PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-585
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 585
AUGUST 2001
A
ir traffic controllers, don’t do a bang-
up job packing, storing, unpacking and
moving your trailer-mounted AN/TPN-
18A radar, especially on its antennas,
drives and components—or your back.
Those radar components are heavy
and easy to damage if they’re not han-
dled properly. They’re heavy enough to
damage you, too.
So follow the packing, unpacking
and storage info in Chap 4 of TM 11-
5895-474-12-1.
For sure, get three buddies to help
you lift the azimuth and elevation
antennas. Without a lifting device, it’s a
four-man job.
Never leave parts lying on the
ground. Always secure them to the trail-
er. They’re made of fiberglass and it’s
easy to accidentally punch holes in the
dish.
If the antenna’s damaged, your oper-
ations are shut down while broken parts
go back to depot for repair.
AH-64A/D…
rew chiefs, MWO 1-1520-238-50-50 moved the AN/AVR-2A(V)1 laser detection
comparator and the AN/APR-39A digital processor into the Apache’s left aft storage
bay (L295) to keep them dry. It worked on the AH-64D, but a water problem still
exists on the AH-64A.
That’s because on the A model the cable harnesses for those components are rout-
ed through holes at stations 285 and 305—now called the left aft avionics bay—which
cannot be sealed. So rain water, wash water, condensation and even hydraulic fluid
can enter the bay, following the cable bundles. It then leaks onto the avionics. Because
the digital processor sits on the shelf, it allows water to wick in from underneath.
Change 1 to the MWO will raise the processor off the shelf to keep water from
getting underneath.
But until the headshed comes
up with a permanent fix for the
leaky bay, take extra care not to
direct water at the ventilation
holes which help cool the
avionics bay. Then inspect the
bay for water and corrosion
after you wash your bird or fly
in the rain. Mop up any liquid
on the avionics and the mount-
ing area with a clean cloth and
treat any corrosion you find.
PS 585
AUG 01
36
AN/TPN-18A Radar Set…
Pack, Store, Unpack and Move Right
Also make sure you don’t bend the
support arms or feed horns.
They are
calibrated and once they’re out of
alignment the radar is NMC.
While you’re packing up the radar,
remember to close the azimuth and
elevation antenna drive vent plugs (red
side up). That prevents condensation
from forming inside the gearbox,
which can contaminate oil and turn it
into sludge.
When you’re operating, the vent
plugs should be turned green side up
to allow the system to vent and to pre-
vent pressure buildup that can blow
out gearbox seals.
Close azimuth and
elevation vent plugs
when packing radar
you’re
packed
and
ready
to roll!
thanks for
not
doing a
bang-up job,
packing up.
have you
checked the
left aft
avionics
bay,
lately?
Well,
let me
see…
Inspect bay
and wipe
up liquids
585. 36-37 (C)
6/23/01
8:54 PM
Page 1
Back to TopBack to Top
