FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices
Aircraft Inspection and Repair
AC 43.13-1B | 6. Corrosion, Inspection, and Protection | 14. Handling and Care of Aircraft Recovered from Water Immersion | 6-221. Initial Fresh Water or Detergent Wash
9/8/98
AC 43.13-1B
SECTION 14. HANDLING AND CARE OF AIRCRAFT RECOVERED
FROM WATER IMMERSION.
6-220. GENERAL. Aircraft recovered from
partial or total immersion in standing water or
flash floods require an in-depth inspection and
cleaning of both the exterior and interior areas.
Water-immersion increases the probability of
corrosive attack, it removes lubricants, deterio
rates aircraft materials, and destroys electrical
and avionics components.
b. If the above specified deter
gent/alcohol materials are not available, use
water-emulsion
cleaning
compound
(MIL-C-43616). Add one part compound to
nine parts water. If the MIL cleaning com
pound is not available, use any available mild
household detergent solution with fresh tap
water.
a. Sea water, because of salt content, is
more corrosive than fresh water. However,
fresh water may also contain varying amounts
of salt and, as drying occurs, the salt concen
tration is increased and corrosive attack accel
erated.
6-222. RECIPROCATING ENGINES
AND PROPELLERS. Remove the propeller
from the engine and the engine from the air
craft. The exterior of the engine and propeller
should be washed with steam, or fresh water,
preferably hot.
b. Prompt action is the most important
factor following recovery of an aircraft from
water-immersion. Components of the aircraft
which have been immersed, such as the
powerplant, accessories, airframe sections,
actuating mechanisms, screws, bearings,
working surfaces, fuel and oil systems, wiring,
radios, and radar should be disassembled, as
necessary, and the contaminants completely
removed.
a. Major accessories, engine parts, etc.,
should be removed and all surfaces flushed
with fresh water, preferably hot. If facilities
are available, immerse the removed parts, time
permitting, in hot water or hot oil, 180 °F, for a
short time. Soft water is preferred. Change
the water frequently. All parts must be com
pletely dried by air blast or other means. If no
heat-drying facility is available, wipe the
cleaned parts with suitable drying cloths.
6-221. INITIAL FRESH WATER OR
DETERGENT WASH. As soon as possible
after the aircraft is recovered from water-
immersion, thoroughly wash all internal and
external areas of the aircraft using a wa
ter/detergent solution as follows:
a. Mix liquid detergent (MIL-D-16791,
type I) and isopropyl alcohol (TT-I-735) in ra
tio of eight parts detergent, to 20 parts of alco
hol. Add the detergent/alcohol mixture to
72 parts of tap water and mix thoroughly. For
use, add one part of the preceding concentrate
to nine parts of tap water (warm water if avail
able) and mix thoroughly.
b. The constant-speed propeller mecha
nism should be disassembled, as required, to
permit complete decontamination. Clean parts
with steam or fresh water, preferably hot. Dry
the cleaned parts in an oven, but if a heat-
drying facility is not available, wipe the
cleaned parts with suitable drying cloths.
6-223. AIRFRAME. The salvable compo
nents of the fuselage, wings, empennage, sea
plane and amphibian hulls and floats, and
movable surfaces should be processed as fol
lows:
Par 6-220
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