PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-724
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 724
MARCH 2013
24
PS 724
MAR 13
M
aintainers, PMCS on your AH-64’s M230 gun is important to maintain straight
shooting. But pay particular attention to the before Fring Preventive Maintenance Checks
and Services in Para 4-5-1 of TM 9-1090-208-23-1-1 or in IETM 1-1520-Longbow/
Apache.
Always make sure you do a thorough area weapon system maintenance operational
check (MOC) like it says in TM 9-1090-208-23-2 or in IETM 1-1520-Longbow/Apache.
MOCs are important. That’s because they allow you to verify your weapon system is
fully mission capable after a problem has been corrected or prior to any live Fre exercise.
Remember to visually check the round guide and the bolt carrier assembly breech for
any 30mm rounds. If you Fnd rounds present, clear the gun.
Since the MOC requires hydraulics, it is important for personnel to stay clear of the
gun travel area when power is applied. Gun subsystem failure could cause the gun turret
to move when power is applied and if anyone is in harm’s way, they will get injured.
As dynamic tests are taking place, other things can happen during the MOC that can
cause the gun to slew. ±or example, the M230 will also be slaved to the target acquisition
designation sight (TADS), allowing the gun to slew wherever the TADS is looking.
During this process, always make sure the forward avionics bay (±AB) panels are shut
and maintenance stands are removed from the gun travel area during the dynamic tests
or before the gun is actuated to avoid damage to the panels or equipment.
Walking around the aircraft to make sure all is clear and no one is working or doing
maintenance near the M230 gun before MOC gun checks is the smart thing to do.
Keep in mind to use caution when working in the right hand aft avionics bay at the
load maintenance panel with the R295 open. The vanexial fan blades are exposed and
turning. Keep your Fngers out of the fan blade area or you could lose them.
Because the gun turret operates
with 3,000 pounds of hydraulic
pressure, anyone near the gun can
be hit by the barrel or crushed
against the ground if they are
underneath the aircraft. Not only
does the gun rotate left to right, but
it also depresses. If the aircraft is
“spoofed” or the elevation resolver
on the turret is out of tolerance,
the gun can strike the ground and
lift the aircraft or crush a person.
That’s deadly!
So make sure the area is called clear before MOC checks are done to avoid injury and
damage to equipment.
Keep hands away from fan during MOC
AH-64A/D…
BE CLear
on
Maintenance
Operation
Checks
Stay away from
gun during MOC
Let’s get
these MOCs
done!
I’m with
you on
that!
Not quite yet,
you guys! Someone
needs to do a
walk-around to
make sure you’re
all clear!
You’re
right!
I’ll do the
walk around
right now.
724 24-25.indd
1-2
1/29/13
2:57 PM
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