V-22 Dynamic Components Limits Repair Procedures

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) intends to issue a Delivery Order under Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) N00019-07-G-0008. The program objectives are to establish advanced field and/or depot repair techniques which result in improved operational readiness, minimized operations and sustainment costs. This program shall conceptualize, plan, analyze, perform, validate, and assess the current repair techniques for selected V-22 dynamic components (rotor blades, grip assembly, and yoke assembly) to establish new repair procedures, establish new damage limits, and qualify additional resins. To date, advanced composite materials in the form of fiberglass and carbon, fiber-reinforced, epoxy resins are used in operational military aircraft to include the V-22. Progress has been made in establishing repairs using the advanced composite materials to make repairs to the laminated composite structures within these aircrafts to replace the relative conventional techniques (i.e., mechanically fastened and bonded patches). The V-22 program plans to assess the new repair techniques to establish new damage limits and qualify additional resins for the repair of V-22 dynamic components (rotor blades, grip assembly, and yoke assembly). The qualification process for Damage Limits/Repair Procedures for the Dynamic Components along with the Qualifying of Alternative Repair Resins shall consist of four (4) phases to be performed in a laboratory environment. Phase I is required to review and revise existing repair concepts based on recent repair technologies and materials. Phase II is the repair analysis and procedures where the new procedures will be utilized to perform coupon testing on the dynamic components. Phase III is required for full scale qualification of the dynamic components and phase IV is required for supportability analysis and update of the new procedures into the Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM). The Bell-Boeing Team is the designer, developer, and sole producer of the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft and is the only known source that possesses the engineering data, technical skills and requisite knowledge to establish new procedures, establish new damage limits and qualify additional resins for repair of the V-22 dynamic components. See Note 22.