AGSE: Maintenance Platform Care & Safety

Successful maintenance on aircraft is a must. To access hard-to-reach places on your Black Hawk, Apache or Chinook, you’ll need maintenance platforms. These stands also require maintenance. And when using maintenance platforms, safety is a must.  
 

Maintenance Platform
Item	NSN
B-1	1730-00-390-5618
B-4A Adjustable	1730-00-294-8883
Low-level	1730-00-269-8283

Maintaining the B-1 and B-4A maintenance platforms is rather straightforward: simply refer to the relevant TM.

• In the case of the B-1, it’s TM 1-1730-201-13&P (Mar 10). 
• In the case of the B-4A, it’s TM 1-1730-215-13&P (Mar 10).

The low-level maintenance stand gets a lot of use. Over time, the platform starts to make noises and wobble from normal wear and tear. To keep it up-to-date with repairs, you’ll need to order replacement parts. Make a note that the low-level platform is not supported by a TM.

Here are the parts that support the low-level maintenance platform:

• Rigid caster, NSN 5340-01-340-9799
• Quick-release pin, NSN 5315-00-935-8804
• Latch assembly-clamping catch, NSN 5340-00-787-3209. Make a note that this item comes as an assembly. To order separately, use NSN 5340-01-295-4896 for the catch strike and NSN 5340-00-821-0304 for the clamping catch.
• Clamping latch catch spring loaded, NSN 5340-00-860-3862. This is a non-standard item. 

Check your low level maintenance platforms and make sure you stencil “MAX WEIGHT FOLDED 500 LBS AND 750 LBS MAX WEIGHT UNFOLDED on the sides of the platform and add reflective tape so it can be seen while performing night maintenance. 

When moving the stand around the hangar, always remember to “fold it before you roll it” and lock the top portion of the stand when it’s in position and meant to be stationary. Keep in mind that this stand is bulky and heavy. Control its movement and roll it slowly around the hangar so it doesn’t get away from you and possibly take out a chunk of an airframe.

• Make sure a load test certification is done like it says in TB 43-0142, Safety Inspection and Testing of Lifting Devices (Feb 97). Record the inspection information on DD Form 314, Preventive Maintenance Schedule and Record. Maintenance platforms must have an initial load test certification document from the manufacturer or one from a repair facility when the equipment is new, extensively repaired or altered.
• When using maintenance platforms, always protect yourself from falls, injuries or death while you’re working on an aircraft at a height above four (4) feet, like it says in TM 1-1500-204-23-1, General Aircraft Maintenance (Jul 92).
  • Note that AR 385-10, The Army Safety Program (Feb 17), directs Army units to draft guidelines and procedures to meet a number of Army and OSHA safety requirements, including fall protection.
  • And any time you perform maintenance four (4) or more feet off the ground, use fall protection like foam pads or restraint equipment.