RATIER-FIGEAC

Base maintenance - Guidelines

568F blade – R815505-x
RF-DSC 212/09 V04
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SOMMAIRE

COMPOSITE BLADE - DETAILS

MAIN DAMAGES – BASE MAINTENANCE

MAINTENANCE SUM UP & PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

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COMPOSITE BLADE DETAIL

Nickel sheath Foam Erosion
coat

Spar
Interposing
layer

Lightning
Counterweight arm assy grid

Shell

Bearing races
Jumper cable
Anti erosion film Tulip

Deicer
Trunnion
Connector block Balance tube

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COMPOSITE BLADE - DETAILS

Tulip: The upper part is non circular and is linked to the spar .
Bearing races are carburized and ground.
Pitch change order is transmitted by the trunnion .
The inner part holds the static balance cone assembly

Spar: The spar is carbon made and provides structural resistance

Shell: The outer shape of the kevlar shell provides aerodynamic properties. The shell is attached to the spar

Lightning strike path :

From the blade tip to the blade root, the electrical draining path is as follows:
- Aluminum lightning grid applied on the shell
- Aluminum deposit from the lightning grid to the jumper cable
- Jumper cable fitted on the blade flange

Nickel sheath: Electro deposit nickel shape to protect the blade leading edge

Deicer The heating element consists of a stainless steel foil trapped into a neoprene mat.
Both leads fit on the connector block and are maintained by tie down strap.

Anti erosion film: Protects the deicer – this consumable is to be replaced on a regular basis

Counterweight arm assembly : It is fitted on the blade flange (2 locating pins + 3 bolts) at approximately 90°to the airfoil
to supply an opposing centrifugal twisting moment towards coarse pitch in case of pitch control loss

Erosion coat is a polyurethane coat applied on the airfoil that is conductive to drain electrostatic charges. This layer
protects the shell and the lightning grid. It is applied on an interposing layer (thin or thick glass ply depending on blades
versions .

The yellow warning stripe at the blade tip allows to locate visually the propeller size

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MAIN DAMAGES
BASE MAINTENANCE

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MAIN AIRFOIL DAMAGES
Damage worsening , Damage
Manageable on maintenance base Ref. MM P5206
requiring shop repair
Sand erosion . REPAIR 3 Lightning grid and/or shell damage over
(Abrasion) specified limits

Rain erosion . REPAIR 3 Glass ply peeling followed by grid tearing

(Lifting) over specified limits

Impact ‘FOD’ REPAIR 3 Impact extension due to erosion

(Foreign Object Damage)

Paint cracks REPAIR 3 Caution : may reveal shell cracks

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MAIN AIRFOIL DAMAGES
Damage worsening , Damage
Manageable on maintenance base Ref. MM P5206
requiring shop repair
Blistering . REPAIR 14 Damaged lightning grid area over
(Galvanic corrosion of specified limits
the lightning grid)

Erosion Shell damage growing requiring deicer

REPAIR 1 removal to allow shell repair
REPAIR 4
(extension of the
deicer sealant to
protect shell

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MAIN DEICER DAMAGES
Ref. MM
Manageable on maintenance base Damage worsening , shop repair
P5206
Deicer tab erosion . REPAIR 4 Damage of inner elements : deicer to be
(Abrasion) replaced

Heater tab ending erosion . REPAIR 4 Shell damaged by erosion over specified
(Missing erosion film) REPAIR 5 limits
Need to replace the nickel sheath to
proceed to shell repair

Impact ‘FOD’ REPAIR 5 + Damage of inner elements : deicer to be

(Foreign Object Damage) SB 568F-61-51 replaced

Lifting edges, tab REPAIR 4 Damage of inner elements , damage

debonding exceeding CMM criteria: deicer to be
(Pollution oil, solvents, UV replaced
and high temperature)

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MAIN DEICER DAMAGES
Manageable on maintenance base Ref. MM P5206 Damage worsening , shop repair
Lead chaffing REPAIR 7 Damage of inner elements :
Braid broken SB568F-61-58 Deicer to be replaced

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MAINTENANCE SUM UP and

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

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FEW RECOMMENDATION FOR OPTIMIZED MAINTENANCE

GENERAL :

Clean up systematically all traces of oil or contaminants as defined in MM P5206-61-10-00 Cleaning

Specifically at the blade root.
Do not soak with any solvent .

DEICER

MM P5206 - 61-10-00 REPAIR 5: Replacement of the erosion film

o Replacement on a regular basis:
o To protect the deicer leading edge from small impacts and erosion effects
o To protect the shell below the nickel sheath

MM P5206 - 61-10-00 REPAIR 4: Deicer repair

o Repair and sealing of lifting edges as soon as detected (PR1750 recommended)
o Preventive sealing to reduce erosion and contaminants effects – use to prevent erosion effect of the tab and of the blade lower end
LE (PR1750 recommended)
o Repair of eroded deicer flap ending to avoid tearing extension and prevent shell damage (that would require nickel sheath removal
for repair)

APPLICATION OF SB568F-61-51
o Repair of small impacts to prevent extension and deicer failure.

APPLICATION OF SB568F-61-58
o Preventive maintenance : To fit deicer leads against the blade shank to avoid risk of braid failure

MM P5206 – 61-10-00 Assembly and REPAIR 7

o Maintenance : Installation of thermo shrinkable tubes to repair worn leads sheath before braids are visible

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BLADE SURFACE

MM P5206 - 61-10-00 REPAIR 3:

o Regular erosion coat touch up to prevent erosion extension and damage of elements underneath (lightning grid , kevlar shell, )
o Along the trailing edge of the nickel sheath
o At the blade tip
o To fix impact damages
Note: use of the accelerant DEAPA for brush application recommended

o No use of white laminar coating under black laminar paint for touch up
o As long as lightning grid is not exposed over 26cm² locally (indication)
o Pay attention to not remove glass ply when sanding

BONDING / PAINTING/ APPLICATION OF FILLER

Optimal ambient environmental conditions for painting and bonding operations are as follows: Specified cure times to be adapted if out of optimized
range to meet their unique needs

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