A.M S.M.J.S Fondo Santa Clara Ser Pergamino, doc nº 81, de 375 x 505 mm Buen estado de conservación Tinta ocre Escritura gótica

9-49. Technical inspection of aircraft maintenance ensures standards and practices established by applicable publications are followed. It also ensures applicable technical requirements are met, maintenance performed is documented, and quality work is performed efficiently.

9-50. Before performing an inspection, QC personnel review the latest applicable maintenance manual and regulatory policies to ensure the inspection meets current requirements. To ensure crewmember safety and equipment reliability, inspection procedures must be standardized and explicitly followed.

Status Symbols

9-51. Status symbols are used on forms and records to reflect the seriousness of faults, failures, deficiencies, and related maintenance actions and known safety hazards. The forms and records show the condition, readiness for flight, mission capabilities, operation, service, inspection, and maintenance of the aircraft system, subsystem, or associated equipment.

Note. Refer to DA PAM 738-751 for a detailed discussion of status symbols denoting aircraft

airworthiness.

Grounding Condition (X) Authorization

9-52. The TI is the commander-designated representative for aircraft maintenance quality assurance and QC management. Authorization to sign off “status symbol X, grounding condition” or “circled X” conditions is designated, in writing (by memorandum or on the DA Form 1687), by the owning aviation maintenance commander. This authorization provides the name, rank, and duty position of the TI and authorizes him to inspect and sign off “status symbol X, grounding condition” or “circled X” faults on specific aircraft models and components.

9-53. The TI’s initials and signature/stamp are required to release an aircraft for flight. An official memorandum listing all QC personnel with their initials, signature, and PID next to their name will help eliminate unauthorized use by other unit personnel.

9-54. A TI or maintenance supervisor who works on a “status symbol X, grounding condition” or “circled X” fault cannot perform quality assurance on his own work. The work must be inspected and signed off by another person designated in writing by the commander.

9-55. If no repair work or maintenance is involved and only an inspection is required, the TI performs the inspection and signs off with no recheck. The parent unit orders are sufficient authority to sign off a “status symbol X, grounding condition” or “circled X” faults on aircraft belonging to another unit (DA PAM 738-751).

Note. When authorization is given to sign off “status symbol X, grounding condition” or

“circled X” faults on specific aircraft models or components, the memorandum must list these items and be signed by the commander. Keep a copy of the authorization on file in the QC office for six months after the representative departs the unit.

Inspection Stamps

9-56. An inspection stamp may be used to indicate a satisfactory condition. This stamp carries the same authority as a TI signature or PID and must be guarded against unauthorized use. If an inspection stamp is used, it is round and no larger than 1/2 inch in diameter (figure 9-5). It includes the unit designation and TI number.

Figure 9-5. Inspection stamp sample

9-57. The following requirements must also be met:

z Keep stamps that have not been issued under lock and key.

z Destroy illegible stamps.

z Do not assign relieved stamps for six months.

z Keep a stamp inventory or register (table 9-3) in the QC section.

Table 9-3. Sample inventory register of inspection stamps

Stamp # Assigned To Date Assigned Date Returned

1 Jerry H. Brown SSG 12-Jan-06

2 John W. Doe SGT 23-Aug 04 3-Dec-04

3 4 5

6 Stamp destroyed (lost)

7 Tony L. Salazar SFC 4-Jun-05

Technical Inspections

9-58. Technical inspections are a visual, touch-and-feel inspection made by a technically qualified person (normally a QC TI). These inspections are performed on aircraft and associated equipment according to maintenance standards outlined in the aircraft TMs.

9-59. Technical inspections are also done on aviation-related equipment, maintenance and shop operations and areas, and supply facilities. The results of all technical inspections are used to—

z Assure quality maintenance is performed and in full compliance with TMs.

z Determine serviceability of aircraft systems, subsystems, repair parts, and components. z Estimate cost of damage resulting from accidents or incidents.

z Determine how many manhours and repair parts are needed to restore equipment to a

serviceable condition.

z Determine the cause of the unserviceable condition of the equipment. z Determine the economical reparability of unserviceable equipment.

NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION

9-60. NDI is a tool used by TIs to complement a QC inspection. Aircraft components may have suspected flaws that must be confirmed or denied. A defect may be visible, but the severity or extent of the defect is unknown. For example, scratches can look like cracks and hairline cracks can look like scratches. The TI must evaluate the defect to determine whether NDI methods are necessary to further evaluate the extent and severity of a defect.

9-61. NDI testing methods are used to determine the composition, integrity, dimensions, or properties of a component or structure without damaging the item. Some NDI methods include liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, electromagnetic, ultrasonic, and penetrating radiation methods. AR 750-1, TM 1-1500-204-23-7, and TM 1-1500-335-23 cover NDI details and procedures.

PROCEDURES