Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
13-1B
CHAPTER 5. NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION (NDI)
5-15. GENERAL. Visual inspection is the equivalent agency as suitable for use in haz-
oldest and most common form of NDI for air- ardous atmospheres such as aircraft fuel tanks.
craft. Approximately 80 percent of all NDI Military Specification MIL-F-3747E, flash-
procedures are accomplished by the direct vis- lights: plastic case, tubular (regular, explosion-
ual methods. This inspection procedure may proof, explosion-proof heat resistant, traffic di-
be greatly enhanced by the use of appropriate recting, and inspection-light), provides re-
combinations of magnifying instruments, quirements for flashlights suitable for use in
borescopes, light sources, video scanners, and aircraft inspection. However, at the present
other devices discussed in this AC. Visual in- time, the flashlights covered by this specifica-
spection provides a means of detecting and ex- tion use standard incandescent lamps and there
amining a wide variety of component and ma- are no standardized performance tests for
terial surface discontinuities, such as cracks, flashlights with the brighter bulbs: Krypton,
corrosion, contamination, surface finish, weld Halogen, and Xenon. Each flashlight manu-
joints, solder connections, and adhesive dis- facturer currently develops its tests and pro-
bonds. Visual inspection is widely used for vides information on its products in its adver-
detecting and examining aircraft surface tising literature. Therefore, when selecting a
cracks, which are particularly important be- flashlight for use in visual inspection, it is
cause of their relationship to structural failures. sometimes difficult to directly compare prod-
Visual inspection is frequently used to provide ucts. The following characteristics should be
verification when defects are found initially considered when selecting a flashlight: foot-
using other NDI techniques. The use of opti- candle rating; explosive atmosphere rating;
cal aids for visual inspection is beneficial and beam spread (adjustable, spot, or flood); effi-
recommended. Optical aids magnify defects ciency (battery usage rate); brightness after
that cannot be seen by the unaided eye and also extended use; and rechargeable or standard
permit visual inspection in inaccessible areas. batteries. (If rechargeable, how many hours of
continuous use and how long is required for
5-16. SIMPLE VISUAL INSPECTION recharging?) If possible, it would be best to
AIDS. It should be emphasized that the eye- take it apart and inspect for quality of con-
mirror-flashlight is a critical visual inspection struction and to actually use the flashlight like
process. Aircraft structure and components it would be used in the field. Inspection flash-
that must be routinely inspected are frequently lights are available in several different bulb
located beneath skin, cables, tubing, control brightness levels:
rods, pumps, actuators, etc. Visual inspection
aids such as a powerful flashlight, a mirror (1) Standard incandescent (for long-
with a ball joint, and a 2 to 10 power magni- battery life).
fying glass are essential in the inspection proc-
ess. (2) Krypton (for 70 percent more light
than standard bulbs).
a. Flashlights. Flashlights used for air-
craft inspection should be suitable for indus- (3) Halogen (for up to 100 percent more
trial use and, where applicable, safety ap- light than standard bulbs).
proved by the Underwriters Laboratory or
(4) Xenon (for over 100 percent more
light than standard bulbs).
c. Lighting. Provide adequate lighting to (1) Surface cracks. When searching for
illuminate the selected part or area. surface cracks with a flashlight, direct the light
beam at a 5 to 45 degree angle to the inspec-
d. Personal Comfort. Personal comfort tion surface, towards the face. (See fig-
(temperature, wind, rain, etc.) of the inspector ure 5-2.) Do not direct the light beam at such
can be a factor in visual inspection reliability. an angle that the reflected light beam shines di-
rectly into the eyes. Keep the eyes above the
e. Noise. Noise levels while conducting a reflected light beam during the inspection.
visual inspection are important. Excessive Determine the extent of any cracks found by
noise reduces concentration, creates tension, directing the light beam at right angles to the
and prevents effective communication. All crack and tracing its length. Use a 10-power
these factors will increase the likelihood of er- magnifying glass to confirm the existence of a
rors. suspected crack. If this is not adequate, use
other NDI techniques, such as penetrant, mag-
f. Inspection Area Access. Ease of ac- netic particle, or eddy current to verify cracks.
cess to the inspection area has been found to
be of major importance in obtaining reliable (2) Other surface discontinuities. In-
visual inspection results. Access consists of spect for other surface discontinuities, such as:
the act of getting into an inspection position discoloration from overheating; buckled,
(primary access) and doing the visual inspec- bulging, or dented skin; cracked, chafed, split,
tion (secondary access). Poor access can affect or dented tubing; chafed electrical wiring; de-
the inspectors interpretation of discontinuities, laminations of composites; and damaged pro-
decision making, motivation, and attitude. tective finishes.
5-24. [RESERVED.]
5-19.