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ATA Spec 117:
Wiring Maintenance Practices/Guidelines
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ATA Specification 117
Wiring Maintenance Practices/Guidelines
Revision 2001.1
Air Transport Association of America, Inc.
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20004-1707
Copyright © 2000 by Air Transport Association of America, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the publisher.
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Important Information About This Document
Read Before Using This Document
This document contains recommended specifications that have been developed for the covered topics. ATA does not mandate their use. You must decide whether or not to use the recommendations in this document. You may choose to use them in whole, in part, or not at all.
There may be practices, standards and / or regulatory requirements applicable to your operations that exceed the recommendations in this document. You are solely responsible for determining if such practices, standards or requirements exist and whether they apply to your activities, and for complying with those that are applicable. Such practices, standards and requirements can change significantly over time.
ATA does not guarantee, promise or warrant that the specifications in this document will meet the needs of your operations. This is a determination that you must make and for which ATA is not responsible.
For Additional Information
For more information or to order additional publications, refer to the ATA Publications Catalog, the website at www.airlines.org, e-mail pubs@airlines.org or call the ATA Distribution Center at:
1-800-497-3326 (U.S. & Canada)
1-301-490-7951
For Technical Information and Change Submissions
For technical information or to recommend an alteration or amendment to this specification, please submit the recommendation and any supporting documentation to ATA:
E-mail: pubs@airlines.org
1-202-626-4000
Fax: 1-202-626-4181
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Highlights
Release History
Revision 2001.1: July 2000
Revision 2000.1: January 2000
Issued July 31, 1998
Revision 2001.1 (July 2000)
Location Description of Change
Chapter 3 Editorial.
Added Cleaning to "Causes of Wiring Degradation."
Chapter 4 Added Splices to "Wiring Installation Types" in 4-1.
Expanded Primary Inspection Locations in 4-2
Chapter 5 Editorial.
Enhanced protection of wiring from contamination and debris.
Enhanced the concept of "clean-as-you-go."
Corrected edge distance measurement in 5-1., and added metric version.
Added Section 5-9, "Cleaning"
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Background
Chapter 2. Scope
Chapter 3. Causes of Wiring Degradation
Chapter 4. Inspection Practices
Chapter 4-1. Wiring Installation Types
Chapter 4-2. Primary Inspection Locations
Chapter 5. Wiring Maintenance Practices
Chapter 5-1. Protection Against Chafing
Chapter 5-2. Protection Against High Temperature
Chapter 5-3. Protection Against Solvents and Fluids
Chapter 5-4. Engine and APU Wire Harnesses
Chapter 5-5. Protection of Wires in the Wheel Well Area
Chapter 5-6. Routing Precautions
Chapter 5-7. Connectors
Chapter 5-8. Conduits
Chapter 5-9. Cleaning
Annex 1. Additional Reading
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Chapter 1. Background
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is developing an Aging Non-Structural Systems Plan in response to the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security (WHCSS) recommendations regarding aging non-structural systems. These recommendations state: "In cooperation with airlines and manufacturers, the FAA's Aging Aircraft program should be expanded to cover non-structural systems." The Commission was concerned that existing procedures, directives, quality assurance, and inspections may not be sufficient to prevent safety related problem, caused by the corrosive and deteriorating effects of non-structural components of commercial aircraft as they age. One area of special concern to the Commission was airplane wiring.
While preliminary industry findings indicate that wiring degradation is minimized when properly installed, it has been shown that vibration, moisture, contamination, etc. can negatively impact the condition of wiring. Consequently, inspections should focus on those areas where these environmental conditions exist.
Maintenance activity can vary greatly from aircraft to aircraft. The disruptive effects of maintenance activity can be more random than the environmental factors that can lead to wire degradation. Wiring should be viewed as an aircraft system, and maintenance practices should focus on maintaining the integrity of the wiring system.
FAA investigation results are similar to the preliminary findings from industry research: wire degradation seems to be principally caused by installation, environmental, and maintenance factors. Some specific findings and concerns raised during the FAA's recent wiring review are: drill shavings and other metal debris in bundles (with cut insulation); lint accumulations; chemicals of various types on wiring (corrosion-inhibitor, paint, hydraulic fluid, oil, grease, soft drinks, coffee, lavatory fluid, etc.); aging and deterioration of materials (cracks in wire insulation, clamp cushions crumbling, crumbled potting in pump connectors, cracked o-rings, etc.); extensive nicks, cuts, and chafes; workmanship issues; and compromised wiring segregation.
The FAA is composing a blueprint to address aging non-structural systems. The blueprint will form the basis of a joint FAA/industry plan that will be modeled after the FAA/industry aging aircraft work. This plan is viewed as a long-term initiative. It is ATA's intent that this document provide guidelines to be shared among industry in the short term for the improvement and formulation of wiring practices.
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Chapter 2. Scope
This information is general guidance. Special inspections should be conducted as deemed appropriate by each operator, based on airplane maintenance experience. Any discrepancies found should be repaired per the aircraft maintenance manuals. Operators are encouraged to incorporate the following guidelines as a part of their current wiring maintenance practices.
These guidelines are a compilation of manufacturer investigations and operator experience through continuing analysis and surveillance programs. This guidance is not considered all-inclusive. Inspector/maintenance technician training requirements have been specifically omitted.
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Chapter 3. Causes of Wiring Degradation
The following items are considered principal causes of wiring degradation and should be used to help focus maintenance programs:
Vibration - High vibration areas tend to accelerate degradation over time, resulting in "chattering" contacts and intermittent symptoms. High vibration can also cause tie-wraps, or string-ties to damage insulation. In addition, high vibration will exacerbate any existing problem with wire insulation cracking.
Moisture - High moisture areas generally accelerate corrosion of terminals, pins, sockets, and conductors. It should be noted that wiring installed in clean, dry areas with moderate temperatures appears to hold up well.
Maintenance - Maintenance activities, if done improperly, may contribute to long term problems and wiring degradation. Repairs made to minimum airworthiness standards may have limited durability and should be evaluated to ascertain if rework may be necessary. Repairs that conform to manufacturers recommended maintenance practices are generally considered permanent and should not require rework.
Metal shavings and debris have been discovered on wire bundles after maintenance or repairs have been conducted. As a general rule, wiring that is undisturbed will have less degradation than wiring that is reworked. As wiring and components become more brittle with age, this effect becomes more pronounced.
Indirect Damage - Events such as pneumatic duct ruptures can cause damage that, while not initially evident, can later cause wiring problems. When such an event has occurred, surrounding wire should be carefully inspected to ensure no damage is evident.
Chemical Contamination - Chemicals such as hydraulic fluid, battery electrolytes, fuel, corrosion inhibiting compounds, waste system chemicals, cleaning agents, deicing fluids, paint, and soft drinks can contribute to degradation of wiring. Wiring in the vicinity of these chemicals should be inspected for damage or degradation. Recommended original equipment manufacturer cleaning instructions should be followed.
Hydraulic fluids, for example, require special consideration. Hydraulic fluid is very damaging to connector grommet and wire bundle clamps, leading to indirect damage, such as arcing and chafing. Wiring that may have been exposed to hydraulic fluid should be given special attention during wiring inspections.
Heat - Wiring exposed to high heat can accelerate degradation, insulation dryness, and cracking. Direct contact with a high heat source can quickly damage insulation. Even low levels of heat can degrade wiring over long periods of time. This type of degradation is sometimes seen on engines, in galleys, and behind lights.
Cleaning - Overzealous cleaning and use of inappropriate solvents can cause wiring degradation.
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Chapter 4. Inspection Practices
This section provides inspection guidelines and is divided into installation issues and primary inspection considerations. The information is a compilation of ongoing industry research and analysis.
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4-1. Wiring Installation Types
The following are types of installations that merit special attention during wiring inspections:
Clamping points - Wire chafing is aggravated by damaged clamps, clamp cushion migration, or improper clamp installations.
Connectors - Worn environmental seals, loose connectors, missing seal plugs, missing dummy contacts, or lack of strain relief on connector grommets can compromise connector integrity and allow contamination to enter the connector, leading to corrosion or grommet degradation. Drip loops should be maintained when connectors are below the level of the harness and tight bends at connectors should be avoided or corrected.
Terminations - Terminations, such as terminal lugs and terminal blocks, are susceptible to mechanical damage, corrosion, heat damage and chemical contamination. Also, the build up and nut torque on large-gauge wire studs is critical to their performance.
Backshells - Wires may break at backshells, due to excessive flexing, lack of strain relief, or improper build-up. Loss of backshell bonding may also occur due to these and other factors.
Sleeving and Conduits - Damage to sleeving and conduits, if not corrected, will often lead to wire damage.
Grounding Points - Grounding points should be checked for security (i.e. tightness), condition of the termination, cleanliness, and corrosion. Any grounding points that are corroded or have lost their protective coating should be repaired.
Splices - Both sealed and non-sealed splices are susceptible to vibration, mechanical damage, corrosion, heat damage, chemical contamination, and environmental deterioration.
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4-2. Primary Inspection Locations
The following locations should receive special attention:
Wings - The wing leading and trailing edges are areas that experience difficult environments for wiring installations. The wing leading and trailing edge wiring is exposed on some aircraft models whenever the flaps or slats are extended. Other potential damage sources include slat torque shafts and bleed air ducts.
Engine, Pylon, and Nacelle Area - These areas experience high vibration, heat, frequent maintenance, and are susceptible to chemical contamination.
APU - Like the engine/nacelle area, the APU is susceptible to high vibration, heat, frequent maintenance, and chemical contamination.
Landing Gear and Wheel Wells - This area is exposed to severe external environmental conditions in addition to vibration and chemical contamination.
Electrical Panels and LRUs - Panel wiring is particularly prone to broken wires and damaged insulation when these high density areas are disturbed during troubleshooting activities, major modifications, and refurbishment. One repair facility has found that wire damage was minimized by tying wiring to wooden dowels. This reduced wire disturbance during modification. It is also recommended to remove entire disconnect brackets, when possible, instead of removing individual receptacles.
Batteries - Wires in the vicinity of all aircraft batteries should be inspected for corrosion and discoloration. Discolored wires should be inspected for serviceability.
Power Feeders - Operators may find it advantageous to inspect splices and terminations for signs of overheating and security. If any signs of overheating are seen, the splice or termination should be replaced. This applies to galley power feeders, in addition to the main and APU generator power feeders. The desirability of periodically retorquing power feeder terminations should be evaluated.
Under Galleys and Lavatories - Areas under the galleys, lavatories and other liquid containers are particularly susceptible to contamination from coffee, food, water, soft drinks and lavatory fluids, etc. Fluid drain provisions should be periodically inspected and repaired as necessary.
Cargo Bay/Underfloor - Damage to wiring in the cargo bay underfloor can occur due to maintenance activities in the area.
Surfaces, Controls, and Doors - Moving or bending harnesses should be inspected at these locations.
Access Panels - Harnesses near access panels may receive accidental damage and should have special emphasis inspections.
Under Doors - Areas under cargo, passenger and service entry doors are susceptible to fluid ingress from rain, snow and liquid spills. Fluid drain provisions and floor panel sealing should be periodically inspected and repaired as necessary.
Under Cockpit Sliding Windows - Areas under cockpit sliding windows are susceptible to water ingress from rain and snow. Fluid drain provisions should be periodically inspected and repaired.
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Chapter 5. Wiring Maintenance Practices
All wiring should be maintained so that it is mechanically and electrically sound and neat in appearance. It is imperative to prevent or significantly reduce potential contamination or debris from coming into contact with the wiring and components during all maintenance, repairs and modifications. This begins with always being aware of potential wiring contamination, and remembering to install appropriate protection (e.g., plastic sheeting), as necessary, to cover avionics/electrical wiring and components. Furthermore, a "clean-as-you-go" attitude helps to maintain the integrity of the installation. In other words, care should be taken to protect wire bundles and connectors during work, and to ensure that all shavings, debris and contamination are cleaned up after work is completed.
Following maintenance, care should be taken to restore routing in accordance with manufacturers' documentation. The wiring must be adequately supported throughout its length. A sufficient number of supports must be provided to prevent undue vibration of the unsupported lengths. All wires and wire groups should be routed and installed to protect them from:
Chafing or abrasion
High temperature
Being used as handholds
Damage by personnel moving within the aircraft
Damage from cargo stowage or shifting
Damage from battery acid fumes, spray, or spillage
Damage from solvents and fluids.
Specific routing and installation procedures are described in the aircraft maintenance/wiring diagram manuals. In general terms, the following items can be considered guidelines when conducting wiring maintenance:
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5-1. Protection Against Chafing
Wires and wire groups should be protected against chafing or abrasion in those locations where contact with sharp surfaces or other wires would damage the insulation. Cable clamps should be used to support wire bundles and maintain spacing at each hole through a bulkhead. If wires come closer than 3/8 inch (10mm) to the edge of the hole, a suitable grommet should be used in the hole
Sometimes it is also necessary to cut nylon or rubber grommets to facilitate installation. In these instances, after insertion, the grommet can be secured in place with general-purpose cement. The cut should be at the top of the hole, and made at an angle of 45 degrees to the axis of the wire bundle hole.
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5-2. Protection Against High Temperature
To prevent insulation deterioration, wires should be kept separate from high-temperature equipment, such as resistors, exhaust stacks, or pneumatic ducts. The amount of separation is normally specified by engineering drawings. Some wires must invariably be run through hot areas. These wires must be insulated with high-temperature material. A low-temperature insulation wire should never be used to replace a high-temperature insulation wire.
Many coaxial cables have soft plastic insulation, such as polyethylene, which is especially subject to deformation and deterioration at elevated temperatures. All high-temperature areas should be avoided when installing cables insulated with plastic or polyethylene.
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5-3. Protection Against Solvents and Fluids
One frequently encountered hindrance to inspections is dirt and grime. Consult the manufacturer's maintenance instructions for recommendation on materials suitable for cleaning electrical connectors and wires. For wire inspections, a soft cloth, such as a cotton glove, can be used to clean individual wires. With any cleaning process, care should be taken not to remove wire markings and ID tape. In addition, airplanes are often pressure washed with a general purpose detergent. Moderate pressure and a general purpose detergent are not harmful to wiring, but water under high pressure can penetrate components such as connectors and splices. Moisture penetration into components tends to increase with elevated water temperatures.
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5-4. Engine and APU Wire Harnesses
Consideration should be given to the refurbishment of engine and APU wire harnesses during engine and APU maintenance visits due to the harsh environment.
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5-5. Protection of Wires in the Wheel Well Area
Typically, wire bundles in this area should be mechanically protected. These wires and their protective devices should be inspected carefully at frequent intervals. There should be no strain on attachments when parts are fully extended, slack should not be excessive.
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5-6. Routing Precautions
When wiring must be routed parallel to combustible fluid or oxygen lines for short distances, as much fixed separation as possible should be maintained. Specific separation standards should be available in manufacturer documentation. However, when such information is unavailable, a six-inch minimum separation may be used as a guideline, and no wire should be routed nearer than 1/2 inch to a plumbing line. The wires should be on the level with, or above, the plumbing lines. Clamps should be spaced so that if a wire is broken at a clamp, it will not contact the line. When a specified separation is not possible, both the wire bundle and the plumbing line can be clamped to the same structure to prevent any relative motion. A wire or wire bundle should not be supported from a plumbing line that carries flammable fluids or oxygen.
Wiring should be routed to maintain a manufacturer recommended minimum clearance from control cables. When a manufacturer-specified clearance is not given, coordinate with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
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5-7. Connectors
A connector should be disconnected from a receptacle in the following manner:
Use connector pliers to loosen coupling rings, which are too tight to be loosened by hand.
Alternately pull on the plug body and unscrew the coupling ring until the connector is separated.
Protect disconnected plugs and receptacles to keep contamination from entering and causing faults.
Do not use excessive force, and do not pull on attached wires.
NOTE: When reconnecting, special care should be taken to ensure the connector body is fully seated, the jam nut is fully secured, and no tension is on the lines.
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5-8. Conduits
Conduits are used in aircraft installation for protection of wires and cables. Conduits are available in metallic and nonmetallic material, both in rigid and flexible form. When selecting conduit size, a general recommendation is to select the inside diameter of the conduit to be about 25% larger than the maximum diameter of the conductor bundle.
Conduits are vulnerable to abrasion at the ends. Suitable fittings are affixed to the conduit ends in such a manner that a smooth surface comes in contact with the conductor within the conduit. When fittings are not used, the conduit ends should be flared to prevent wire insulation damage. The conduit should be supported by clamps along its run.
Many of the common conduit problems can be avoided by proper attention to the following details:
Do not use a conduit as a handhold or footstep.
Ensure drain holes are provided at the lowest point in a conduit run and are clear. Drilling burrs should be carefully removed from the drain holes.
Ensure that the conduit is supported to prevent chafing against the structure and to avoid stressing its end fittings.
Damaged conduit sections should be repaired to prevent damage to the wires or wire bundle. The minimum acceptable tube bend radii for a rigid conduit as prescribed by the manufacturer's instructions should be followed. Kinked or wrinkled bends in a rigid conduit are normally not acceptable. Transparent adhesive tape is recommended when cutting flexible tubing with a hacksaw to minimize fraying of the braid.
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5-9. Cleaning
Care must be taken whenever wiring is being cleaned, especially as the aircraft and its wiring age. In general, wire insulation may become brittle, so displacement or moving of wiring during cleaning must be kept to the absolute minimum. Careful identification of the most appropriate cleaning methodology is very important. Vacuuming, perhaps in combination with light sweeping of wiring and wire bundles with soft brushes, to remove dirt and debris may be preferred. Additionally, significant damage can be done to wire insulation and other electrical system components with the inappropriate use of cleaning solvents.
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Annex 1. Additional Readings
[AC 43.13-1B] FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 43.13-1B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices, Aircraft Inspection and Repair, Chapter 11. Electrical Systems, Federal Aviation Administration (http://www.faa.gov). Available for viewing online at http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/300/pdf/1a-cover.pdf
[AC 65-15A] FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 65-15A, Airframe & Powerplant Mechanics Airframe Handbook, Chapter 11. Aircraft Electrical Systems Federal Aviation Administration (http://www.faa.gov). Index of ACs online at http://www.faa.gov/abc/ac-chklst/actoc.htm
[747-SL-20-048] Boeing 747 Service Letter 747-SL-20-048, Inspection of Wiring on High Time Airplanes, The Boeing Company, Technical Library, PO Box 3707, Seattle, WA, USA 98124
[D6-54446] Document D6-54446 Chapter 20, Standard Wiring Practices Manual, The Boeing Company, Technical Library, PO Box 3707, Seattle, WA, USA 98124
[FAST article number 14] FAST the Airbus Technical Digest from Airbus Industrie, FAST 14, February 1993, article, Ageing - The electrical connection, Airbus Industrie, 1 rond point Maurice Belloute, 31707 BLANGNAC Cedex, France, Attn: The Editor FAST AI/CM-S, E-mail: fast.digest@airbus.fr, http://www.airbus.com
[FAST article number 18] FAST the Airbus Technical Digest from Airbus Industrie, FAST 18, June 1995,article, Ageing-The electrical connection - Part 2, Airbus Industrie, 1 rond point Maurice Belloute, 31707 BLANGNAC Cedex, France, Attn: The Editor FAST AI/CM-S, E-mail: fast.digest@airbus.fr, http://www.airbus.com
[WDM - Chapter 20] Chapter 20, Standard Practices - Wiring Diagram Manual, Airbus Industries, 1 rond point Maurice Belloute, 31707 BLANGNAC Cedex, France, Attn: The Editor FAST AI/CM-S, E-mail: fast.digest@airbus.fr, http://www.airbus.com
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