A borescope inspection is a cost-effective and non-destructive inspection method for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft and is easily performed with a checklist. Ensure the functionality of difficult to access parts of your equipment and inspect your aircraft safely.
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Borescopes are visual inspection tools that are used in areas that are hard to access because they are narrow or small such as engines and turbines. Another reason for using a borescope is that it saves a lot of time and resources of taking apart complex equipment like an engine just to visually inspect its insides.
Generally, a borescope has a long narrow tube with a camera attached to one end. During inspections, this tube is inserted into the narrow space and then sends video feedback to the monitor on its body. For advanced applications, some borescopes have extra attachments like light sources, infrared scanners, and fiber optics.
A borescope inspection report is a formal document that contains all the methodologies, findings, and decisions that took place during an aircraft engine inspection using a borescope. It also contains significant images that were taken to show the general condition of the aircraft engine. This report is crucial because it shows if the rotating parts of the engine are still reliable for flights.
1. What a General Borescope Inspection Looks Like
2. The Most Common Defects to Look Out For During a Borescope Inspection
3. How A Digital Checklist Maker Can Help You Create Borescope Inspection Reports
During a borescope inspection, there are four general procedures done. Below are the details for each procedure and some critical points to consider during each phase based on the Flight Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Visual Inspection for Aircrafts.
The first generic procedure is initiating the inspection. This means carefully planning the inspection task which includes considering the access points and proper borescope selection.
Using the right borescope will greatly determine the accuracy of your borescope inspection report since different aircraft engines have different builds and access points. So, when selecting the right borescope, consider the points below:
The second procedure in the borescope inspection is accessing and preparing the working area. This is critical since it greatly influences the results of the borescope inspection report as it affects the inspector’s motivation, decision-making, and interpreting ability.
Access is constituted by two aspects: primary access and secondary access. Primary access refers to the act of going to the inspection point whereas secondary access refers to the act of actually performing the inspection.
For both of these acts, mobility should be unhindered and uncomfortable positions should be avoided. Safety should also always be a priority. Staging equipment such as stairs, scaffolding, and platforms should always be used to prevent accidents and protective measures against sharp corners and edges should be implemented. All of these preparations should be reflected in the borescope inspection report.
During the actual inspection of the aircraft, the goal is to search for “indications” or any unusual physical defects that can be seen through the camera. All these “indications” need to be properly documented in the inspection report and should be specified with a description that indicates the type of the defect, blade count, as well as the defect location. It is important to not rely on memory when searching for indications. Currently, blade counting can be done easier by using a computer program that helps record and mark defects. But it can also be done manually by logging it into a notebook.
To effectively search for indications, it is recommended for inspectors to continuously ask themselves “What is wrong with this picture?” while looking for any abnormalities. It is also recommended to adjust light sources and the camera angle to get a better understanding of the area under scrutiny.
There are various types of defects that can be detected through visual inspection. Below is a list of the most common defects found during borescope inspections:
For confirming indications, recommendations for repair, overhaul, or replacement need to be done in response to the borescope inspection. These responses are to be documented in the borescope inspection report and then submitted to the top management for review.
With Lumiform’s audit app you can easily perform a multitude of safety and quality inspections on the go from your smartphone or tablet - online or offline and easily create a full report without the fear or worry of having forgotten anything. Create checklists for your borescope inspection and easily collect data in the field to reduce errors and threats in aviation and ensure equipment longevity.
These benefits await you, if you choose to come aboard the Lumiform-family:
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