PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-604
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 604
MARCH 2003
PS 604
MAR 03
37
All Aircraft…
Eyeball all hydraulic pumps and reservoir sight glasses for oil level and color.
Check for hydraulic fluid leaks. If you find any, refer to the aircraft TM for proper
corrective action now. Later might not come around.
Eyeball indicator buttons, and if popped, change hydraulic filters. Dirty filters
allow contaminants to bypass the filter and muck up the hydraulics.
Make sure all hydraulic systems are protected from moisture, dirt, and other fluids.
Be sure that all exposed hydraulic pistons are wiped down during preflight.
Here are some
other hydraulic
system checks to
make
before
every flight…
almost done!
just need to
check for any
hydraulic leaks.
good job, but
check the tm to
make sure it’s
not time for an
aoap sampling.
If your aircraft
hydraulic systems
are contaminated,
your aircraft
could have an
unexpected meeting
with the ground
due to hydraulic
system failure.
•
Aircraft hydraulic fluid must be clean so hydraulic systems remain operational.
•
Aircraft hydraulic systems are easily contaminated if you use leftover open cans of
hydraulic oil. Always use a fresh can of approved oil per your TM. The can lid and
can opener must be clean, too.
•
Always use clean rags to wipe off exposed lines and openings. Use of dirty rags or
tools will contaminate hydraulic systems.
•
If your TM says not to mix different types of hydraulic oils, then don’t mix them.
•
Whenever your aircraft is undergoing any type of hydraulic maintenance, it’s
especially important to ensure all component/line openings are capped or covered. If
a new component is being installed, be sure to remove all the preservative fluid that
was shipped in the part.
Follow your TM’s hydraulic servicing and maintenance
procedures exactly. Take no shortcuts or you and your
bird could be put in harm’s way.
Keep your bird’s hydraulic system’s life blood clean
and it won’t get sick from contaminated fluid. For exam-
ple, AH-64A/D AOAP sampling should be done every 50
hours. Check out TB 1-1520-238-116 for the details.
W
hen a surgeon performs an operation, he operates with clean tools in an envi-
ronment that is as free as possible of contaminants which can infect the body.
Without surgery SOP, patients could get sick and die from the infection.
Likewise, mechanics, you need to
treat your bird’s clean hydraulic sys-
tems with clean tools and hydraulic
oil in a clean environment. When you
perform maintenance, such as adding
or changing hydraulic oil or remov-
ing and installing components on
your bird’s hydraulic systems, keep
them free of contaminants. Keep
contaminants out of the process.
Before flushing hydraulic sys-
tems, inspect, service and clean or
purify the hydraulic servicing unit or
hydraulic test stand to be used. That
way you won’t introduce outside
contaminants into your hydraulic oil.
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