General Aviation: Update on Routine Oil Sampling

BLUF: Per a new AMAM, routine oil samples are no longer mandated for Army aircraft and non-hydraulic AGSE components.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Burnett
 

For decades, routine oil samples taken from Army helicopters and aviation ground support equipment (AGSE) were necessary to determine the condition of aircraft and equipment.
 
That has changed with Aviation Maintenance Action Message (AMAM), GEN-22-AMAM-06, which says routine oil samples are no longer needed for Army aircraft and non-hydraulic AGSE components. AMCOM, through analysis and historical tracking by its Systems Readiness Directorate (SRD), has determined that routine sampling does little to help identify pending failures or contamination beyond the current capabilities already in place on components.   
 
Also, the AMAM states special oil samples will continue in accordance with applicable TMs, directives and messages, and the removal of routine sampling doesn’t affect routine hydraulic oil sampling for AGSE.
 
Based on this change, current TM references to take routine oil samples will be removed in future updates.
 
To view and download the AMAM for all the details on the oil sample change, visit the AMCOM Safety and Maintenance Messages website HERE.

Click on Consolidated Listings, select Aviation as the Record Type, GEN as System Type and AMAM as Message Type. Then click Search. Results are listed in chronological order.