TM 10-1670-296-20&P                                                    0005 00 0005 00-5 Table 1.  Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services - continued B – Before D – During A – After INTERVAL ITEM NO. B D A ITEM TO BE CHECKED   OR SERVICED EQUIPMENT NOT READY/ AVAILABLE IF: 5 EFTC Latch Assembly.    Inspect latch assembly coupling for rough areas, bends, cracks, or foreign material.  Check for any loose pins in the latch assembly and re-stake if necessary. All latch assemblies must be checked prior to every airdrop.   Visually inspect if the ½-inch diameter pins in latch side plates, that secure retainer and catch are separate pins or if they are integral fixed pins optional one-piece construction.  If the retainer and catch are one-piece construction, staking is not necessary.  If they are not, check for loose pins on the retainer catch and lock link as follows: 1.    Using a flat surface ³/₈-inch diameter (or less) pin or bolt, tap gently with a hammer on each end of the ½-inch diameter latch pin. 2.    If the pins are loose and can fall through the side plates re- stake pins by obtaining a hardened (50 Rockwell C hardness or higher) center punch. 3.    Place the assembled latch on a solid level surface and place tip of punch approximately ¹/₁₆- inch from the edge of the ½- inch diameter hole in the side plates. Latch assembly coupling has rough areas, bends, or cracks, or foreign material is present, ½-inch diameter pins in latch side plates are loose, upper retainer nut not flush with the latch assembly housing, retainer hook (1) does not release when the latch assembly adapter is activated, dot and arrow marking misalignment, loose pins in the latch assembly.