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Robins answers C-5 mayday with quick turnaround

  • Published
Robins maintainers recently took just one week to repair a C-5 Galaxy with a basketball-sized hole in its engine and damage to the pylons that attach it.

The 3rd Airlift Squadron aircrew, en route from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to Puerto Rico, declared an in-flight emergency and diverted to Robins. Experts impounded the C-5B immediately and awaited maintenance directorate experts to get it up and running again.

David Mann, aircraft production section chief, said the aircraft sustained major damage to its number four engine. Maintenance directorate experts removed the engine and sent it to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. for repair. They then replaced the engine, the number three and four engine pylons and repaired minor damage to the wing.

Mr. Mann said approximately 20 people came into contact with the aircraft during its brief visit to Robins including engine mechanics, inspectors and sheet metal mechanics. Members of the strategic airlift directorate staff also lent a hand, providing the statement of work.

"We provided the removal and repair, but the big part of the job was the LT staff providing what inspections needed to be done to the damaged areas" said Mr. Mann.

The section chief said successfully completing this repair job was extra special for two reasons. One, there was a race against the clock to get it completed before the base's runway closed for repairs; and two, which is always their main goal, getting the asset back to the warfighter.

First Lt. Chris Knier, 3rd Airlift Squadron executive officer, said they were grateful to the Robins team for taking care of their bird.

"We appreciate the immediate response of the emergency crews when we needed them," he said. "The amount of work and professionalism demonstrated by the Robin's team really came through to us. They worked really hard to make sure everything was taken care of."

When the engine and pylon work was completed, 339th Flight Test Squadron members returned the aircraft to its home station at Dover. (Courtesy AFMC News Service)