RECORDING MODIFICATIONS

When a modification is performed on a parachute assembly, you must record the assigned technical directive code and modification code on the Parachute Configuration, Inspection and History Record. Other records must be completed in accordance with OPNAVINST 4790.2 (series).

INSPECTIONS

The various times at which inspections are performed on personnel parachutes are discussed in the following paragraphs.

DAILY INSPECTION

A daily inspection should be performed on all in-service parachute assemblies either installed in aircraft or in ready issue rooms. The inspection may be accomplished by line personnel, or by an issue room custodian who has been checked out by both the AME and PR shops and found qualified. The inspection is performed in accordance with the MRC for the equipment and the requirements detailed in NAVAIR 13-1-6.2 for the aircraft involved. It is done before daily flight operations and is a visual in-place inspection. It is also included in the special (7- or 14-day) inspection.

The packaged parachute is inspected for external evidence of damage. You should be looking for wear or other evidence of physical abuse. The assembly should also be checked for stains, which may indicate contact with harmful fluids or chemicals. Any stain should be considered harmful until the fluid that made it is identified. Stains or discolorations may also be caused by contact with a hot object. Heat can seriously weaken the synthetic fabrics in parachute assemblies. Another possible source of trouble is exposure to ultraviolet radiation such as sunlight or some types of artificial lighting. Any evidence of damage or suspicious condition must be reported to maintenance control.

SPECIAL INSPECTION

The special inspection is performed at intervals of 7, 10, or 14 days, depending on the type of aircraft. In-service parachute assemblies installed in aircraft and in ready issue rooms are also given this special inspection. This inspection includes the integrated torso harness and quick attachable harnesses. The daily inspection is included as part of performing the special inspection. Assemblies used for training, parachute rescue, pathfinding, and reconnaissance teams, and those parachute assemblies not assigned to a specific type of aircraft are inspected every 14 days. It is done by organizational level maintenance PR personnel, such as yourself, and conducted only under adequate lightning conditions.

This inspection includes, but is not limited to, emergency aircraft escape assemblies and/or systems, as well as assemblies used for premeditated free-fall or static line parachute descents. The reserve (emergency) parachute, which may form a part of a training-type, trooptype, or a test assembly, is also inspected. Parachute assemblies are not opened for the special inspection or for the daily inspection. If you find or suspect any damage or contamination, notify maintenance control. When you complete the special inspection, enter your full name, rate, and current date on the Preflight/Daily/Turnaround/Postflight Maintenance Record Card.

ACCEPTANCE (ORIGINAL ISSUE) CALENDAR/PHASED/CONDITIONAL INSPECTIONS

The acceptance (original issue)/calendar/ phased/conditional inspection is performed at the lowest level of maintenance possible. These inspections include, but are not limited to, aircraft emergency escape assemblies and/or systems.

Original Issue/Acceptance

The original issue inspection is performed at the time a parachute is placed into service. The original issue inspection consists of a visual inspection of the assembly and a repack of the parachute assembly in accordance with the applicable work package. When a parachute assembly is an aircraft inventory item, the acceptance inventory inspection serves as the original issue inspection. In this case, the packed parachute assembly is visually inspected for damage, and the records concerning the parachute are examined for discrepancies or missing information. If any discrepancy is found, a conditional inspection, which includes a repack of the parachute assembly, is performed.

Calendar/Phased

The regular inspection cycle of a parachute assembly should correspond either to the aircraft calendar inspection or to the phased maintenance inspection cycle program, as directed by NAVAIR 13-600-4-6.3. You should ensure the parachute assembly inspection period does not expire before the scheduled maintenance period of the aircraft. To meet unusual situations and facilitate workload scheduling, a plus or minus 1 week, or portion thereof, may be applied to the authorized inspection interval. To enable a ferry flight to return to home station/ship after an away from home grounding discrepancy of such duration that inspection interval expired, necessary additional days maybe added. However, in each instance deviations apply only to the immediate inspection due. If unusual circumstances dictate deviations of succeeding inspection intervals, each deviation must be computed from the date on which the inspection would have been due if the preceding deviation had not been granted.

Conditional Inspection

When a parachute assembly must be inspected as the result of a specific situation or set of conditions unrelated to the normal inspection interval, a conditional inspection is performed.

Postcombat Inspection

Organizational-level maintenance inspects parachute assemblies for external damage or abnormal condition after each combat mission. When an aircraft has been subjected to gunfire,

all parachutes are examined for damage prior to the next flight. If bullets or fragments have entered the parachute assembly, you must remove it from service and perform a conditional inspection.

Aircraft Accident Report Inspection

Any personnel parachute, along with related subassemblies or equipment (pilot parachutes, stabilization parachutes, containers, harnesses, cushions, automatic parachute ripcord release assemblies, ballistic spreading guns), that has been recovered following use in an emergency bailout or ejection must be returned to the nearest naval supply activity for shipment to the Commanding Officer, Naval Weapons Center (NWC), China Lake, California. The parachute must be in the same condition that it was when recovered. Do not chain the lines. You do this in the event that an engineering investigation is necessary by NWC. Stencil on the outside of the shipping container in 1-inch letters the following: "THIS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN USED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION." These items are required so that a design deficiency can be detected, or to establish requirements for product improvements.

OPNAV 3750.6 gives procedures you must follow to provide the Naval Weapons Center with sufficient information to properly evaluate and improve these parachutes for service use. In accordance with this instruction, you will give NWC the following information:

1. Name of submitting activity and AAR number

2. Date, time, and place of use

3. Name, rank/rate, serial/service number of user

4. Model aircraft, altitude, attitude, airspeed, and sink rate at time of ejection or bailout (if known)

5. Type of parachute and serial number of canopy assembly

6. Type and model designation of ejection seat (if applicable)

7. Type of automatic parachute ripcord release and serial number

8. A brief narrative summary of any difficulties with the personnel parachute equipment and/or automatic actuator or other additional information that may be applicable

Also include the Parachute Configuration, Inspection, and History Record and any reference information or documents that would have a bearing on a technical investigation. If the aircrewman sustained fatal or serious injuries during the escape or recovery sequence, include photographs of the parachute, ejection seat, and other components at the scene of the impact.

Ensure the proper shipping tags and labels are attached to all equipment and the shipping container. If pyrotechnics or explosives are in the package, it should be noted on the outside of the container.

PROCEDURES FOR PRELIMINARY TESTS AND INSPECTIONS

When you are assembling a parachute for an original issue inspection or performing a normal calendar repack, you will have to do some preliminary test and inspections that are common to all personal parachutes. These inspections and tests are discussed in the following text.