## RINSING PARACHUTE ASSEMBLY IMMERSED IN SALT-WATER 

If the parachute, or any of its components, has been immersed in salt water in excess of 24-hours it will be condemned. Additionally, if the parachute, or any of its components, has been immersed in salt-water for a period less than 24-hours, but cannot be rinsed within 48-hours after recovery, it will also be condemned, unless the following actions are performed. Upon removal from the salt water, the parachute is placed in a single heavy-duty plastic trash bag, the top of the bag secured closed and kept in a wet state until a rinse can be performed following normal rinse procedures. The bag must be doubled when outside temperatures exceed 85 degrees F. The bags must be inspected after transport and storage to ensure the bag did not get torn and the assembly was allowed to dry. Parachutes recovered using this method must be rinsed NLT than seven (7) days after the salt-water immersion or be condemned. 

However, if the cited time limitations can be met, then immediately upon recover, suspend or elevate the parachute assembly in a shaded area and allow it to drain for at least 5-minutes. Do not attempt to wring the fabric or the suspension lines. Within 48-hours after recover, under the supervision of a qualified parachute rigger (92R), rinse the recovered parachute assembly as follows: 

1. Place the parachute assembly in a large watertight container filled with a suitable amount of fresh, clean water to cover the assembly. 

2. Agitate the container contents by hand for 5-minutes. 

If the salt-water-soaked parachute assembly is too large to be placed into a rinsing container, then the rinsing process will be affected by applying fresh, clean water to the assembly using a hose. 

## NOTE 

3. Remove the parachute assembly from the container and suspend or elevate it in a shaded area, allowing a 5-minute drainage period. Do not attempt to wring the fabric or the suspension lines. 

4. Repeat the procedures in steps 1. through 3. above, two more times, using fresh, clean water for each rinse. 

5. After the third rinse, allow the parachute assembly to drain thoroughly. Upon completion of draining, dry the assembly in accordance with the DRYING FABRIC ITEMS procedures, below. 

6. When dried, perform a technical/rigger-type inspection of the parachute assembly. Corroded metal components, or corrosion-stained fabrics or suspension lines, will be either repaired or replaced as prescribed by the Maintenance Allocation Chart (MAC) in WP 0063 00. 

7. Record any repair, immersion, and rinsing in the parachute log record as shown in WP 0004 00. 

## RINSING PARACHUTE ASSEMBLY IMMERSED IN FRESH-WATER 

Any parachute, or its components, that has been immersed in a fresh water lake, river, or stream will not require rinsing unless it has been ascertained that the water is dirty, oily, or otherwise contaminated. Procedures for handling a fresh water immersed parachute are as follows: 

