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NEWS | Jan. 28, 2022

All Aircraft: Pick the Right Type and Number of Jacks

This article originally appeared PS 767 (Oct 16)

Mechanics, aircraft jacks are vital for maintenance on your helicopter. They’ve been around for years and gone through a lot of changes. Some have been put out to pasture while others have been neglected.

That won’t be a problem anymore because we tell how to maintain your jacked up jacks HERE.

With all the changes, sometimes it’s difficult to determine which jack is used for which aircraft task. No longer. Always check your TMs on how to use jacks. Here’s a list of the maintenance tasks that require jacks and how many to use:
 
Apache
 
NOTE: These are typical tasks which require the aircraft to be placed on jacks. Please ensure you follow TM 1-1520-Longbow/Apache (IETM) for specific requirements, size, placement, warnings, cautions, and notes for all jacks.
 
  • Jacking aircraft, 3 point, using a tripod jack requires:
    - two 5-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-516-2018, and one 3-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-734-9382. The Fuselage adapter, NSN 1560-01-226-7551, will also be used.
  • Jacking aircraft, 2 point, using a tripod jack requires:
    - two 5-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-516-2018. The Fuselage adapter, NSN 1560-01-226-7551, will also be used.
  • Jacking tail landing gear using a tripod jack requires:
    - one 3-ton jack, NSN 1740-00-734-9382.
  • Jacking the main landing gear, 1 point, using an axle jack requires:
    - one 5-ton jack, NSN 1740-00-540-2343.
Note that Apache is the only helicopter airframe that uses the 5-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-516-2018. 
 

5-ton tripod jack, NSN 1730-00-516-2018
 
Chinook
 
  • Jacking an entire Chinook requires:
    - two 12-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-912-3998, and two 10-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-203-4697.
  • As an alternative method, you can use:
    - two 12-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-912-3998, and one 10-ton jack, NSN 1730-01-563-7046.
  • Replacing the forward right- or left-hand gear assembly requires:
    - one 10-ton jack, NSN 1730-01-563-7046. However, the aircraft weight must be below 24, 500 pounds.
  • Replacing the forward right- or left-hand tire assembly requires:
    - one 10-ton jack, NSN 1730-203-4697.
  • Replacing the aft right- or left- hand gear assemblies requires:
    - one 12-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-912-3998.
  • Replacing the aft right- or left- hand tire assembly requires:
    - one 12-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-912-3998.
  • Weighing aircraft using load cells (3 point) with a max gross weight of 24,500 pounds requires:
    - two 12-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-912-3998, and one 10-ton jack, NSN 1730-01-563-7046.
  • Weighing aircraft using load cells (4 point) with a max gross weight of 33,000 pounds requires:
    - two 12-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-912-3998, and two 10-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-203-4697.      
12-ton tripod jack, NSN 1730-00-912-3998
 
Black Hawk Aircraft
 
  • Jacking requires:
    - three 12-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-201-4849. 
  •  Removal and installation of the right- and left-hand landing gear shock strut requires:
    - one 12-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-201-4849.
  • Jacking the right- and left-hand main landing gear wheel and tire assembly requires:
    - one 10-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-203-4697.
  • Removal and installation of the tail landing gear shock strut requires:
    - one 12-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-201-4849.
  • Removal and installation of the tail landing gear wheel and tire assembly requires:
    - one 10-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-203-4697.
  • Weighing the helicopter using load cells (3 point) requires:
    - three 12-ton jacks, NSN 1730-00-201-4849.
  • Changing a flat tire or collapsed strut requires:
    - one 12-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-201-4849, or one 10-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-912-4697.
  • Changing a flat tail tire or collapsed gear strut requires:
    - one 12-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-201-4849, and one 10-ton jack, NSN 1730-00-912-4697.

10-ton axle jack, NSN 1730-00-203-4697
 
Lakota
 
Jacking an entire UH-72A aircraft takes four jacks. The type of jack is not specified, but two 12-ton tripod jacks, NSN 1730-00-912-3998, and two 10-ton landing gear jacks, NSN 1730-00-203-4697, work well.

Weighing the Lakota requires three jacks. The type of jack is not specified, but one 12-ton tripod jack, NSN 1730-00-912-3998 and two 10-ton landing gear jacks, NSN 1730-00-203-4697 work well.
Summary:

When it comes to jacking helicopters, don’t just use the right number and the right type of jacks! Make sure you maintain them too! Be smart and be safe.
Lakota
Chinook
Black Hawk
Apache
General aviation
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