As you know, certain areas of the country and across the globe offer harsher operating environments than others. 

These areas are identified in FAA AC 43-4A references “Corrosion Control for Aircraft.” If you operate your aircraft in these areas or other salt laden, corrosive or other polluted environments, consider compressor and turbine washes to extend the useful life of gas path components.

PWC Service Information 

Letter (SIL) PT6A-206 references “Compressor and Turbine washes” as an effective means of preventative maintenance.

Examples include:

• Power recovery wash – Chemical solution used to recover compressor efficiency lost due to build-up of contaminants in the air path, such as compressor blades and stators.
• Desalination wash – Water wash to remove corrosive elements from the compressor and compressor turbine.

Your maintenance manual (MM) also provides a table matching the environment with a suggested wash and frequency. Reference the applicable PWC MM 71-00-00, Cleaning, for your requirements, recommended frequency, and procedures. You may also contact DAI for guidance. Find your Regional Engine Manager here

These Tips and Tricks are for reference and they are only a starting point. They are not intended to be comprehensive instructions. Please:

• Seek the assistance of a professional mechanic for all repairs beyond your capabilities;
• Consult the OEM’s applicable maintenance manual, and any Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins; and
• Remember that the cornerstone of aircraft safety is redundancy — the “second set of eyes” inspection principle is non-negotiable.

For more information, please visit DallasAirmotive.com or HSaviation.co.uk.