PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-599
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 599
OCTOBER 2002
Cold Batteries
Your nickel-cadmium batteries will do their job without much extra effort on
your part. But if your bird sits in a deepfreeze for days on end, cold starts will
shorten battery life.
When possible, bring your
batteries in from the cold if
the forecaster predicts several
days of subfreezing tempera-
tures. If it’s not possible, turn
on the landing gear lights,
searchlight or cabin lights,
for 30 seconds before an
engine start. That
“load” will
warm up the battery a bit.
PS 599
39
PS 599
OCT 02
38
Cold Weather Guides
For more information on winter maintenance operations, check out FM 31-70,
Basic Cold Weather Manual
(Apr 68) and FM 31-71,
Northern Operations
(Jun 71).
When the cold hits, make sure you hit your -23 maintenance manuals and chap-
ter 10 of your general aircraft TM 1-1500-204-23-1 for good cold weather PM to
protect your birds, so you can fly high.
If your bird has specific covers for the rotor head and engine plugs, use them.
If covers are unavailable in heavy snow, remove the snow accumulation periodi-
cally during snowfall.
Extreme caution should be exercised around cold metal. Working on small
parts often requires removing your gloves. Stop work frequently to put your gloves
back on to warm up your hands. Use the buddy system to keep frostbite in check.
Cold Tires
Cold reduces tire air pressure,
so check your helicopter’s tire
pressure often.
Tires frozen to the ground can
be freed with liquid deicer. Move
the aircraft immediately because
deicer will form slush and re-
freeze.
Check your landing gear often.
Use a clean rag dampened with
hydraulic fluid to remove ice,
dirt and grit from the struts and
pistons.
Service pressurized systems
according to the instructions in
each aircraft maintenance manu-
al. Remember that any moisture
will freeze into ice crystals and
damage seals.
Do not bend rubber hoses or
rubber-covered
wires
while
they’re cold soaked. Rubber gets
brittle and stiff and could crack.
always Store
batteries on a
shelf or on
dunnage, never
on a bare floor.
Always use
an auxiliary
ground power
unit on the
first start of
the day.
It prevents a
big drain
on
cold batteries.
Lead-acid batteries should also
be kept warm. Cold lead-acid bat-
teries lose their charge much faster
than nickel-cadmiums. If you
bring your batteries inside, never
store nickel-cadmium and lead-
acid in the same area. Fumes from
the lead-acid battery can cause the
nickel-cadmium to discharge.
Remove batteries and
store in warm place
Check tire
pressure
often in cold
Clean all
struts
Lead-
acid
Nickel-
cadmium
Never
store these together
599. 38-39 (C)
8/26/02
5:49 PM
Page 1
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