FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices
Aircraft Inspection and Repair
AC 43.13-1B | 9. Aircraft Systems and Components | 3. Emergency Equipment | 9-38. Life Raft Inspections
9/8/98
AC 43.13-1B
SECTION 3. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
9-37. LIFE RAFTS. Inflatable life rafts are
subject to general deterioration due to aging.
Experience has indicated that such equipment
may be in need of replacement at the end of
5 years due to porosity of the rubber-coated
material. Wear of such equipment is acceler-
ated when stowed on board aircraft because of
vibration which causes chafing of the rubber-
ized fabric. This ultimately results in localized
leakage. Leakage is also likely to occur where
the fabric is folded because sharp corners are
formed. When these corners are in contact
with the carrying cases or with adjacent parts
of the rubberized fabric, they tend to wear
through due to vibration (Ref: TSO-C70a).
a. When accomplishing maintenance,
repair, and inspection of unpacked rafts, per-
sonnel should not step on any part of the raft or
flotation tubes while wearing shoes. Rafts
should not be thrown or dropped, since dam-
age to the raft or accessories may result. Par-
ticular care should be exercised at all times to
prevent snagging, cutting, and contact with
gasoline, acids, oils, and grease. High stan-
dards of performance for proper maintenance,
inspection, and repair cannot be overempha-
sized, since the lives of passengers could be
involved.
b. Inspection and inflation tests, when
applicable, will be accomplished during stor-
age and after installation in an aircraft in ac-
cordance with the manufacturer’s specifica-
tions and/or FAA-approved procedures. Ac-
cessory items will be installed during these in-
spections. A raft knife will be attached by a
24-inch nylon lanyard to the mooring eye lo-
cated above the CO2 cylinder case to enable
rapid cutting of the mooring line.
9-38. LIFE RAFT INSPECTIONS. In-
spection of life rafts should be performed in
accordance with the manufacturer’s
specifications. General inspection procedures
to be performed on most life rafts are as fol-
lows.
CAUTION: Areas where life rafts are
inspected or tested must be smooth,
free of splinters, sharp projections,
and oil stains. Floors with abrasive
characteristics, such as concrete or
rough wood, will be covered with un-
treated tarpaulins or heavy clean pa-
per.
a. Inspect life rafts for cuts, tears, or
other damage to the rubberized material. If the
raft is found to be in good condition, remove
the CO2 bottle(s) and inflate the raft with air to
a pressure of 2 psi. The air should be intro-
duced at the fitting normally connected to the
CO2 bottle(s). After at least 1 hour, to allow
for the air within the raft to adjust itself to the
ambient temperature, check pressure and ad-
just, if necessary, to 2 psi and allow the raft to
stand for 24 hours. If, after 24 hours, the pres-
sure is less than 1 psi, examine the raft for
leakage by using soapy water. In order to
eliminate pressure variations due to tempera-
ture differences at the time the initial and final
reading are taken, test the raft in a room where
the temperature is fairly constant. If the pres-
sure drop is satisfactory, the raft should be
considered as being in an airworthy condition
and returned to service after being fitted with
correctly charged CO2 bottles as determined by
weighing them. Rafts more than 5 years old
are likely to be unairworthy due to deteriora-
tion. It is suggested that serviceable rafts be
marked to indicate the date of inspection and
that soapstone be used when folding them pre-
paratory to insertion into the carrying case.
Take care to see that all of the raft’s required
equipment is on board and properly stowed. If
the raft lanyard, used to prevent the raft from
floating away from the airplane, is in need of
Par 9-37
Page 9-27