Service-Life Extension

Contingency service-life extensions for the CADs listed in the NAVAIR 11-100-1 (series), not to exceed 30 days, may be granted by the commanding officer or his authorized representative. The extensions may be applied to a specific CAD on a one-time only basis when replacements are not available and failure to extend the service-life would disrupt flight operations. The contingency authority is granted on the condition that Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Maryland; NAVAIRSYSCOM, Washington, D.C.; and SPCC, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, be immediately notified by message or speed letter when such authority is exercised.

When the situation warrants, an additional service-life extension beyond the 30-day contingency extension may be requested by message from NAVORDSTA. All extensions beyond 30 days must be approved by the

NAVORDSTA or NAVAIRSYSCOM. All approved additional service-life extensions will be transmitted by message to the activity making the request. When a service-life extension is granted, an entry must be made in the aircraft logbook. When an aircraft is transferred with a service-life extension in effect, the gaining activity must be notified, and no new contingency service-life extensions may be granted by the commanding officer of the gaining activity.

Service-life Change

The permanent service life of a CAD maybe changed only by a rapid action change (RAC), interim rapid action change (IRAC), or formal

change to NAVAIR 11-100-1 (series) as directed by COMNAVAIRSYSCOM, Washington, D.C. If the change affects those items installed in an aircraft, the change will be recorded in the aircraft's logbook. A line will be drawn through the service-life expiration date shown and the new computed expiration date entered, citing the authority for the change; for example, message number, rapid action change number, or change number. Each new expiration date will supersede the previous date. The latest expiration date entered in the aircraft logbook will always be the final date the CAD may remain installed in the aircraft.

When a contingency service-life extension has

been authorized for a specific CAD, the new computed service-life expiration date (month and year) will be added to the original aircraft logbook entry for that CAD. When an additional servicelife extension has been granted for a specific CAD, the new service-life expiration date (month and year) will be added to the original aircraft logbook entry.

CAD Maintenance Policy

CAD maintenance policy prohibits unauthorized maintenance or adjustments to a CAD at any of the three levels of maintenance: organizational, intermediate, or depot. Authorized maintenance actions are limited to removal, inspection, and replacement, unless specifically detailed in the aircraft MIM or by a technical directive.

CADs and items of equipment in ejection systems are for one-time use only. They are never to be refurbished or used again after firing. This is equally true of functional equipment, rigid lines, plumbing lines, and hoses. Ejection seats and escape system components that have been used

in an ejection or fired, regardless of apparent condition, are prohibited from reuse, and must be disposed of as directed by OPNAVINST 4790.2 (series), OPNAVINST 3750.6 (series), and the applicable CAD and rocket manual.

Because of the extreme stress and strain to the ejection seats and escape system components during ejection, they cannot be reused. This stress could reduce the structural or mechanical reliability of these items. In the case of an inadvertent firing of a cartridge or CAD, all contaminated ballistic lines and devices must be replaced because of the corrosive nature of the explosive.

The service-life of wire-braid, Teflon^(r) -lined hoses installed in ballistic applications is the same as that of the aircraft in which it is installed, unless it is used. A hose is considered to be used if the device to which it is attached is fired, either intentionally or accidentally. If this occurs, the hose and related fittings must be replaced. Before you install a hose or fitting (line, elbow, T, etc.) make sure that it is not contaminated with hydraulic fluid, oil, or a similar type of contaminant. All hoses in the escape system must be inspected for accidental damage at every phased inspection, upon seat removal, after removal of any part of the escape system, and for disconnection of any hose.

When CADs are not installed in an aircraft, the inlet and outlet ports must be sealed with protective closures to prevent the entrance of moisture and foreign matter. For shipping purposes, the safety pins and protective closures provided with the replacement CAD must be returned with the replaced CAD to ensure it is in a safe condition during handling and storage. During ejection system maintenance actions, all disconnected CADs and associated ballistic lines must be protected with flexible plastic plugs that conform to MIL-C-5501/10A and flexible plastic caps that conform to MIL-C-5501/11. NAV-AIR 11-100-1.1 provides information relating to these caps and plugs,

Cartridges are carefully designed and manufactured, but their performance in cartridgeactuated devices is dependable only when they have been properly handled and installed. Care must be observed to maintain the devices in perfect condition.

Since individual cartridges cannot be tested, the responsibility for proper functioning is in the hands of the supervisor and the personnel who maintain them. The quality and reliability of an ejection system are largely dependent on the supervisors and the mechanics who maintain the systems.

Supervisors take note. Nothing is foolproof because fools are so ingenious. Personal safety for those who work around ejection seats cannot be guaranteed. A high level of safety can be achieved if personnel have the proper attitude, understanding, training, and most importantly adequate supervision. Unless proper maintenance procedures are followed exactly, even the most routine ejection seat maintenance tasks can grow drastically out of proportion and bring about an accident or injury. Education of the workers involved is the best assurance for personnel safety. The workers should be made aware of potential hazards and the proper means of protecting themselves. Workers should be assigned tasks according to their capabilities.

Reporting

All malfunctions, discrepancies, and accidents involving CADs must be reported by message to the Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Maryland, in accordance with OPNAVINST 4790.2 (series). If the suspected defect is with the CAD, the message must be addressed to NAVORDSTA for action. If the report describes an inadvertent actuation of an aircraft system resulting in the CAD functioning normally, the action copy of the report must be submitted to the cognizant field activity (CFA) for the aircraft with an information copy to NAVORDSTA, Indian Head, Maryland. Accidents and incidents involving CADs may require reporting in accordance with OPNAVINST 3750.6 in addition to the OPNAVINST 4790.2 (series). Submission of the reports required by the maintenance instruction does not satisfy the requirements of the safety instruction. If dual reporting is required, you should ensure the reports are adequately cross-referenced to satisfy the requirements of all commands involved.

All CADs suspected of being discrepant, malfunctioning, or involved in an accident or incident must be clearly identified and turned in to the station or ship's ordnance or weapons department. These CADs must be marked "hold for 30 days for engineering investigation (EI) pending disposition instructions." The report should contain the turn-in document number, and it should identify the activity holding the material. If CFA response is requested, NAVORDSTA will respond with complete disposition and shipping instructions.