PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-705
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 705
AUGUST 2011
22
PS 705
AUG 11
Revisit Communication Cord
Problem
Dear Sergeant Blade,
The information we gave you on Page 37 of PS 700 (Mar) was not quite
correct concerning the communication earplugs (CEPs) and ordering the
right integrated communication cords for the aircrew integrated helmet
system (AIHS). The article didn’t identify a new and separate problem that
appeared with aftermarket communication cords.
So the question is,
“what’s the deal with the cords?”
The information
we gave you in the article dates back to 2007 and applies to the initial
lot of communications cords provided by Gentex that had the CEP wiring
branch integrated into the helmet’s communication cord. Unfortunately,
this first lot of cords had a manufacturer defect and some of them found
their way into the supply system. There was no effective way to recall these
cords, so Gentex offered a voluntary one-for-one replacement for any
defective cords.
That being the case, there is a chance some units might still run across
one of the 2007 cords, but by now they should have been flushed from the
supply system.
Since then, there have been no product quality deficiency reports (PQDR)
submitted against Gentex (CAGE 97427) for this cord.
We forgot to tell you that there was a new problem with the commun-
ication cord that developed after the first lot. In 2008, DLA stopped
purchasing the communication cords directly from Gentex and began to
purchase cords directly from several aftermarket manufacturers whose
CAGE codes are: 38LK9, 305Q5, and 7Z016. Units started submitting
PQDRs against the aftermarket manufacturers in May of 2010. The
problems with these aftermarket communications cords involve problems with
loose and sloppy over-braiding, cold solder joints, and the failure to use
parts called out on the drawing that can be seen in the picture below.
DLA was able to freeze internal
stocks of these aftermarket
communications cords so no more
bad ones would hit the field. Future
procurement will be from Gentex.
If your readers have any bad cords
marked with cage code 38LK9, 305Q5,
and 7Z016 in their ALSE shop, they
should not send them back to Gentex. To
get credit for any bad cords, they must
submit a PQDR like it says in AR 702-
7-1,
Reporting of Product Quality
Deficiencies Within the U.S. Army.
To order the correct electrical branched
cord assembly for their helmets, they
should use NSN 5995-01-519-9234
(P/N 1680-ALSE-410-1).
If a unit has problems with their helmet
communication cord signal not reaching
the CEP, they should follow the diagnostic
procedures in the Air Warrior IETM,
TM 1-1680-377-13&P.
Jim Hauser
PM Air Warrior
HGU-56/P…
Good
“FAT”
Grommet
Bad
“SKINNY”
Grommet
Good
Jack
Holder
Bad
Jack
Holder
no, it’s
not
your
ears,
dear boy,
it’s your
helmet’s
connector
cord!
you’re
the
fifth
pilot I’ve
seen in
the last
week!
contact Jim Hauser
at (256) 8
7
6-3
7
69, or
email questions to
jim.hauser@us.army.mil
Thanks for both the heads up
and background information,
Mr. Hauser. Supply system
problems and manufacturer
problems are not new.
doc!
ya
gotta help
me -- I’ve
gone
deaf!!
705 22-23.indd
1-2
7/5/11
5:08 PM
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