ROCKET SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recognize the safety precautions to follow when working with aircraft rockets and rocket launchers.

The aircraft rocket is no more dangerous than any other explosive weapon. It does have certain peculiar hazards. A completely assembled rocket, if accidentally fired, takes off under its own power in the direction it is pointed, and threatens everything in its path. When fired, an assembled rocket expels a blast of burning gas capable of injuring or killing anyone it strikes. Generally, a rocket motor without a head attached won't explode. It is a fire hazard since ballistite or cordite N (SPCG) ignites easily and burns readily. Highexplosive heads, either fuzed or unfuzed, present the same risk as gun projectiles under the same conditions. Handle rockets, whether completely assembled or disassembled, with extreme care to avoid damage to parts.

Only personnel who are certified to handle rockets should be in the vicinity of assembly operations. When handling airborne rockets, rocket components, and launchers, follow all safety practices that apply to airborne armament and weapons. If practicable, all work should be performed from the side of the rocket launcher.

Rocket motors should be stowed in the same manner as smokeless powder. Never allow matches and open flames in the stowage area. Smoking should NOT be permitted in the loading area within 200 feet of ammunition. Do not stow rocket motors in the same compartments with or near radio apparatus or antenna leads. Induced currents might ignite the motor. Do NOT fire rocket motors when the propellant temperature is outside the safe-firng temperature limits specified on the motor tube.

If a rocket motor is dropped and any portion impacts on a hard surface after falling 2 feet or more, do NOT use it. Cracks or breaks in the grain increase the carefully calculated burning area and cause excessive internal pressure buildup, which can cause the motor to blow up after ignition.

Stow high-explosive heads and fuzes (except fuzes that are permanently installed in the head) separately in the same manner as high-explosive projectiles. Ready-service stowage of assembled rockets is authorized for the 2.75-inch and 5.0-inch aircraft rockets according to NAVSEA OP 4 and NAVSEA OP 5.

A fuze is relatively sensitive and must be handled with care to avoid extreme shock that might cause damage. Conduct fuzing, unfuzing, assembly, or disassembly operations of all types of ammunition away from other explosives and vital installations. Only the minimum number of persons and rounds required should be in the vicinity. The ideal situation is to permit work on only one round at a time. This work should be done on a deck or at some other location remote from all magazines, ready stowage, explosive supplies, or vital installations.

Examination of the exterior of some fuzes will not show if they are armed. If, for any reason, you think a fuze might be armed, the fuze should be treated as an armed and sensitive fuze. You must NOT attempt to remove it from the rocket head. The complete fuzed round should be disposed of according to current directives. When available, explosive-ordnancedisposal (EOD) personnel should dispose of such rounds.

CAUTION

NEVER attempt to remove a base fuze from a rocket head.

You should NOT tamper with (or attempt to repair) any parts of the round. If the round is damaged or defective, remove the head from the motor and mark the defective part for return to the issuing agency. Disassembly or alteration of rocket components is NOT authorized except under specific instructions from Naval Air Systems Command.

Fuzes and/or warheads dropped 5 feet or more onto a hard surface and rockets that have been accidentally released from aircraft launchers upon aircraft landing must be disposed of according to current directives. If a loaded launcher is dropped, you should NOT use it until the launcher tubes, latching mechanisms, and rockets are inspected for damage.

Rocket launchers should NOT be suspended from a bomb rack that does not have independent ignition and jettisoning circuits. To prevent possible explosion, do NOT expose airborne rockets or loaded launchers to the exhaust from jet engine starter pods or gas turbine compressors. A minimum distance, as indicated on the unit, must be maintained between the gas turbine exhaust path and rocket assemblies upon which the exhaust impinges. In the absence of specific information on the unit, a minimum distance of 10 feet must be maintained.

Rockets should NOT be loaded or unloaded from launchers while on the flight deck. RF barriers should remain in place on the launcher while on the flight deck.

The detent pin must be in the breaker switch at all times. The only exceptions are when you are making certain electrical checks, or when the aircraft is ready for flight. Do NOT, under any circumstances, perform an electrical test with rockets in the launcher.