Desert redeployment cleaning

PS: The Preventive Maintenance Monthly, July, 2004

Well, you've served your time in the sandbox, and redeployed to your home station. But this is no time to kick back and relax!

Your bird put in long hours in the sand and had a long sea voyage home. But sand (remember the sand?) got into every nook and cranny, and the salt air and sea spray may have added salt and moisture to the mix. Now you need to get busy to restore your helicopters to their pre-deployment condition.

1. Open all access doors and remove all non-permanently installed panels and fairings. Inspect for damage.

2. Vacuum loose sand or dirt from accessible parts of your bird.

3. LOOK FOR CORROSION, DAMAGE TO TELFON BEARINGS AND ROTOR FEATHER BEARINGS AND HYDRAULIC LEAKAGE, ESPECIALLY AROUND SEALS WHERE SAND CAN EAT INTO ANYTHING.

4. CLEAN INSIDE YOUR BIRD AND REMOVE ALL SAND LIKE IT SAYS IN TM 1-1500-244-23.

5. If you come across contamination on electrical connectors, clean and preserve them like it says in TM 1-1500-343-23. Use isopropyl alcohol instead of trichlorotrifluoroethane.

6. After washing, remove standing water.

7. Inspect aircraft for additional sand and clean again if necessary until all contaminants are removed.

8. When your aircraft is dry, inspect for corrosion 0r other defects. If any are found repair them like it says in TM 1-1500-343-34, TM 1500-344-23 and each specific aircraft TM.

9. Apply type II corrosion preventive compound (CPC), N5N 8030-00-938-1947, to water entrapment areas in your bird's mating surfaces, bilge areas and hidden corrosion prone areas.

10. Wash your bird's engine according to its TM requirements.

11. When everything is complete, button up your bird.

HERE'S A LIST OF THE CLEANING MATERIALS YOU'LL NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE THOROUGHLY.

Nomenclature                     NSN                   U/I     Quan Req

Abrasive mat (280-400 grit) E    5350-00-967-5089      EA      100 Ea
Abrasive mat (180-240 grit)      3550-00-967-5093      EA      100 Ea
Abrasive mat aluminum            5350-00-967-5092      EA      100 Ea
  (100-105 grit)
Abrasive paper                   5350-00-224-7205      PG-50   4 Shts
  (silicon carbide)
Abrasive paper                   5550-01-043-2278      SH-50   4 Shts
  (silicon carbide)
Aircraft surface cleaning        6850-01-235-0872 or   GL-5    20 Gal
   compound                      6850-01-426-6682
Chromium trioxide                6810-00-264-6517      LB-5    5 Lb
Calcium sulfate                  6810-00-242-4066      LB-1    1 Lb
Corrosion preventive compound    8030-00-244-1297      GL-1    1 Gal
Corrosion preventive compound    8030-00-903-0931      PT-1    10 Pts
Corrosion preventive compound    8030-01-041-1596      CN-1    24 Cans
Corrosion preventive compound    8030-01-045-4780      QT-1    10 Qts
Corrosion preventive compound    8030-00-938-1947      LB-1    76 Cans
Corrosion preventive compound    8030-00-546-8637      CN-1    12 Cans
Corrosion resistant coating      8030-01-018-2838      QT-1    4 Qts
Isopropyl alcohol                6810-00-286-5435      GL-1    1 Gal

If you have any trouble getting cleaning materials, contact AMCOM's Ronnie Price or Judy Gerley at DSN 897-1312 or 897-1575 or commercial (256) 313-1312 or 313-1575.

Email is ronnie.price@redstone.army.mil judy.gerley@redstone.army.mil