MH-60 SLAP
Abstract
MH-60 SLAP is assessing the primary aircraft structure and subsystem condition of the MH-60S fleet in order to assess the airframe's ability to meet its designed service life of 10,000 hours and to determine what efforts are necessary to extend the aircraft design life limits to allow it to meet Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) operational inventory requirements to bridge to a follow-on program procurement. The highest flight time MH-60S helicopters are expected to exceed the currently assumed design life limit of 10,000 flight hours in 2024, at which time as many as 30 aircraft per year could be downed without a SLAP and Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). The MH-60S has experienced significant structural issues since Initial Operational Capability in August 2002, resulting in downed aircraft and additional inspections for the operational fleet. Similar issues could very well precede the 10,000 flight hour life limit, particularly without the insight provided by a SLAP effort commenced as soon as possible. The MH-60 SLAP is comprised of two distinct assessments: Fatigue Life Assessment (FLA), which will establish the fatigue life of the aircraft and air vehicle systems and Subsystem Life Assessment (SLA), which will determine subsystem components that are critical to safe flight and ground operations and identify safety risk and risk mitigation strategies for critical components. FLA consists of structural investigations of the cockpit beams, main gearbox beams/frames, upper deck, engine mount, lower tub, main landing gear, tail landing gear, cargo hook, transition splice and tie-down fittings/structure, tailcone, tail gearbox, intermediate gearbox, stabilator, manufactured joints/splices, and flight controls support structure. SLA will evaluate engines, rotor brake, hydraulic, flight controls, avionics components and infrastructure, etc., to identify over-and-above inspections, overhaul intervals or replacement schedules to fly beyond the current design limit assumption. FY 2020 budget request funds the continuation of external loads analysis, fatigue analysis, and development of initial dispositions for safety critical items. This initial analysis, assessment and disposition will be further refined throughout the SLAP effort, augmented with specific system teardown, inspection and test, culminating in a follow-on SLEP, which will design and implement the solutions resulting from the SLAP findings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2020
- Source ID
- 3384_0702207N_7_1319_PB_2020
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