OH-58D ... Kiowa engine barrier filters.

Dear Rotor,

Flying in sandy desert; conditions clogs the Kiowa's barrier filters faster than you can say "Hooah."

So, we service, change, clean or shake out the primary filters more than usual to keep clean air going into the engine.

But because the clogging is so much of a problem, we also remove the Blast shield (part of the engine cowling) to expose part of the primary filter. This allows some of the sand and dust to blow by and not collect and clog the filter so fast. It sure helps keep us flying.

Sergeant Batrony

Hunter AAF, GA

Dear SGT Batrony,

Good work! Great idea to remove the cowling to extend the usefulness of the primary filters.

Here are some other ideas to help you keep the filters clean:

* Do your full service cleaning of the EBF system like it says in Para 4-2-14 of TM 1-1520-248-23 IETM and the commercial manual. To shake out sand and dirt from the primary filter, use the shaker tool described in the EBF filter system manual.

* Keep a cover on the bleed air filter to protect it when your bird is not flying.

* NSN 6850-01-514-3592 brings the 5-gal filter cleaning solvent. NSN 9150-01-514-3640 brings the 5-gal filter oil.

* Contact Tamara Sission of AFS at [phone] ext. 218 and use quotation #200221 (29 Jan 03) to get your deployment kit containing pliers to straighten out filter pleats.

* For a copy of the EBF filter system commercial manual, the shaker training course or the CD, contact Ray Hensley, at [phone], DSN 645-7441 or email

Rotor Blade

raymond.hensley@

peoavn.redstone.army.mil