AAC No.

7 of 2017
Dated 18th August 2017

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION

AIRWORTHINESS
ADVISORY CIRCULAR
Subject: Storage conditions and storage/ service life of Rubber parts and
aircraft components containing rubber parts.

1. Introduction:

1.1 Para 145.A.25(d) of CAR-145 and para M.A 605 (d) of CAR-M details the
requirements pertaining to storage conditions of components, equipment,
tools and material.

1.2 This circular specifies the procedure concerning storage conditions and
storage/ service life in respect of rubber parts and aircraft components
containing rubber parts, which are required for use on civil aircraft. These
are general guidelines and should only be followed in the absence of any
specific requirements from the manufacturers of the aircraft part or
component concerned.

2. Storage conditions:

2.1 The aircraft parts must be stored in a clean and well ventilated room.
Unusually heavy and long parts should be adequately supported, while
in storage, so that maintain the intended shape without strain.
Manufacturers' instructions in this regard should be followed.

2.2 Tyres should be stored vertically in racks having support tubes, so that
each tyre is supported at two points on the tread. This support tubes
should be close enough so that major portion of the tyres is above the
tubes. The tyres should be turned to a new position every three months
or so.

2.3 Aircraft hoses and hose assemblies should be stored uncoiled and
supported so as to release stresses.

2.4 Temperature: The storage temperature should be between 50 deg.F and

70 deg. F and the distance between the stored articles and the source of
heat should be more than 3 feet.

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2.5. Humidity: The relative humidity in the store room should be around 65
per cent.

2.6. Light: Rubber parts should not be exposed to strong light e.g. direct rays
of sun. The store rooms should be kept as dark as practicable.

2.7. Oxygen: Isolation from atmospheric oxygen greatly increases the storage
limiting period of rubber parts. Where possible parts should be racked
in airtight containers, or wrappings and liberal use of talc or french chalk
is also recommended. If parts are packed in airtight tins, they should be
lined with wax paper or polythene to avoid direct contact with the metal.

2.8. Ozone: Exposure to air containing ozone even in minute quantities,

should be avoided. Storage rooms should not contain any apparatus
that is capable of generating ozone, such as high voltage electrical
equipment, electric motors or other plant which may give rise to electric
sparks. Free access to outdoor air, which in temperate climate always
contains ozone, should be avoided. Still indoor air is normally ozone-
free because most wall and ceiling coverings and organic materials
rapidly destroy ozone.

2.9. Deformation : Rubber parts should, wherever possible, be stored in a

'relaxed' position free from compression or distortion, and in all
cases with the least possible deformation, since deformation greatly
aggravates the action of ozone and can also lead to permanent changes
in shape and dimensions. Articles received pre-packed in a strain free
condition can, with advantage, be stored in their original packing. Spring
loaded seals should, if stored for any length of time, have the spring
removed.

2.10. Contamination: Rubber parts should not come in contact with liquids or
vapour concentrations of any kind during storage even though they may
be subsequently used in contact with a similar fluid. Contact with copper,
brass or rusty iron, or with any compounds of manganese, should be
avoided.

3. Hoses : storage and service lives

3.1. The storage and service life of aircraft/engine hoses should be normally
guided by the manufacturer's recommendations. Whenever such
information is not available the following instructions should be adhered
to.

The hoses have been classified in two groups:

GROUP-A : Fuel, Oil, pneumatic and hydraulic pressure hoses.

GROUP-B: All other hoses like hydraulic return line and instruments
hoses etc.

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3.2 Shelf Life:

3.2.1. The total storage/shelf life of both types of hoses shall be limited to 10
years from the cure date of manufacture provided they are stored
under standard conditions of storage.

3.2.2. During storage, periodic inspection should be carried out once a year
for signs of deterioration, weather cracks, signs of corrosion on end
fittings etc. and hose pressure tested to 1-1/2 times the working
pressure every two years.

3.2.3. Before installation on aircraft pressure test should be carried out at 1-1/2
times the working pressure.

3.3 Service Life:

3.3.1. Several factors determine the service life of aircraft system hoses. In
some cases the service life is fixed by the manufacturers taking into
consideration the specific applications. Wherever such information is
available, this should be followed. In the absence of such information
initial life of hoses should not exceed 4 years to start with for Group-
A hoses and 6 years for Group-B hoses. Thereafter the service life of
the hoses can be developed to 6 years for Group-A hoses and 8 years
for Group-B hoses subject to accomplishment of the following life
development programme as per the procedure given below:

(a) Critically examine all the hoses in question for life development for
external defects such as:

(i) Rubber coating or protective shields separating from the inner tube
or from the metal core.
(ii) Hardening or lack of flexibility.
(iii) Evidence of ageing cracks, kinks, chaffing, blisters and poor
condition of the unions.

(b) (i) Subject the hoses to a full specifications test, for the purpose of
life escalation.

(ii) If full specification tests are not spelt out for the particular hose,
subject these to any other rigorous test, specified by the manufacturer.

(iii) In absence of any reference on items (i) & (ii) above, subject one
sample hose each from different batch of the hoses in storage to
destructive test to determine its life for escalation.

(iv) If none of the above tests are feasible, due to non-availability of

specific recommendations the hoses may be pressure tested twice
the operating pressure and retained at the elevated pressure for five

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 minutes and checked for external visible signs of
cracks/damages/deformity etc. for determination of escalated life.

c) Hoses passing tests at (a) and (b) above may be permitted to operate
under the life development programme with the escalated life in the
respective group, i.e. 4-6 years in case of Group 'A' and 6-8 years in
the case of Group 'B' with the prior concurrence of the Regional/Sub-
Regional Airworthiness Office.

Note : Any hose whose identification is impossible or questionable shall

not be considered for life development programme.

4. Rubber parts, valve seats, seals etc. in hydraulic and pneumatic

system components

4.1 Shelf Life:

4.1 Except where otherwise stated or specified by the manufacturers, storage/

shelf life of rubber parts for hydraulic and pneumatic components shall be
limited to 6 years from the cure date provided they are stored under
standard conditions of storage. The date of cure should be available on
the original documents from the makers. Rubber parts/ seals which have
been stored for more than 4 years should be subjected to detailed
examination and stretch test prior to use as indicated below :

(i) Seals which give evidence of hardening or softening, blistering or peeling

should be discarded.

(ii) A sample seal from each batch should be checked for deterioration by
stretching the seal to 20% of their internal diameter. If cracks are visible
under X10 magnification, the seals should be rejected.

4.2 Service Life:

4.3. In case the manufacturers have fixed the service life of components and
such TBO lists are approved by DGCA, all the seals shall be renewed
at the time of overhaul of the components. However, the maximum
service life of the seals shall not exceed 4 years wherever such information
is not available. In case manufacturers have fixed the service life of the
components involving rubber components as less than 4 years, the
manufacturers recommendations shall be followed. However, the TBOs
of such components may be developed limited to maximum service life of
rubber components/seals as 4 years, under a life development
programme mutually agreed by the Regional Airworthiness Office and
the aircraft operator.

Sd/-
(K.P.Srivastava)
Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation
For Director General of Civil Aviation