REASONS FOR INSPECTING PARACHUTES

Depending on its use, a parachute is exposed to a large number of potentially destructive forces and agents. A parachute consists of many parts and is a complex and sometimes fragile assembly, so there are many chances for something to go wrong. Once a parachute has been inspected, repacked, and placed in service, it is moved around, sat on, leaned against, and in many ways subjected to forces that can cause chafe and wear. When installed in an aircraft or being worn, the parachute may be contaminated by a number of potentially harmful fluids such as perspiration, lubricants and hydraulic fluids, chemicals, and salt water. Dampness can also get into the components from humid conditions.

Aside from inspecting for damage, new parachutes are inspected before being placed in service because it is possible for a mistake to be made when many persons are involved in a manufacturing process. A parachute may also

Figure 1-12.-Shipping tags and labels.

require changes and modifications. These are _{issued by the Aircrew System Bulletins, Aircrew} Systems Changes, and updated material entered _{in the Emergency Personnel and Drogue Parachute Systems Manual, NAVAIR 13-1-6.2.} ^{As you can see, many things can happen to} a parachute in service. Inspection schedules based on experience are established to ensure that damage is detected before it becomes serious.  You have the responsibility of following these schedules and for properly doing the required inspections.

INSPECTION SCHEDULES

The frequency and nature of parachute inspections depends on the use of the parachute. Those used regularly for jumping, such as parachutes assigned to SEAL teams, are inspected and repacked after each use; these and others are on a different schedule than those intended for emergency use. Our discussion focuses on emergency parachutes to emphasize that although they are rarely used, they may be damaged in handling or exposed to hazards in their environment.

Emergency parachutes are assigned to operating units. They may be part of an aircraft inventory or they maybe assigned to a ready issue room. To some extent, the frequency of their inspection depends on the type of aircraft to which they are assigned. Those assigned to attack or fighter aircraft are inspected more frequently than those on the larger patrol, cargo, or other planes where they are not sat upon or otherwise subjected to as many hazards.

Major inspections of emergency parachutes are routine when the parachute is first put into service, and then later at intervals to coincide with the time the aircraft is down for major maintenance.

Less extensive inspections that do not involve unpacking the parachute are daily, preflight, postflight, and special. These special inspections are done every 7 days, 10 days, or 14 days, depending on the type of aircraft. Of course, if any damage is found or suspected during these inspections, the assembly is sent to an aviation intermediate maintenance depot (AIMD) for thorough inspection, testing, and possible repair.

Several special inspections may also be done. For instance, after a combat mission the parachute assembly is inspected for missile damage from bullets or fragments. After an emergency use the entire parachute is shipped to the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California, for a detailed inspection. Other inspections may be ordered if defects are suspected in a group of parachutes or in association with authorized changes and modifications. PARACHUTE MAINTENANCE

All parachutes are given periodic maintenance inspections under the direction and control of the maintenance control officer. Maintenance is to be thorough at all times. No instance of careless treatment or neglect of parachute equipment is to be allowed to pass unnoticed. The vital function of this equipment must be uppermost in the minds of all personnel concerned.

SPECIFICATIONS

Parachute maintenance and inspection procedures are performed according to the guidelines set forth in the Emergency Personnel and Drogue Parachute Systems Manual, NAVAIR 13-1-6.2, and the Maintenance Requirements Cards, NAVAIR 13-600-4-6-3. These manuals are continually updated, and when using them, as in using any publication, you must first make sure that the current changes are included. The manuals will list all of the proper steps, procedures, and points to inspect. They also give you information about proper specifications, technical data, and are used to ensure that all steps are followed, all details are inspected, and that all quality control items are checked at the proper time by a quality assurance inspector (QA). Using these manuals is mandatory and ensures that you are following the current and approved procedures.

Whenever a question on the construction of parachute equipment comes up, you should obtain and study the drawing that applies. Repairs that are difficult should be compared to the drawing to ensure that the finished product is the same as the one in the drawing. The drawing number or reference number of a particular piece of parachute equipment can be found in the applicable work package in the Emergency Personnel and Drogue Parachute Systems Manual, NAVAIR 13-1-6.2.

All parachute maintenance is done by the lowest level activity equipped to satisfactorily perform the work. Mission, time, equipment, trained personnel, and operational needs are the basic considerations involved in determining which level performs the work.

PARACHUTE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS

The following records and documents are used by the Aircrew Survival Equipmentman, under the direction of the maintenance control officer, to provide a systematic means of control.

PREFLIGHT/DAILY/TURNAROUND/ POSTFLIGHT MAINTENANCE RECORD (OPNAV 4790/38)

Whenever you perform any of these routine inspections you must fill out an OP-NAV Form 4790/38 (fig. 1-13). You also use this Preflight/Daily/Turnaround/Postfight

Maintenance Record Card to record the special (7- or 14-day) inspection in accordance with applicable Aircraft Maintenance Requirement Card decks and OPNAVINST 4790.2 (series).

PARACHUTE CONFIGURATION, INSPECTION AND HISTORY RECORD (OPNAV 4790/101)

The Parachute Configuration Inspection and History Record is designed to provide a continuing historical record of a parachute assembly and its components throughout its

Figure 1-13.-Preflight/Daily/Turnaround/Postflight Maintenance Record, OPNAV 4790/38. 1-17

Figure 1-14.-Parachute configuration inspection and history record.

service life (fig. 1-14). The form is a two-part NCR 

form. The hardback copy is to be filed in the hardback copy, is maintained as designated by the spare parachute is installed. All original (flimsy) copies _{of the history record are maintained in a permanent file as designated by the cognizant} aircraft maintenance officer. A permanent file ^{of all history records, including the current} _{aircraft logbook for the aircraft in which the} cognizant aircraft maintenance officer for parachute assemblies; upon installation of the spare parachute into an aircraft, the hardback copy is transferred to the appropriate aircraft ^{logbook. Upon transfer of the aircraft or} parachute assembly from one activity to another, all original (flimsy) copies from the permanent file are transferred to the new custodian to provide a complete history of the parachute assembly. This will also initiate the new custodian's permanent file. When a parachute assembly has been involved in an aircraft accident, the history record and the permanent file of original (flimsy) history records are forwarded to the Commander, Naval Weapons Center (Code 64123), China Lake, CA 93555.

Initiation

The IMA placing the parachute assembly into service initiates the Parachute Configuration Inspection and History Record. The IMA initiates a new history record each time the parachute assembly is inducted for repack or maintenance. All required entries must be legibly recorded, using a ball-point pen or typewriter. The Aircraft Buno/Serial Number block maybe annotated in pencil or left blank, to be filled in by the cognizant custodian of the parachute assembly. Entry errors are ruled through a single line and initialed by the quality assurance inspector. The hardback copy from the previous inspection can be destroyed upon acceptance of the newly repacked parachute assembly by the OMA.

The type parachute (NES-12, A/P28S-27), the parachute assembly part number (576AS100-27, MBEU 10030PA-4), the canopy serial number, the date the canopy was placed in service (month and year), the aircraft buno/serial number, the controlling custodian's alphanumeric 3-M organization code, the next scheduled removal date (Julian date), and the actual removed date (Julian date) must be entered at the top of the history record.