Corrosion repairs using the radial bristle disc

Mech, Summer, 2004 by Thomas Doughty

No other commercial off-the-shelf bristle discs meet NAVAIR's specifications. Although many types of discs are available on the open market, the only authorized discs are manufactured by the 3M Corporation: Orange discs (for light surface corrosion removal) are 3M part number 61-5001-8792-9, NSN 4920-01-493-2510, and yellow discs (for heavier corrosion) are 3M part number 61-5001-8790-3, NSN 4920-01-493-2514. The bristle discs are packaged in a case of 40, four boxes to the case. Each box contains 10 discs at a cost of $3.05 each or $122 per case.

This technology was introduced to the fleet in interim rapid action change (IRAC) No. 26 to NA 01-1A-509. The radial bristle discs can be ordered through Military Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures (MILSTRIP), federal stock system under the Electronic Mall (EMALL) contract SP0410-01-D-E006, or directly from the vendor (call a 3M federal-systems requisition representative at 1-800-944-4181). The pneumatic grinder is approximately $79. and the associated mandrel assembly is $7.81.

Flight, Flight-Related, and Ground
Class A Mishaps
03/17/2004 to 05/31/2004

Aircraft   Command        Date         Fatalities

FA-18C     VFA-82         03/24/2004       0
Aircraft struck water. Pilot ejected and was rescued.

FA-18C     VFA-15         03/26/2004       0
Aircraft crashed on takeoff roll. Pilot ejected safely--minor injury.

FA-18A     VFA-203        03/29/2004       0
Pilot ejected during low-level flight. Hornet struck ground and
was destroyed.

F-14D      VF-31          03/29/2004       0
Tomcat diverted to NAS with fuel-transfer problems. Crew ejected
safely. Aircraft was lost at sea.

AH-1W      COMMARFORPAC   03/30/2004       0
AH-1W      HMLA-775       03/30/2004
Two Cobras collided at a forward arming-refueling point (FARP).
Minor injuries.

FA-18A     VMFA-112       04/21/2004       1
Hornet's pilot ceased audio transmissions during flight and failed to
return to base.

CH-46E     HMM-266        04/26/2004       0
Hard landing during brownout. Rotor blades struck terrain, but helo
remained upright.

FA-18C     VFA-02         05/28/2004       0
During a PMCF, the FLIR pod separated from the Hornet and fell into
the sea.

Class B Mishaps
03/17/2004 to 05/31/2004

Aircraft   Command            Date

FA-18E     VFA-115            03/23/2004
No. 2 elevator was lowered and folded wings struck the ship.

C-2A       NAS NORTH ISLAND   03/27/2004
Aircraft was taxied for respot. It lost brakes and steering, striking
an oil truck.

MH-53E     HC-4               03/29/2004
Bad weather damaged two aircraft on a ship.

F-SE       VFC-13             03/31/2004
Aircraft on post-maintenance test flight ran off runaway during roll
out. No injuries.

EA-6B      VAQ-137            04/01/2004
Bird struck Prowler on a low-level training flight and was ingested
down the port engine.

FA-18A     VMFA-142           04/05/2004
Starboard leading-edge flap departed the aircraft during maneuvering
flight.

UH-1N      HMLA-167           04/20/2004
Helo had a single-engine failure in flight, resulting in a hard
landing.

P-3C       VP-9               04/28/2004
Hard landing after an abort for an unsafe gear up and flap asymmetry
problem.

T-45C      VT-9               05/09/2004
Nose strut assembly damaged from arresting gear.

T-6A       COMTRAWING-6       05/18/2004
Propeller struck a chock during taxi.

S-3B       VS-31              05/29/2004
Aerial-refueling store inadvertently jettisoned.

Summer 2004 Mech 21