Main Landing Gear Upper Shock Strut, AH-64 Series Helicopters

URGENT

*TB 1-1520-238-20-130

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY TECHNICAL BULLETIN

MAIN LANDING GEAR UPPER SHOCK STRUT, AH-64

SERIES HELICOPTERS

Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.

13 January 2003

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

NOTE

THIS PUBLICATION IS EFFECTIVE UNTIL RESCINDED OR SU-

PERSEDED.

NOTE

MACOM commanders may authorize temporary exception from

technical bulletin (TB) requirements IAW 95-1, Ch 6. Exception may

only occur when combat operations or matter of life or death in civil

disasters or other emergencies are so urgent that they override the

consequences of continued aircraft operation.

1. Summary 

1.1 Background A fractured main shock strut upper cylinder was discovered on an in-service aircraft.

Analysis has revealed that the cause of the fracture was stress corrosion cracking induced by moisture. The

crack initiated from the inside circumference of the cylinder at the weep hole and eventually propagated

through the entire cylinder wall completely around the circumference.

1.2 Technical Bulletin Purpose Perform an initial and recurring visual inspections of the upper shock strut

cylinder.

2. END ITEMS AFFECTED  All AH-64 series aircraft.

*This TB supersedes USAAMCOM Aviation Safety Action Message AH64-03-01 141300Z Nov 02.