PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-625
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 625
DECEMBER 2004
PS 625
DEC 04
39
AH-64A/D…
Give Latches
T-L-C
O
perators and mechanics, your first inclination when something doesn’t work
properly is to kick, bang or force it.
That seems to be the case with the Apache’s engine cowling door latches. They
get plugged with sand in the desert and become hard to close.
When sand clogs the door latches, blow
the sand out with air and slap a little dry film
lubricant, NSN 9150-00-926-8963 on the
latches to help them close easier.
Using your foot to force latches to lock
only bends or breaks them. Then you’ll be
looking at replacing broken latches.
So stop your foot dead in its tracks and
don’t kick
the latches to close them!
PS 625
DEC 04
38
HH-60L/UH-60A/L…
APU Suckin’ Sand?
M
echanics, repeated Black Hawk engine start-ups suck air into the APU.
Unfortunately desert sand gets in the mix, clogs the APU and causes the engine con-
trol valve to stick open.
When that happens, the APU does not shut down, and the No. 1 and No. 2 engine
starter valves don’t close properly. It continues sucking air and sand. Then the
starter light comes on in the cockpit, and an engine shutdown is the usual result.
Here’s a
simple fix to
reduce engine
start up
problems…
Open all aircraft doors, cover the center con-
sole and turn on the heater and vent blowers.
All the trapped sand will blow out all the ducts.
Keep sand
out of APU
I think we’ve
got some sand
problems!
The problem
is that some-
one forgot to
inspect the
APU for sand!
{gah}
well,
shut down my
engines before I
choke to death
on
sand!
wait one
minute, buddy!
don’t kick
me!
just blow out
the sand with air
and apply some
dry film lubricant!
Broken latches
mean you
can’t
secure
the
engine cowling
doors…
…And
that
means you
can’t
fly
anywhere
until they are
repaired.
Engine
cowling
door
latches
stuck
because
of sand?
Don’t
close
them
with a
swift
boot
kick!
These
latches are
stuck
again!
My foot
should take
care of
that!
625.38-39(C!)
10/26/04
2:57 PM
Page 1
Click here for a copy to send to a friend
Click here for a copy to send to a friend
Back to TopBack to Top
