Boeing Fixes Critical Strap Nut Pack Problem on Apache AH64 Helos

Orders for the latest version of the Apache were  being held up over a nut. More specifically, corrosive defects have been found in the main rotor strap pack nut, compromising its ability to secure large bolts that hold the chopper’s rotor blades in place.

Defects happen, but the amount of time it’s taken Boeing and the Army to find this one is somewhat concerning. 

US Army resumes accepting Apache helicopters from Boeing

By: Jen Judson

". . . In June, Boeing started the Army-directed effort to begin retrofitting Apaches with a redesigned strap pack at no cost to the U.S. government or Foreign Military Sales customers, Todd told Defense News in a Sept. 10 statement.

The strap pack nut will be replaced on all Apaches in the fleet to include the earlier variant, the AH-64D, which is still operational in many foreign fleets around the world.

The new strap pack nut is “a fully qualified and airworthy solution,” Todd said.

The Army anticipates the retrofit of the entire fleet of U.S. government and FMS aircraft will be completed by December 2019, he added.

The first units to receive new parts will be those that fly regularly in severe, coastal environments. Todd estimated that at roughly six units in the Army. There are 653 AH-64s currently fielded in the U.S. Army.

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