AIRFRAME
A New Instrument Panel Going In
Reynolds – Yes, we do. We outsource our engine over- hauls since we don’t have an engine test cell yet. We also send out parts like instruments, oil coolers and switch panels to vendors, just to name a few. Helicopter Maintenance – What happens to a Huey when it comes in your door, from start to fi nish? Reynolds – It starts out with an inventory record made of the helicopter. Then it goes in to complete disassembly where the tail boom and main fuselage are separated. After all the parts and components are removed, they are sent to cleaning to remove all the oils and grease. From there they are sent to paint removal in our blast room where we use walnut shells to remove the paint. After that they are cleaned again and sent back to the main shop for a complete inspection. After that, both the tail and fuselage are sent to the sheet metal shop where, depending on repairs needed, they are put into the fi xtures to have major airframe parts replaced. After this work is completed, the bodies are sent to the paint shop for complete painting on the inside. After the interior painting is complete, it is sent to the
assembly shop to start installing all the overhauled or new components. Keep in mind that during the main processes, all of the components and engine were being overhauled and are back ready for installation. After the helicopter is mostly assembled, it is sent back to the paint shop for fi nal exterior paint. When the paint is completed, it is sent back to the main shop and prepared for initial ground runs.
Making it Like New Again Ground runs commence and we check for leaks, adjust
electrical and pressure systems, balance and track the main and tail rotors, and prepare for fl ight. The last thing we do prior to fl ight is a complete weight and balance check. Then we roll it out and commence a three-hour fl ight test and adjustment program. After that is complete, we hand it over to the customer. There you have it from start to fi nish, breathing new life into an old warrior. Northwest Helicopters just might be the Huey’s best friend.
Reynolds has more than 12,000 total fl ight hours and more than 9,700 hours in helicopters. He is currently qualifi ed as a commercial pilot — rotorcraft helicopter, airplane single engine land and sea, multi engine land, instrument and glider. Reynolds is also a fl ight instructor for both helicopters and airplanes.
He is FAA Part 135 Helicopter Air Carrier current. He is also FAA Part 133 external load current and long-line qualifi ed to 250 feet in the UH-1H. He is UH-1H USFS carded for fi re fi ghting, heli-torch, snow operations, mountain fl ying and long-line vertical reference. Reynolds holds the following FAA Type Ratings: Piston Planes: Grumman TBM Avenger, North American P-51D Mustang, Chance Vought F4U Corsair, Hawker Sea Fury, Douglas A-1 Skyraider, Grumman F4F Wildcat, Mitsubishi A6M Zero. All makes and models of single and multi engine piston powered high performance aircraft. Those are some pretty cool aircraft.
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HelicopterMaintenanceMagazine.com February | March 2014
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