PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-711
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 711
FEBRUARY 2012
24
PS 711
FEB 12
25
FEB 12
A
t times, Black Hawk blade pins have to be removed, replaced or reinstalled.
When trying to remove a pin, don’t get frustrated and start beating on blade pins
to get them out.
Always remember that rotor blades should be repositioned to slide the pin out of
the blade cuff. Removing the blade pins requires lifting the blade to relieve tension.
But sometimes you may have to lead, lag, or even lower the blade to get the stubborn
pin out. This applies to both the traditional expandable pin and the new solid blade
pins. That’s the easy part.
Now the hard part. Sometimes blade pins are a challenge to remove, so you’ll have
to keep adjusting the blade to work the pin out. It doesn’t take much to get a blade pin
stuck. If that happens, there’s a tendency to want to pound or hammer the pin out.
Pounding or hammering
out blade pins can damage
the blade pin and unseat the
bushings in the blade cuff.
With a little effort and
some patience, the blade pin
should slide out
without the
use of a mallet or hammer.
If the pins do get stuck,
call your senior mechanic
and check your TM for
the details on dealing with
stuck pins.
M
echanics, just when you thought the bird
problem was over, here they come again!
If you have not checked your AH-64A/D tail
rotor gearbox area for bird nests lately, make sure
you do so on the next pre-flight inspection.
While aircraft sit on the flight line, birds squeeze
into the opening of the tail rotor gearbox section.
That creates a FOD problem you don’t need. Bird
nests hold moisture that creates corrosion. Dry
grass creates a fire hazard when it falls onto a
searing hot gearbox. Even in the desert, birds can
make nests out of discarded wire or just about
anything else.
So inspect the tail rotor section for bird nests by
removing the cover according to the procedures in
your Longbow IETM and TM.
Be aware that bird droppings are not only
messy, but highly corrosive. Droppings can eat
through paint, wiring and insulation. They also
carry diseases so for your own health, always wear
gloves when cleaning off droppings.
If birds have made your aircraft home sweet
home, evict them and see your upholstery shop
about making a removable cover for the tail rotor
section to keep ‘em out! Make sure you add a
“Remove Before Flight” streamer.
UH-60 Series…
on
Blade Pins
AH-64A/D…
The Birds Are Back
Work pin out with patience, not with a mallet or hammer
Birds can enter
through openings,
so check for
nesting material
ok…
now it’s
time to
remove
these
blade
pins.
hold on!
I’ll
cooperate if you
work my pin out
with
patience…
…not
with
what you have
in your hand.
looks like
the birds
are back!
shoo!
hey!
don’t
mess
with
our
home
sweet
home!
711 24-25.indd
1-2
1/4/12
5:46 PM
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