TB 1-1670-260-12
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GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 PURPOSE To
complement the UMARK Technical
Manual and provide
Engineering recommendations concerning damage to victim aircraft during recovery
operations. Recommendations are incorporated or addressed on recovery issues to
ensure minimal damage in aerial recovery of victim helicopters and to instruct
procedures for post-recovery checks to ensure helicopter flight safety in return to
operations after recovery.
1.2 BACKGROUND The UMARK has successfully lifted/performed recovery
operations on 30 Helicopters in testing with no damage to current aircraft directed
rigging points. Eleven of these Flights were on AH-64 A/D aircraft with blades on and
off at speeds from 50 to 80 KIAS. Five Flights were on OH-58 A/C/D aircraft with
blades on and off at speeds from 60 to 80 KIAS.
2.0 OBJECTIVES Identify and resolve issues captured during the
helicopter User,
AMRDEC and Platform PM reviews on UMARK rigging and recovery and add
procedures when applicable to supplement the UMARK TM for pre and post recovery
operations.
2.1 GENERAL The requirement in
combat to
recover a
damaged aircraft
with a
crew rigging the victim helicopter in 15 minutes should follow the TM procedures and
then perform post recovery checks and maintenance required to safely return the
aircraft to fight. For aircraft recovered in a peacetime setting the following warnings and
cautions are added to anticipate worst-case flight conditions and minimize any further
damage to the recovered aircraft.
3.0 PEACETIME RECOVERY PROCEDURES
3.1.1 The AH-64 SERIES supplemental data compliments Chapter 3 of the UMARK
TM and provides the following recommendations prior to aircraft recovery operations
utilizing the UMARK. The intent is to ensure that all limitations described in reference A
analysis are incorporated for recovery operations.