TO 00-25-172 - Robins Air Force Base
TO 00-25-172 - Robins Air Force Base
TO 00-25-172 - Robins Air Force Base
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<strong>TO</strong> <strong>00</strong>-<strong>25</strong>-<strong>172</strong><br />
4.24 HYDRAZINE HANDLING PROCEDURES FOR<br />
F-16 AND U-2 AIRCRAFT IN-FLIGHT EMERGEN-<br />
CIES.<br />
If an F-16 or U-2 aircraft develops an in-flight emergency, it<br />
may have to land at an airfield not equipped for F-16 or U-2<br />
maintenance/servicing. In these situations, the Emergency<br />
Power Unit (EPU) or Emergency Starting System (ESS) will<br />
be secured to prevent inadvertent ground firing. Turnaround<br />
support for the EPU or ESS will be provided by the home<br />
base or by the nearest base with EPU/ESS support capability.<br />
The F-16 is equipped with a highly reliable and quickly<br />
responsive method of developing emergency electrical and<br />
hydraulic power. A monopropellant (hydrazine) powered<br />
EPU is on board the F-16 aircraft for this purpose. The U-2<br />
is equipped with a highly reliable method of starting the<br />
engine in flight, should it stall. A monopropellant (hydrazine)<br />
powered ESS is on board the U-2 aircraft for this purpose.<br />
Hydrazine, referred to as H-70 (30 percent water and<br />
70 percent hydrazine), is highly toxic, corrosive, and considered<br />
a Class III C combustible in terms of AFMAN 91-201.<br />
Definite hazards are associated with H-70 and shall require<br />
unique support from qualified home base personnel. The F-16<br />
or U-2 pilot is thoroughly knowledgeable of the peculiar<br />
requirements associated with H-70. Non F-16 or U-2 bases<br />
shall require support from home bases for recovery of F-16<br />
or U-2 aircraft with an activated EPU or ESS as follows:<br />
a. General Guidance for Recovery, Isolation, and Support<br />
of <strong>Air</strong>craft After In-Flight Operation of the EPU. Inflight<br />
operation of the EPU, as the result of electrical,<br />
hydraulic, or engine failure will normally result in the<br />
declaration of an IFE. Declaration of an IFE, for these<br />
reasons, is a positive indication that the EPU has operated<br />
in the hydrazine mode. After landing, the aircraft<br />
shall be taxied clear of active runway(s) into an area of<br />
isolation, pending hydrazine system integrity (H-70<br />
leaks/spill) check.<br />
b. At non F-16 or U-2 bases, the pilot, local base Bioenvironmental<br />
Engineer (BEE), and fire department personnel<br />
shall conduct a system integrity check as follows:<br />
(1) Inspect the EPU overboard vent line (located at<br />
the lower fuselage, center of Main Landing Gear<br />
(MLG) doors at forward most portion), the area<br />
surrounding the EPU compartment, and the<br />
ground beneath for hydrazine leakage (clear oily<br />
liquid).<br />
(2) Inspect the area around the ESS to include the<br />
H-70 detector pellet for evidence of leakage, and<br />
the ground beneath for hydrazine leakage (clear<br />
oily liquid).<br />
Due to the toxic characteristics of hydrazine, personnel<br />
testing liquids for confirmation of hydrazine<br />
shall be equipped with self-contained breathing<br />
apparatus as well as apron, gloves, and boots.<br />
Failure to comply with this warning could result<br />
in personal injury or death.<br />
(3) Fire department personnel, equipped in full PPE,<br />
or equivalent may use Micro-Essential Laboratories<br />
litmus (pH) paper, catalog number 46, located<br />
in the map case in the cockpit of each F-16 or<br />
U-2, to determine if the suspect liquid is in fact<br />
hydrazine. If the litmus paper turns purple, assume<br />
the liquid is hydrazine.<br />
(4) If no leak is noted or a leak is confirmed as not<br />
hydrazine, as determined above, the pilot will<br />
contact home base and request turnaround instructions.<br />
4.<strong>25</strong> TRANSIENT F-16 BASES/U-2 ENROUTE SUP-<br />
PORT.<br />
Transient support will involve only confirmation of the status<br />
of the EPU or ESS system (leaking or not leaking) and,<br />
if leaking, isolation and containment to minimize harmful<br />
effects of hydrazine.<br />
a. <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> <strong>Base</strong>s - Leaking EPUs or ESSs will be<br />
treated like hazardous chemical spills and handled accordingly.<br />
b. Civilian <strong>Air</strong>ports/Fields - The aircraft pilot will inform<br />
local authorities of the hydrazine leak and advise caution<br />
in approaching the aircraft and recommend being<br />
handled as a hazardous chemical spill.<br />
4.26 HYDRAULIC AND OIL SERVICING.<br />
In addition to the requirements outlined in aircraft -2 technical<br />
orders, the following shall apply to hydraulic/oil servicing<br />
of aircraft.<br />
a. Servicing Equipment.<br />
(1) Avoid spilling oil or hydraulic fluid on aircraft or<br />
maintenance stands.<br />
(2) Hand operated hydraulic and oil-servicing carts<br />
need not be grounded during servicing operations.<br />
4-21
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