. ensure bonding straps are correctly attached. Examine the lightning diverter
strips and repair or replace them if damaged. If there is radome damage,
The static discharge wicks are frequently hit by lightning. Some personnel think examine the WXR antenna and wave-guide for damage.
static dischargers are for lightning protection. The dischargers have the capacity
to carry only a few micro-Amps of current from the collected static energy. The 18.4.7 Functional Tests
approximate 200,000 Amps from a lightning strike will cause damage to the
discharge wick or make it totally unserviceable. Functional tests will need to be done as follows:
18.4.6 Examination of External Surface
 Ensure the navigation lamps, rotary lights and landing lights operate.
 If the previously mentioned control examinations show signs of damage: Do
Examine the Zone 1 surface areas for signs of lightning strike damage. Do the
an operational test of the rudder if there are signs of lightning strike damage to
examinations that follow:
the rudder or vertical stabiliser.
 Do an operational test of the elevator if there are signs of lightning strike
 Examine the external surfaces carefully to find the entrance and exit points of
damage to the elevator or horizontal stabiliser.
lightning strike.
 Do an operational test of the ailerons if there are signs of lightning strike
 Make sure to look in the areas where one surface stops and another surface
damage to the ailerons.
starts.
 Do an operational test of the speed brakes if there are signs of lightning strike
damage to the speed brake system.
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 Do an operational test of the trailing edge flaps if there are signs of lightning 18.4.9 Return the Aircraft to Service
strike damage to the trailing edge flaps.
 Do an operational test of the leading edge flap/slats if there are signs of After all areas have been inspected and lightning damage has been repaired,
lightning strike damage to the trailing edge flap/slats. components replaced as necessary and tests completed if necessary, the aircraft
 If there are signs of strike damage to the landing gear doors, disengage the may be returned to service.
main gear door locks and manually move the doors to ensure they move
smoothly. Visually examine the door linkage, hinges, bearings and bonding 18.5 High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) Penetration
jumpers for strike damage. Ensure the proximity switch indication unit gives
the correct indication. Module 5 discusses electromagnetic phenomena, in particular the problem of
electromagnetic interference. HIRF may be generated by airborne transmitters
18.4.8 Examination of Internal Components such as high-powered radar or radio. to commercial aircraft. Increased use of
digital equipment has increased the problem.
If a lightning strike has caused a system malfunction, do a full examination of the
system. HIRF can be generated from an internal (within the aircraft and its systems) or
external source (i.e. HIRF may be transmitted by military aircraft in close
 Do a check of the stand-by compass system if the flight crew reported a very proximity). All of the systems which might cause, or be affected by, HIRF, must
large compass deviation. be suitably protected.
 Make sure the fuel quantity system is accurate. This can be achieved by a
BITE test. Electronic developments have yielded greater miniaturisation and complexity in
integrated circuits (IC) and other electronic circuitry and assemblies, increasing
 Examine the air data sensors for signs of strike damage. Do an operational
the probability of electromagnetic interference.
test of the pitot system if there are signs of damage to the probes. Do a test of
the static system if there are signs of damage near the static ports.
Rapid advances in technology and the increased use of composite materials and
 Do an operational check of any of the following systems that did not operate
higher radio frequency (RF) energy levels, from radar, radio, and television
following the strike, or if the flight crew reported a problem, or if there was any
transmitters, have substantially increased the concern for electromagnetic
damage found near the system antenna:
vulnerability of flight critical systems, relative to their exposure to HIRF.
 HF communications system Environmental factors such as corrosion, mechanical vibrations, thermal cycling,
 VHF communications system damage and subsequent repair and modifications can potentially degrade
 ILS navigation system electromagnetic protection. Continued airworthiness of these aircraft requires
 Marker beacon system assurance that the electromagnetic protection is maintained to a high level by a
 Radio altimeter system defined maintenance programme.
 Weather radar system
 VOR system HIRF can interfere with the operation of the aircraft’s electrical and electronic
 ATC system systems by coupling electromagnetic energy to the system wiring and
 DME system components. This can cause problems relating to the control systems, both of the
 Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) system aircraft and its power- plants, the navigation equipment and instrumentation.
If one or more of the previous systems have problems with their operational Design philosophies in the area of aircraft bonding for protection against HIRF
checks, examine and do a test of the coaxial cables and connectors. can employ methods that may not have been encountered previously by
maintenance personnel. Because of this, the HIRF protection in the aircraft can
be unintentionally compromised during normal maintenance, repair and
modification. It is critical that procedures, contained in the AMM/CMM, reflect
reliable procedures, to detect any incorrect installations, which could degrade the
HIRF protection features.
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There are three primary areas to be considered for aircraft operating in HIRF Table 1
environments: HIRF PROTECTION MEASURES
Applicable Maintenance Tasks for HIRF Protection Measures
Protection Cable Aircraft Structure Shielding Circuit
 Aircraft Structure (Airframe Skin and Frame). Type Shielding Protection
 Electrical Wiring Installation Protection (Solid or Braided Shielding Devices
Connectors). Description Over braid Raceway RF gasket Shield for Structural bonding HIRF
shield, conduits non- protection
 Equipment Protection (LRU case, Electronics Input Output Protection). critical conductive devices
individual surfaces
Visual inspection is the first and generally most important step in HIRF cable
shield
maintenance. If errors have been made that do degrade the protection (paint over Examples Metallic Raceway Removable Conductive Contact Bonding Resistors,
spray and incorrect assembly of connectors for example), then they should be conduit conduits Panels coatings bonds, lead/straps, Zener diodes,
found during inspections. braid rivet joints pigtails EMI filters &
filter pins
Degradation Corrosion, Corrosion, Corrosion, Damage, Corrosion, Corrosion, Short circuit,
Whilst the visual inspection may suffice for observation of the deterioration of the or failure damage damage damage, erosion damage damage, security open circuit
protective features, any time that this method is found to be insufficient or modes deformation of attachment
Maintenance Visually Visually Visually Visually Visually Visually inspect Check at
inefficient, then specific testing may be required. These techniques should make operations inspect inspect inspect inspect and inspect for corrosion, test/repair
use of easy-to-apply, quick-look devices that can be readily integrated into the and and gaskets, measure and attachment and facility iaw
normal maintenance operations. measure measure bonding shielding measure condition, maintenance
cable bonding leads and effectiveness bonding measure bonding or surveillance
shielding straps plans
18.5.1 Specific Testing – HIRF or bonding
The milliohmmeter is often used to measure the path resistance of earthing

straps or other bonding. This technique is limited to the indication of only single 18.5.2 Protection against HIRF Interference
path resistance values.
The manufacturer will normally protect the aircraft against HIRF. Bonding,
The Low-frequency Loop Impedance testing method complements dc bonding shielding and separation of critical components usually achieve this. It is difficult
testing and it can be used together with visual inspection. It can give good to know when the aircraft has been subjected to HIRF; consequently protection is
confidence in the integrity of the shielding. This loop impedance testing can be best achieved by regular checks of:
used to check that adequate bonding exists between braiding/conduits and the
aircraft structure, especially where there are multiple earth paths, when the dc  Bonding of the aircraft
resistance system will not indicate which earth has failed.  Correct crimping
 Screens correctly terminated and earthed
The frequency of any maintenance tasks selected for the HIRF protection  All bonding terminals correctly torque loaded.
features should be determined by considering the following criteria:
 Relevant operating experience gained.

 Exposure of the installation to any adverse environment.
 Susceptibility of the installation to damage.
 Criticality of each protective feature. (within the overall protection scheme)
 The reliability of protective devices fitted to equipment.
Table 1 gives some indication as to the maintenance tasks that may be applied to
certain types of electromagnetic protection features. ‘Raceway’ conduits are
separate conduits containing individual cables to the various aircraft systems
while ‘RF gaskets’ have conducting properties.
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18.6 Heavy Landings Mainplanes

 Examine the upper and lower skins for wrinkles and pulled rivets, particularly if
A heavy or overweight landing, can cause damage to the aircraft both visible and the engines are mounted on the wings.
hidden. All damage found should be entered in the aircraft’s Technical Log.  Check for fuel leaks.
 Check the root attachments and fairings for cracks.
An aircraft landing gear is designed to withstand landing at a particular aircraft  Function the flying controls for freedom of movement.
weight and rate of descent. If either of these parameters was exceeded during a  Examine wing spars.
landing, then it is probable that some damage has been caused to the landing
gear, its supporting structure or elsewhere on the airframe. Over-stressing may Fuselage
occur if the aircraft is not parallel to the runway when it lands or if the nose- or  Check skin for damage and wrinkles.
tail-wheel strikes the runway before the main wheels.  Examine pressure bulkheads for damage.
 Check all supporting structures of heavy components like galleys, batteries,
Some aircraft are provided with heavy landing indicators, which give a visual water tanks and APUs.
indication that specified ‘g’ forces have been exceeded. Long aircraft may have a  Ensure no inertia switches have tripped.
tail scrape indicator fitted, as a scrape is more likely. In all instances of suspect  Check instruments and their panels are functional.
heavy landings, the flight crew should be questioned for details of the aircraft’s  Ensure pipes and ducts for security.
weight, fuel distribution, landing conditions and whether any unusual noises were  Check all doors and panels fit correctly.
heard during the incident.
Engines
Primary damage, that may be expected following a heavy landing, would normally  Check controls for freedom of movement.
be concentrated around the landing gear, its supporting structure in the wings or  Examine all mountings and pylons for damage and distortion.
fuselage, the wing and tailplane attachments and the engine mountings.  Check turbine engines for freedom of rotation.
 Examine all cowlings for wrinkling and distortion.
Secondary damage may be found on the fuselage upper and lower skins and on  Check all fluid lines, filters and chip detectors.
the wing skin and structure.  On propeller installations, check for shock-loading, propeller attachments and
counterweight installations.
Different aircraft have their own heavy landing procedures. For example, some
aircraft, which show no primary damage, need no further inspection, whilst others Tail Unit
require that all inspections are made after every reported heavy landing. This is  Check flying controls for freedom of movement.
because some aircraft can have hidden damage in remote locations whilst the  Examine all hinges for distortion or cracks especially near balance weights.
outside of the aircraft appears to be undamaged.  Examine attachments, fairings and mountings of screw jacks.
18.6.1 Example of Post Heavy Landing Inspection There are numerous other checks that need to be done, depending on the
damage found (or not found), during the inspections. This can include engine
The following items give an example of a typical post heavy landing inspection: runs and functional checks of all the aircraft systems.
Landing Gear Signs of some damage and distortion could be a reason to do full rigging and
 Examine tyres for creep, damage, and cuts. symmetry checks of the airframe.
 Examine wheels and brakes for cracks and other damage.
 Examine axles, struts and stays for distortion.
 Check landing gear legs for leaks, scoring and abnormal extension.
 Examine gear attachments for signs of cracks, damage or movement. Some
aircraft require the removal of critical bolts and pins for NDT checks.
 Examine structure in vicinity of gear attachment points.
 Examine doors and fairings for damage.
 Carry out retraction and nose wheel steering tests
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18.7 Flight through Severe Turbulence 19 MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

If an aircraft has been flown through conditions of severe turbulence, the severity An aircraft has to receive regular maintenance, of varying depths, to remain fully
of the turbulence may be difficult to assess and report. For aircraft that utilise airworthy at all times. This is achieved in most circumstances by making various
accelerometers, flight data recorders or fatigue meters, the records obtained can checks, at intervals, throughout the life of the aircraft. These intervals can be
give an overall picture of the loads felt by the aircraft. stated in quantities of flying hours, calendar time or combinations of the two
systems.
They cannot, however, give a full picture and so must only be used for guidance.
19.1 Maintenance Planning
Turbulence can be too fleeting to record on some forms of load instrumentation.
The periods of maintenance can be small or large. The aircraft can be in for a
As a general guide only, loadings greater than – 0.5g and + 2.5g on transport short period of maintenance over-night (or perhaps no longer than two days),
aircraft could indicate some damage to the airframe and engines. Aircraft, which whilst, on a large maintenance period, the aircraft might be in the hangar for a
have no recording devices installed, must have reports of flight through severe week or two, depending on the type of aircraft.
turbulence thoroughly investigated.
It is normal to apply what is known as a ‘back-stop’ to each period for safety.
Severe turbulence may cause excessive vertical or lateral forces similar to those
felt during a heavy landing. The forces felt may be increased by the inertia of For example, if the frequency of each maintenance action is every 100 flying
heavy components such as engines, fuel and water tanks and cargo. hours, then there will probably be a calendar ‘back-stop’ of one month. This
means that if the aircraft is only flown for 25 hours during one month, then it will
Damage can be expected at similar points to those mentioned previously have its maintenance done on the last day of that month, regardless if its low
concerning heavy landings. It is also possible for damage to occur in those areas hours.
of the wings, fuselage, tail unit and flying controls where the greatest bending
moment takes place. Pulled rivets, skin wrinkles or other similar structural faults Equally, if the aircraft is intensively flown day-and-night, it might reach its 100
may provide signs of damage. hours after 19 days. It will then receive its maintenance at that time, as a result of
its intensive flying. The decision as to the frequency and depth of this
As with a ‘heavy landing’ report, further inspection, involving dismantling of some maintenance is controlled by the ‘Type Design Organisation’, the organisation
major structural components, may be necessary if external damage is found which designed the aircraft.
during the initial inspection following flight through turbulence.
The maintenance programme contains a list of the most significant items and
. recommendations as to the maintenance actions, recommended frequencies and
sampling/inspection points. It will also contain a programme that monitors engine
critical parts and the inspections to be done on those parts.
All aircraft have a list of critical parts, with which it cannot fly without them being
serviceable, or which can be dispensed with, providing other parts can cover for
the missing part.
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19.2 Modification Procedures 19.3 Stores Procedures
Modifications are changes made to a particular aircraft, including all its All aircraft and component manufacturing and maintenance establishments will
components, engines, propellers, radio apparatus, accessories, instruments, have a stores department, whose object is twofold. Its purpose, firstly, is to
equipment and their respective installations. ensure that all materials, parts, components etc. used on aircraft are to the
correct specification. The second purpose of the stores is to enable the history of
any important part to be traced back to its original manufacture and its raw
With the exception of modifications which the CAA agree to be of such a minor materials.
nature that airworthiness is unaffected, all modifications must be approved in
accordance with the relevant parts of JAR OPS. All stores transactions use the same forms throughout the JAA system as well as
the USA and Canada. This system ensures that a store in one part of this country
The modifications are approved by the CAA or by the ‘Approved Organisation’ will receive a component from within the UK, all JAA countries or North America
carrying out the modification programme. on the same form. This is known throughout the JAA system as the JAA Form 1.
Modifications must be such that the design of the aircraft, when modified, Stores that operate within an organisation that is approved by the CAA to
complies at least with the requirements which applied when the aircraft was operate, with little control or supervision from the CAA, is known as an ‘Approved
originally certified. Stores’.
When a modification is being designed, a decision has to be made as to whether

the modification is to be classified as ‘Minor’ or ‘Major’. The installing of a new An ‘Approved‘ Store will contain three main departments:
type of engine would most definitely be a major modification, whilst changing the
type of clips holding cables together would be a minor one. It is somewhere in the  A quarantine store, which accepts items from other companies and checks
middle when the decision as to the grading of a modification has to be decided by that they are satisfactory.
the CAA.  A bonded store which takes items from the quarantine store, after approval,
and, when requested, issues those components to the servicing technicians.
19.2.1 Major Modifications  An office or administration centre, which keeps adequate files and records, to
enable cross-checking of any transaction through the store system.
The organisation sends a form, AD282 to the CAA and, when approved, an
approval note is returned to the organisation. This allows the modification to be 19.4 Certification and Release Procedures
embodied.
Any maintenance done on an aircraft that has a Certificate of Airworthiness (C of
19.2.2 Minor Modifications A), has to be certified by the technician(s) doing the work. Depending on the
company they work for, the technicians can have either personal certification or
The organisation writes to the CAA, requesting permission to embody the approval by their own company.
modification and, when approved, the CAA sends a form, AD261 back, to permit The legal requirement is quoted as: ‘An aircraft shall not fly unless there is in
embodiment. force a Certificate of Release to Service issued in respect of any overhauls,
modifications, repairs or maintenance to the aircraft or its equipment’.
If the organisation has CAA approval, it is permitted to approve its own
modifications. All the organisation has to do is to keep full records of the design Normally the work is either certified by an approved engineer or, completed by a
and embodiment of the modification. non-approved engineer and certified by another, approved engineer. This
certification is known as a Certificate of Release to Service.
All modifications are recorded in the aircraft documentation, either inside the
Airframe Log Book, if the aircraft weighs less than 2730 kg, or in a separate The wording on the document for signature is to a standard format and certifies
Modification Record Book if the aircraft weighs more than 2730 kg. that the work has been done in accordance with JAR 145 and that the aircraft is
fit for release back to service.
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uk MODULE 7
The certification should also contain particulars of the work done or the inspection Other publications that can be used by both sections include the Minimum
completed and the organisation and place at which the work was done. It is also Equipment List (MEL) and Configuration Deviation List (CDL). These publications
required that the aircraft type and registration or component type, part and serial inform both the crews and the engineers which components and parts can be
number shall be recorded as applicable. unserviceable, and yet allow the aircraft to be dispatched.
There are a number of minor maintenance operations that do not require There are minor, but no less important, systems in place to allow the same form
certification/ release to service. This can include minor maintenance, done by the of communication with smaller, private aircraft. They also have Log Books and
pilot, on a small private aircraft. records of modifications but, because of their lower utilisation and private
ownership, most work is done during their annual and three-yearly Certificate of
19.4.1 Interface with Aircraft Operation Airworthiness by approved and licensed engineers.
There are many links between aircraft maintenance and the flying done by both 19.5 Maintenance Inspection/ Quality Control and Assurance
commercial and private operations. These links, or interfaces, include the
legislation that dictates how the two operations are to work together. For the All maintenance done on the aircraft, from the Pre-Departure Inspection (made
larger commercial companies, all the legislation is currently laid down under JAR- before every flight); to the heavy Check ‘D’ inspection (done every four to six
OPS, produced by the JAA as an approximate replacement for the publication years), is controlled from the Maintenance Schedule. This publication is produced
CAP 360 which was the method by which commercial flying companies obtained by the aircraft manufacturer, and dictates the depth and frequency of work at
their ‘Air Operators’ Certificate’. which each inspection is completed.
JAR-OPS controls many facets of commercial flying. This can include how the On light aircraft, the maintenance is normally done in accordance with a Schedule
company maintains its aircraft, (or how it sub-contracts the work elsewhere); how produced by the CAA, called the Light Aircraft Maintenance Schedule, (LAMS).
the documentation and publications record all the information needed for both the
engineers and the flight crew and how the quality of the whole operation is kept to This is a simple schedule, common to all private aircraft below 2730kg, which
an acceptable standard. divides the maintenance into 50 and 150 flying hour, annual and tri-annual
inspections.
The communication of information between maintenance and flying personnel is
normally via a number of different publications such as: The personnel who do any of the inspections have to be either licensed by the
CAA or ‘approved’ by their own company, (if the company is itself approved by
 The Technical Log Book (Tech. Log) the CAA). The types of aircraft being serviced, and their use, will control which
 The Log Books (Aircraft, Engine and Propeller) type of qualification they require.
 The Modification Records.
If a company has CAA approval under JAR-145, it is permitted to control all of the
The Tech. Log contains all details of the sector by sector flight operations, such maintenance it does as well as, in some instances (with the additional approval
as flight times, defects, fuel (on arrival and uplifted), other ground maintenance under JAR-147), the ‘in house’ training of its own engineers.
and replenishments.
An approved company has to introduce a Quality Assurance Department, to the
The Log Books are usually kept within the records department, but they are a strict rules laid down in JAR-145. This department controls the standards of the
long term record of not only the total flying hours, but of the life remaining on company from the lowliest worker on the hangar floor to the Accountable
engines and propellers and the maintenance checks done on the aircraft. Manager, usually the managing director. It is responsible for all of the engineers
and their approvals. It also examines engineers and trainees, prior to their
The Modification Records allow all to see what changes, (modifications), have examination by the CAA.
been embodied to the aircraft. These changes might require different flight
operations or maintenance actions than prior to their embodiment. The Quality department also makes ‘audits’ throughout the company, at intervals,
to ensure all the procedures, laid down in the company manuals, are being
followed.
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uk MODULE 7
When certain operations are being done on an aircraft, whereby there might be The notification of the correct day for the replacement will be annotated on a
catastrophic consequences to the aircraft if the work was not done correctly, then document called the Maintenance Statement, which gives all items due for
a duplicate inspection is required. This involves two engineers; one of whom replacement, in between scheduled maintenance checks.
completes the work while the second (who has had nothing to do with the task),
checks the work and signs that it has been completed correctly. In the front of the Maintenance Manual is a chapter, variously entitled ‘Retirement
Lives’; ‘Long Life Items’ or ‘Fatigue Lives’.
19.6 Additional Maintenance Procedures
This chapter lists the retirement lives of many components and parts with long
Apart from the regular maintenance checks, listed in the Maintenance Manual, lives, which can include such items as engine ‘hot-end’ components, landing gear
there are a number of additional maintenance procedures that are done at legs and major structural items that have retirement lives in the thousands of
irregular intervals. flying hours/cycles.
These could include washing the aircraft, de-icing it in the winter, weighing it after This list will be monitored by the Technical Records department, and the aircraft
certain operations and painting it when its condition warrants it. The information documents will be annotated and the work cards etc., raised when the task is
and the correct procedures will probably be found in the maintenance manuals. required to be done.
(under Washing, De-icing, Weighing and Painting).
Other work done, in addition to the normal regular maintenance, might include an
on-going sampling programme or condition monitoring, which is done during the
normal day-to-day operation of the aircraft. These tasks would probably be
organised at the request of the local CAA office, to comply with an airworthiness
request from the manufacturer.
19.7 Control of Life-Limited Components
On almost any aircraft, there will be a number of components that have a stated
‘life’, usually quoted in flying hours, cycles, calendar time or operating hours.
The correct terminology for ‘life’ is Mandatory Life Limitation. The components will
have been given a life for various reasons. For example, a fatigue life on a
structural component in flying hours; the landing gear legs due for retirement after
10,000 landings, the batteries due for replacement after 3 or 4 months and a
retirement life on an APU measured in hours running time.
The control of the replacement of components, on completion of their lives, rests

with the Technical Control/Records department, which monitors all of the aircraft
documents.
When an item is due for replacement, the work is often synchronised with a
scheduled maintenance check, so that the aircraft is out of service for the
minimum amount of time.
It is normal, however, for small items such as batteries, to be changed on the

flight line, often at the end of the day’s flying, with the battery replacement being
done at the same time as the daily inspection.
333 334

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JAR 66 CATEGORY B1

71811175.doc Issued December 2002 Page 1

4.1.12 Punches .......................................................................... 9

5.2.3 Sectional Views .................................................................. 5

7.2 Types of Riveted Joints ................................................................. 4

11.3 Chains and Sprockets .................................................................. 2

15.4 Weighing Requirements .............................................................. 4

16.7.5 Treatment of Frost Deposits ............................................. 26

Acid Spillage .......................... 16

18.6.1 Example of Post Heavy Landing Inspection ..................... 12

1 INTRODUCTION 2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

WARNING: ALWAYS ENSURE THAT CORRECT FIRE PRECAUTIONS ARE

Personnel, engaged in the maintenance, overhaul and repair of aircraft, should

The materials, used as general ‘domestic and commercial’ extinguishants, differ

In the event of a person witnessing another person receiving an electric shock,

In workshops, compressed air is, sometimes, produced by a compressor (which

When jacking an aircraft asymmetrically, there is usually some movement by the

 Under the wings, at the main spar position

As an additional precaution, especially if the aircraft is to be worked on for an

Typical Aircraft Danger Areas

NO switching of power from APU’s or GPU’s will be made during fuelling

3.1 Care of Tools

Each tool (whether it be a hammer or a micrometer), will require some special

 The standard specified by the equipment manufacturer/design organisation

3.3.1 General Notes on Calibration

Calibration records or certificates should, as a minimum, contain the following

V Blocks are accurately machined, six-sided, rectangular blocks (generally made

Callipers (refer to Fig. 6) are a type of measuring device, typically used to

Thicker Sections - Less Teeth per Inch

Thinner Sections - More Teeth per Inch

Hacksaw Teeth in Contact with Workpiece

4.1.17 Sheet Metal Shears and Snips  Parallel

File Cross-Sections File Cuts

4.1.22 Stop, and Press (Dimpling), Countersinking Tools

Where a large number of holes need to be countersunk to a consistent depth,

After Rivet has

Stop Countersink Tool

Before external thread cutting is commenced, it is necessary to obtain a suitable

The procedure is repeated as often as necessary until a satisfactory fit is

Cross-Point Screwdrivers have been designed, by the several manufacturers of

the different types of screw heads (refer to Fig. 28).

There are, again, many different designs of torque wrenches, so consideration is

For example, at a constant rpm, a point, on the circumference of a drill with a

4.2.4 Pneumatically Powered Riveting Hammers

Typical Angled and Pistol Grip Pneumatic Hand Drill

Pneumatic Riveting Hammers

4.2.8 Abrasive Wheels

the wheel to explode, with devastating consequences.

The standard (or common) external micrometer consists of an appropriately

A partially, externally threaded spindle, located in a hollow, tubular thimble, is

Imperial Micrometers measure in decimals of an inch. Their screw threads have

Again, in a similar manner to the Metric micrometer, when taking a dimension, it

 Four 1/10” divisions (sixteen 1/40” divisions) on the barrel

4.3.4 Vernier Micrometers

scale and one Vernier division is, therefore, 0.1 mm.

A similar procedure would be followed with an Imperial micrometer.

Ten Vernier Scale

0 5 25 Thimble Markings Vernier Calliper

Fine Adjustment Initial Locking

Vernier Scale under Magnifier

Final Locking Stock Main Scale on Head

Calliper or Snap Gauge 4.5.1 Lubrication Methods

Grease, however, has limitations in certain situations, in that grease: