RIMFIRE™ - A Failure Reporting and Corrective Action Monitoring System

In mid-2003, a group of U.S. Army Aviation project engineers began discussing the effectiveness of database systems used to collect, record, store, access, and analyze information relating to failures of critical aircraft components such as engines, transmissions, and airframes. They noted several areas in need of improvement: excessive lag time between when data was recorded and when it appeared in the database; questionable data integrity and fidelity; and inadequate communication between data collectors and users. All told, the project engineers realized that none of their existing maintenance databases contained the detail necessary to make data-driven decisions regarding primary failure modes on high-value equipment and dynamic system components, as well as the actions needed to correct them. To address these issues, a team was formed to develop a new failure reporting and corrective action system to improve system reliability. The result was the creation of a new program named RIMFIRE (Reliability Improvement through Failure Identification and Reporting). RIMFIRE is a program designed to identify and track equipment failures and to subsequently verify effectiveness of corrective actions. The goal is to hunt down causes of equipment failures and downtime so that corrective action can be implemented. Successful identification and correction of design errors, manufacturing defects, improper maintenance, and early wear out is key to improving equipment reliability. In late 2003, RIMFIRE was put into action at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), a full-service facility that maintains a wide variety of rotary-wing aircraft, engines and components. Initially, RIMFIRE collected data on the T700 family of engines. The program has now grown to include T55 engines, as well as transmissions, gearboxes and rotor head assemblies on all CH-47, AH-64 and UH-60 aircraft.