SSI Selection
The aircraft structure consists of all load carrying members.

The initial step in the SSI selection process is listing the load carrying members of the aircraft.This includes engine frames and support, fuselage, wings, empennage, landing gear, flight control surfaces, and related point of attachments. Actuating components of the landing gear, flight control, and doors are not structure items shall be treated as systems components.

The next step is the identification of all assemblies/subassemblies/ components of all the Structure systems/subsystems. This is RCMA Part 1- Determine the impact of each item in regards to safety, mission performance , and life cycle cost.

NOTE: To facilitate this process, the following questions should be asked for each item. A "yes" answer to any of the questions qualifies the item as "significant

If sufficient data is not available at the time of the initial determination, the default strategy is to classify the item as "significant". This can be updated when as more data is gathered. All items determined not significant are classified as "Other Structure Items".

SSI is any detail, an element, or an assembly whose failure consequence is the loss or reduction of the aircraft/engine residual strength or function. A part or assembly detail, to qualify as an SSI, must have an identifiable part number. A good example of this a weldment, which though not removable from the assembly, is identifiable as a component item. In contrast, a bolt hole is not a component item and thus not qualified as an SSI. A worn/damaged bolt hole can be analyzed as a failure mode contributing to the overall failure of the SSI.

Introduction
Work Scope
SSI Selection
F M E C A
M T B F
Figure 1
RCMA Pt 1
Item Data
RCMA Pt 2
Answers
Inspections
Age Exploration
F S M P
Follow Up