THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, FEBRUARY 19, 1937.
136
No 123
DIRECTORATE OF AIR SERVICES,
HONG KONG.
Notice to Aircraft Owners and Ground Engineers.
No. 5 of the year 1937.
FAIREY-REED METAL AIRSCREWS :
DETAIL INSPECTION,
1. Instances have occurred of transverse fatigue failure of the blade sheet of Fairey-Reed metal airscrews, the fractures commencing at the holes for the hub bolts or the bolts securing the hub blocks, and extending towards the leading and trailing edges.
2. As the result of these failures, it is necessary that, in future, periodic detail inspection of these airscrews in the vicinity of the hub blocks and identification marks be made.
3. This detail inspection is to be made, after each period. not exceeding 200 hours flying, of all Fairey-Reed metal airscrews. A similar inspection is also to be made, after each intermediate period not exceeding 50 hours flying, of the aircrews enumerated in para. 10 below, and of any of those listed in para. 11 which may be declared serviceable by the makers.
+
4. These inspections are additional to the normal routine inspections, during which the exposed parts of the blade sheets must be carefully examined for cracks, particularly in the vicinity of the blade roots and of the deeply impressed identification marks which appear on a few early airscrews of this type.
5. For the purpose of detail inspection, the aircrews are to be removed from the hubs, spinners from the airscrews and boss blocks from the blade sheets. The blade sheets are then to be cleaned and inspected for cracks, particularly in the vicinity of the bolt holes and in regions where any attrition or corrosion has occurred. This inspection is to be made with the aid of a magnifying glass. Inspection for cracks is facilitated by anodic treatment of the blade sheets, and if this treatment has not already been given, it is advisable for the blade sheets to be anodised as soon as this can be arranged.
6. Any airscrews found to contain cracks are to be withdrawn from use, and the matter is to be reported to the Director of Air Services, Harbour Department, Hong Kong.