The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

The Nimrod Review
Serial
Recommendations Status
Number
4 A safety review of the Nimrod fuel and hot air systems Recommendation Closed.
is completed. In particular the safety review should
The reviews undertaken by QinetiQ into the Nimrod fuel and hot air systems are complete.
consider the suitability of corrective maintenance
for these systems. The review should also consider
Related Action.
mitigation of the risk of fire and hot air leaks within
airframe hidden compartments, such as the No 7 tank The recommendations of the QinetiQ fuel and hot air system reviews are being tracked by the
dry bay and the Rib 1 landing; mitigation might involve Nimrod Integrated Project Team. On completion of the final recommendation this related action
introduction of fire detection and suppression systems, will be closed.
fire retardant coatings, or a change in procedures,
which reduces the risk of fire. Nimrod operators (air
and ground crews) should be involved closely with the
review. This work should be incorporated within the
review of Nimrod maintenance policy.
432
Recommendation Rejected (Intent achieved by other measures).
Implementation of this recommendation would not improve aircraft safety or availability. The
recommendations intent is served by the enhanced inspection regime for the fuel system and the
targeted seal replacement programme.
5 A life for the FRS Series 1 fuel seal be determined, based
on the designer’s recommendation that fitted seals are
replaced after 25 years.
A study undertaken by DE&S DG Safety and Engineering, involving widespread consultation, both
civilian and military, has been unable to find any other organisation that sets a life for fuel seals.
The study determined that there was no requirement to set a life for fuel seals, but recommended
a number of other means to reduce seal failures. However, as part of the QinetiQ Fuel System
Safety Review, a Hazard Analysis of the fuel system was undertaken and the output from this has
been used to establish a targeted seal replacement programme (42 seals on each aircraft); this
will replace, as a precautionary measure, some of those seals not normally replaced in routine
maintenance (180 are replaced during Major maintenance.)
Recommendation Rejected (Intent achieved by other measures).
6 A maximum installed life for fuel seals of other material
types is determined.
Implementation of this recommendation would not improve aircraft safety or availability. The
recommendations intent is served by the enhanced inspection regime for the fuel system and the
targeted seal replacement programme.
Detail as serial 5.