The manufacturers of the Stencel ejection seat have stated that the seat is corrosion resistant. Therefore, on the special 40-day corrosion inspection, the SJU-8/ A ejection seat has no inspection requirements. But we know that during shipboard operation, the seat will come in contact with salt spray, jet exhausts, stack gases, and various other debris. Although the seat is not addressed in the 40-day MRCs, it should be main-tained in accordance with the NA 01-lA-509 and local squadron instructions. The NA 01-l A-509 states that ejection seats should have a 7-day inspection performed while at sea and a 14-day inspection when ashore.

LUBRICATING PROCEDURES

You should ensure that oils, greases, pre-servatives, cleaning solutions, and solvents do not enter enclosed mechanisms, cartridge chambers, and ballistic hose and tube assemblies or come in contact with cartridges or initiators. You should cap all open ports during corrosion maintenance. All lubricants must be applied sparingly, and you must exercise care to protect nylon and cotton fabrics from contamination. Indiscriminant use of paint and preservatives that dry and build up with repeated or excessive application will often result in restricted movement of parts. This can easily render affected seats useless for ejection purposes. The following lubricants and procedures should be used on the Stencel ejection seat as stated in the NA 01-lA-509.

1. Lubricating oil, VV-L-800, should be applied to all parts that rotate, such as bell cranks, levers, pins, rollers, and similar components.

2. Grease, MIL-G-81322 or MIL-G-23827, should be applied to all parts that slide and should also be used as a corrosion preventive for all bright metal parts.

3. Apply MIL-C-85054 by brush or swab to all unpainted, nonmoving parts, such as nuts and bolts, that do not require lubrication.

4. Cleaning solvent and lubricants may be applied with brush or cloth providing adequate care is taken to prevent entry into closed mechanisms.

5. Surface contaminants such as dried lubricants, dirt, grit, or corrosion products can be removed from intricate bell cranks and levers by scrubbing with a small nylon bristle brush using P-D-680, Type II, cleaning solvent. Follow the cleaning solvent with a light coat of VV-L-800 oil to the entire component or assembly.

EMERGENCY CLEANING

The following emergency cleaning procedures should be used for cleaning ejection seats exposed to gross amounts of salt water or fire-extinguishing agents. The procedures described are normally used only to prevent further damage and will usually require further treatment at a higher level of maintenance.

WARNING

Disarm ejection seat mechanisms before cleaning. Only authorized personnel should disarm seats and perform cleaning operations.

1. Remove parachutes, drogue parachutes where applicable, and seat pans. These items should be returned to local work centers for cleaning or replacement.

2. Remove ejection seats according to the applicable MIM.

3. Remove the CADs, rockets, and inertia reels from the seats. Cap all gas lines and ports. Then, wipe down these components with fresh water.

4. Rinse the seat thoroughly with fresh water. Continue washing while directing the water into crevices and close fitting parts until the contaminants are removed.

5. Blow as much water as possible from equipment with low pressure, clean, dry air.

6. Dry excess water deposits with a clean cloth, clean paper towels, or remnant cloths.

7. Apply the water displacing preservative MIL-C-81309, Type II, by spray or brush to critical metal surfaces and to recess areas that may not be completely dry. Water displacing pre-servative protects equipment during necessary inspection or inquiry, and during transfer to the repair custodian.

8. Wash all survival gear and pilot safety equipment with fresh water and dry thoroughly. You should refer to NAVAIR 13-l-6-X for detailed preservation procedures. Lubricate and control corrosion in accordance with maintenance requirements cards.

9. You should comply with all special inspection requirements before reinstallation. Reassemble ejection seats in accordance with the MIMs.

10. If necessary, send the ejection seat to the next higher level of maintenance.

11. Aircraft-mounted escape system com-ponents (mechanically activated CADs) should be wiped with fresh water, a cloth, and dried. If external contamination is suspected, these components should be removed and replaced.

CORROSION CONTROL

The existing MIMs and MRCs for most ejection seat systems do not provide sufficient or explicit instruction for corrosion control and lubrication. The Aircraft Weapons System Cleaning and Corrosion Control Manual, NA 01-lA-509, and COMNAVAIRPAC/ COM-NAVAIRLANT INSTRUCTION 4750.2 (series) contain more information on corrosion control. These publications should be on your required reading list. The Aviation Maintenance Ratings (AMR) Fundamentals, NAVEDTRA 10342-3, and Aviation Maintenance Ratings (AMR) Supervisor, NAVEDTRA 10343-A1, also contain information regarding corrosion control. If needed, commands may develop local MRCs or local maintenance instructions to help eliminate corrosion of ejection seats. The following general information pertains to most ejection seats. Steps must be taken to prevent corrosion before it occurs. Correct procedures for repair of components and systems after corrosion has been treated must be used to ensure that corrosion does not return. The performance of the 210-and 364-day inspections, the 7-day inspections while at sea, and the 14-day inspections while ashore should be conducted according to the applicable MIMs and MRCs. Preventive maintenance on seat components, including procedures for cleaning and lubrication, is discussed in the following paragraphs.