LIFE PRESERVERS

Life preservers are worn by aircrew members on overwater flights. Their function is to keep them afloat until a raft can be reached or until a rescue team arrives. Proper inspection, maintenance, and handling of life preservers are necessary to prevent any possible malfunction that could result in the loss of life.

LPU-21/P SERIES LIFE PRESERVER ASSEMBLY

The LPU-21/P series life preserver assembly is authorized for use by all aircrew personnel wearing compatible flight clothing. It is designed as a constant wear item for use with the survival vest and will not interfere with the removal of the nonintegrated parachute harness. Survival item pouches are attached to the life preserver casing. The dye marker and signal flares that go into these pouches are not initially supplied and must be individually requisitioned. Modifications to the LPU-21/P life preserver have resulted in a new letter designation being assigned to the preserver. For the sake of clarity, the term LPU-21/P series is used where appropriate.

WARNING

THE LPU-21/P SERIES LIFE PRE-SERVER ASSEMBLIES ARE NOT USED IN EJECTION SEAT AIR-CRAFT.

NOTE: The LPU-21B/P and LPU-21C/P life preserver assemblies must NOT be configured with the FLU-8A/P automatic inflation device.

The LPU-21/P and LPU-21A/P life preserver assemblies use pull toggles for activation. After the incorporation of Aircrew System Change 405, which directs installation of beaded inflation handles, the LPU-21/P and LPU-21A/P were updated to become the LPU-21B/P. The beaded inflation handles improve toggle accessibility and provide the inflation system with a multidirectional pull capability.

The LPU-21/P series life preserver assembly weighs 4 pounds (without survival items) and provides a minimum of 65 pounds of buoyancy. The flotation assembly is constructed of polychloroprene-coated nylon cloth and consists of two independent flotation chambers. One chamber consists of the left waist lobe joined by a tube to the right collar lobe. This chamber is serviced by the carbon dioxide inflation assembly and oral inflation valve attached to the left waist lobe. The other chamber consists of the right waist lobe joined by a tube to the left collar lobe. This chamber is serviced by the carbon dioxide inflation assembly and oral inflation valve attached to the right waist lobe. The two chambers are sewn together at the collar lobes (fig. 6-12).

Figure 6-12.-LPU-21/P series life preserver assembly, parts nomenclature.

Each waist lobe of the flotation assembly is equipped with an attachment patch used for securing the casing assembly by means of rivets. In addition, the right waist lobe is equipped with one snap hook and the left waist lobe is equipped with one D-ring. The snap hook and the D-ring are used to secure the waist lobes together after inflation. Survival item pouches are fastened to the life preserver D-rings with directional snap fasteners.

Each collar lobe of the flotation assembly is equipped with a snap hook for attachment to the survival vest D-rings (parachute risers are routed outside of the collar lobes). In addition, an inspection record patch is also provided on a collar lobe.

The casing assembly is constructed of fireretardant Aramid cloth and protects the flotation assembly. The casing assembly also provides for

size adjustment and attachment to the wearer. The casing assembly consists of the adjustable casing, an adjustable webbing belt, belt keepers and Drings, and the front connector assembly.

The webbing belt, attached to the inside waist portion of the casing assembly, provides for waist size adjustment from 30 to 44 inches. The webbing belt keeper loops retain the webbing belt and provide for attachment of the survival vest about the wearer's waist. In addition, there are six Drings secured to the webbing belt keeper loops, used for attaching the survival item pouches, a raft retaining line, and other accessories.

Hook and pile tapes, attached to the outside waist portion of the casing, are used for slack adjustment. In addition, hook and pile tapes, attached about the circumference of the collar casing and the lower edge of the back portion of the casing, are used to enclose the casing assembly about the flotation lobes.

The casing assembly is secured around the wearer's waist by the front connector assembly, which. consists of two snap hooks and two D-rings backed by webbing pads for comfort.

Each inflation assembly is made up of a carbon dioxide cylinder and an inflation valve. The inflation assemblies are connected to valve stems attached to each waist lobe (each valve stem is equipped with a check valve to prevent leakage).

As stated earlier, the LPU-21/P series life preserver assembly is authorized for use by all aircrew personnel wearing compatible flight clothing. LPU-21 /P series life preservers that are modified to incorporate the FLU-8/P series automatic inflation device will be used in ejection seat type of aircraft only. LPU-21/P series life preservers modified with the FLU-8A/P inflator will be redesignated the LPU-23A/P life preserver.

The LPU-21/P series is manually inflated by pulling both inflation assembly beaded handles in a natural, slightly down and straight out position from the body. This action removes the retaining pins securing the casing assembly about the waist lobes and actuates the inflation assemblies. The hook and pile tapes securing the casing assembly about the collar lobes will separate as the preserver inflates.

NOTE: The casing must be manually opened and the flotation assembly unfolded prior to inflating a preserver through the oral inflation valve.

In an emergency situation, the oral inflation valves may be used to top off an inflated preserver, maintain inflation of a leaky preserver, or inflate a chamber if an inflation assembly malfunctions. The oral inflation valves are also used to inflate a preserver with air during an inspection test and to evacuate a preserver in preparation for packing.