A upkeep process utilized by Air Pressure mechanics to doc inspections probably broken a whole lot of C-130 propeller blades over a decade, in line with service officers.
Upkeep technicians inspecting the propeller blades for cracks or different harm scratched everlasting marks on every blade to doc the inspection had taken place.
“The method used to engrave serial numbers on the propellers probably contributed to cracks which are being discovered on the C-130Hs,” Maj. Beau Downey, an Air Pressure spokesperson, stated in an e mail. “That course of, which concerned an electrical arc pen to incise digits into the floor of the steel, was stopped about six months in the past and won’t be used going ahead. Additional evaluation can be wanted for a full understanding of the foundation reason for the cracks. Proper now our focus is on safely and shortly returning these plane to supporting the mission.”
The cracks within the propeller blades’ barrels compelled the Air Pressure to floor 116 plane, greater than 20 % of its C-130 fleet. Whereas a small variety of plane have been returned to flight, the Air Pressure is just not saying what number of stay grounded, citing operational safety considerations. The propeller crashes and grounding was first reported in early October, however the reason for the harm had not beforehand been disclosed.
“The [Air Force] is working a multi-faceted restoration plan to renew secure plane operations as quickly as potential,” Downey stated. “This can be an incremental course of based mostly on operational precedence and our focus stays the security of our crews.”
The grounded plane are among the many oldest C-130s within the fleet. The H-models started rolling off of Lockheed’s meeting line within the mid-Nineteen Seventies. The propellers had been initially constructed by Hamilton Customary, and are nonetheless manufactured which is now a part of Raytheon Applied sciences’ Collins Aerospace.
The etching of the propeller blades was accomplished when plane had been going by a posh overhaul referred to as “depot upkeep” on the Warner Robins Air Logistics Advanced in Georgia.
“When the depot at Warner Robins Air Logistics Advanced receives an unserviceable propeller hub and blade set from a discipline unit, they’re inspected, overhauled, examined, after which ready for cargo to the affected unit,” Downey stated. “This course of entails complicated inspections and repairs that can not be achieved on the unit stage exterior the depot.”
The U.S. Air Pressure at present flies greater than 483 C-130s, in line with information from Forecast Worldwide, a consulting agency owned by Protection One mother or father firm GovExec. Of these, about 200 are H-models, however solely about half are grounded.
Newer C-130J plane, which make up the majority of the Air Pressure fleet, have six-blade propellers manufactured by Dowty that don’t have any such issues. Some Nationwide Guard wings fly H-model C-130s with particular eight-bladed propellers, that are additionally made by Collins Aerospace. These planes additionally don’t have any points.
“The eight-bladed propellers will ship extra energy and effectivity whereas lowering upkeep,” in line with an Air Pressure assertion. “Attributable to elevated thrust for takeoff and climb-out, they’re additionally useful in chilly climate and arctic operations.”
Lately, lawmakers have inserted funding within the Air Pressure funds to purchase the eight-blade propellers and have criticized service leaders for not requesting the funds.
The Air Pressure doesn’t understand how lengthy C-130H plane with cracked propeller blades can be grounded.
“Continued progress is underway in expediting the method to accumulate obtainable prop barrels, which incorporates scouring the globe for inventory of the H mannequin prop barrels that our maintainers can refurbish,” Downey stated.
A corroded propeller blade was accountable for a 2017 Marine Corps C-130 crash that killed 15 Marines and a sailor.
The C-130 has been a workhorse of the navy for six a long time. Immediately, greater than half of the Air Pressure’s C-130s are flown by the Air Nationwide Guard and Air Pressure Reserve Command. The planes are sometimes used to ship support and provides after pure disasters. Greater than 150 are outfitted for particular missions akin to combating forest fires, refueling different planes in flight, and gathering intelligence. Some are aerial gunships constructed to supply shut air assist to troops on the bottom.
The H-models flown by the Air Pressure at the moment entered service within the mid-Nineteen Seventies. The planes have obtained quite a few updates and enhancements through the years.
Lockheed Martin started constructing the C-130J, an plane with extra highly effective and fuel-efficient engines, within the Nineties. Lockheed builds 24 C-130J for the U.S. navy and its allies every year, stated Stephanie Stinn, an organization spokesperson. The meeting line can produce as much as 36 plane per yr.
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