MIL-HDBK-6870 Nondestructive Inspection Program Requirements for Aircraft and Missile Materials and PartsThis handbook provides guidance to government personnel and contractors for defining the requirements for establishing an acceptable Nondestructive Inspection NDI program for the development, production, and sustainment phases of DoD aircraft and missile structural components when directly referenced in the item specification contract or order. This handbook is for guidance only and cannot be cited as a requirement.

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MIL-HDBK-6870B

5.3.5    General NDI procedures.

General procedures or company process documents are acceptable for common product forms such as metallic plate, bar stock, fasteners, tubular products, as well as composite and hybrid material product forms.   Contents of  the NDI  procedures may be modified as appropriate for general NDI procedures.

5.4    Implementation of NDI procedures.

5.4.1    Personnel.

The  contractor  should  have  available  records  of  certification  for  personnel  conducting  and interpreting nondestructive inspections in accordance with the applicable sections of NAS 410 or other methods in accordance with the contract.

5.4.2    NDI reports.

The contractor's NDI reports and data records should be kept on file for the minimum amount of time as required by the contract.  Reports should be signed or stamp identified by an authorized representative of the inspection facility. NDI techniques that produce digital records should be utilized on fracture critical and fracture critical traceable parts and assemblies where technically feasible.  Digital NDI records (e.g., ultrasonic C-scans, radiographs, shearography images, etc.) used  for  final  acceptance  of  fracture  critical  and  fracture  critical  traceable  parts  (including assembly bond lines) should be delivered with each aircraft and be in a compatible electronic format  as  specified  by  the  contract.     Digital  NDI  records  for  fracture  critical  traceable  parts should  be  traceable  to  aircraft  number,  part/assembly  number,  and  part  serial  number,  as applicable.   Records should include NDI of  repairs performed to achieve part conformance to requirements.

5.4.3    Equipment and materials.

The equipment and materials used for inspection should be in accordance with the applicable company  process  specification.   Specified  equipment  should  have  adequate  maintenance  to assure that it is fully operational when used to conduct inspections.

5.4.4    NDI procedure verification.

All   procedures   and   procedure   families   should   be   verified   to   assure   repeatable   defect detectability sufficient for the classification of the part.  Procedures should be verified on parts or on test pieces simulating the actual part and which provide the essential features of the part with regard to the important application variables which may affect defect sensitivity and confidence level.  Redundant inspections may be utilized.

5.4.5    Removal of discontinuities.

When  nondestructive  inspection  reveals  discontinuities  in  excess  of  the  level  permitted  by applicable  drawings  or  documents,  such  discontinuities  may  be  removed  if  permitted  by applicable drawings and documents or authorized by Materials Review Board action.  Evidence of removal should be shown by reinspection.

5.4.5.1    Reinspection.

Reinspection for removal of discontinuities should be conducted using the same procedure.  If a modified or different procedure is necessary, an addendum or temporary change to the original procedure  action  should  be  prepared  and  approved  by  the  responsible  NDI  Level  III  and Materials Review Board showing the essential features of the repair test.

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