{"id":137019,"date":"2024-03-11T15:36:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T16:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=137019"},"modified":"2024-03-11T19:09:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T19:09:52","slug":"h-53-fleet-support-team-bolsters-fleet-readiness-with-new-engine-wash-procedures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=137019","title":{"rendered":"H-53 Fleet Support Team bolsters Fleet readiness with new engine wash procedures"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Engineers at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) are enhancing flight line readiness with the development of updated engine wash procedures and training in support of the Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.<\/p>\n

Jordon Barnes, a senior engineer on the H-53 Fleet Support Team (FST), said the engine wash procedures are aimed at enhancing time on wing and increasing the lifespan of the T64 engine.<\/p>\n

\u201cEngine washes are the biggest bang for our buck in trying to improve time on wing,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cTight clearances allow for the most effective and efficient performance of the T64 engine. Sand or dirt build up can cause wear and open up these clearances. When that happens, the engine makes less than optimal power. Proper engine washes prevent that.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to a newly written publication which updates and standardizes cleaning procedures of the CH-53E\u2019s T64 engine, squadrons throughout the Marine Corps will receive new engine cleaning equipment and a video training aid.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis initiative is a great example of the support the FST provides to the warfighter,\u201d said FST Site Lead Russell Padgett. \u201cThe procedures and training developed by our engineers boost the readiness of the Marine Corps CH-53E squadrons by increasing engine efficiency and reducing maintenance time. The FST worked closely with the customer and came up with an innovative and efficient solution to meet their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The CH-53E is the heavy-lift helicopter used by Marines around the world. It is capable of rapidly transporting troops and equipment from ship-to-shore. The helicopter\u2019s T64 engine provides the power that makes these capabilities possible.<\/p>\n

To ensure these engines are meeting squadron needs, the H-53 FST regularly sends a team of engineers specializing in the T64 engine to units flying the Super Stallion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe FST conducts maintenance awareness visits, where we go to each squadron and meet with the Fleet,\u201d said Ronald Bittiker, a mechanical engineer with the H-53 FST. \u201cWe ask them what we can do to make their job a little easier. During these visits, the topic of engine washes frequently came up. We began to look at the procedures and the equipment used in the squadrons with a focus on standardizing the process and making it more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barnes said a maintenance awareness visit to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego during the summer of 2023 allowed the team to work with Marine Corps CH-53E crews and see firsthand how the washes were conducted in the Fleet.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter several days of trying to wash aircraft with the Marines, we really felt their pain,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cWe needed to figure out a way to make this easier on them and give them the tools required to more efficiently accomplish their jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Barnes, the team set out to standardize both the cleaning process and the equipment used. He said the goal was to find the Marines simple, compact cleaning tools that could withstand the rigors of life in the Fleet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started passing ideas back and forth,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cWe came up with what is essentially a foamer that hooks up to a hose which has a canister where you put the cleaner. It\u2019s inexpensive, lightweight and easy to use. There are no moving parts.\u201d<\/p>\n

After extensive research, the team developed procedures for using the gear and then set out to validate the effectiveness of the process. This involved an intensive, data-driven test plan measuring increases in power after cleaning the airfoils of the T64 engine.<\/p>\n

\u201cCleaning the airfoils increases the efficiency of the engine,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cIt increases the fuel efficiency as well as the power output. To measure this, we\u2019d take the dirty engine and run it up and grab a performance point. Then we we\u2019d cool it off, wash the engine effectively and bring it back up to take the power points again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gained 90 horsepower on the very first engine we ever did, which wasn’t even that dirty,\u201d Barnes continued. \u201cAfter many trials in the test cell, our next step was testing on wing. Here, we could pull numbers off of the aircraft which actually collects this data when the pilot initiates a check.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to validating the effectiveness of the procedures, Barnes said testing on squadron helicopters also allowed the engineers to gather feedback from the Marines who work with the CH-53E daily.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reaction so far has been overwhelmingly positive,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cThey like the simplicity of the equipment. They like the idea of throwing this and their cleaner in the back of the aircraft. If they stop somewhere, they can clean the engine quickly and effectively with equipment that has a minimal footprint.\u201d<\/p>\n

After validation and testing was completed, the engineers wrote a new publication detailing and standardizing engine wash procedures for the T64 engine. Bittiker said the team worked closely with the CH-53E community throughout the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of collaboration involved,\u201d said Bittiker. \u201cA lot of it was just going down to the Fleet or talking to artisans and engineers at the depot \u2013 people that know this aircraft inside and out \u2013 and getting their input and ideas. All this experience put together resulted in something that will certainly benefit the Fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team also developed a video training aid to guide Marines through the updated procedures and the use of the new equipment.<\/p>\n

In addition to the video training aid, Barnes said the team looks forward to visiting the squadrons to provide training support. He explained they\u2019re also eager to see the new engine wash procedures in action.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s no better feeling than the satisfaction of assisting our Marines and Sailors and supporting the Fleet,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cAs part of the FST at FRC East, we have a very unique opportunity to do this. We see all aspects of H-53 maintenance and operations. We get to see these engines come off the aircraft and go through major repairs at the depot. Through our site visits, we also get to see each aspect of Marine Corps maintenance at both the intermediate and organizational levels. Seeing these products go full circle back and forth is very informative and fulfilling. It makes us more effective in our job.\u201d<\/p>\n

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.<\/p>\n

Learn more at www.navair.navy.mil\/frce or https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FleetReadinessCenterEast<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Engineers at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) are enhancing flight line readiness with the development of updated engine wash procedures and training in support of the Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter. Jordon Barnes, a senior engineer on the H-53 Fleet Support Team (FST), said the engine wash procedures are aimed at enhancing time on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-137019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=137019"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":137021,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137019\/revisions\/137021"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=137019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=137019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=137019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}