Memorized alloy guide tube and method for inspecting indirectly accessible cavity of gas turbine engine

A guide tube assembly for inspecting an indirectly accessible cavity of a gas turbine engine, the guide tube assembly comprising:

• a guide tube formed of smart metal alloy (SMA), which is memorized into a memorized bent shape and being configurable into a straightened configuration;
• and
• a scope, which comprises a connecting line to which an inspection element is attached and which is installed into the guide tube,
• wherein the guide tube is configured to be heated to cause the guide tube itself to transition from the straightened configuration to the memorized bent shape.

A guide tube assembly for inspecting an indirectly accessible cavity of a gas turbine engine, the guide tube assembly comprising:

• a guide tube formed of smart metal alloy (SMA), which is memorized into a memorized bent shape and configurable into a straightened configuration;
• and
• a scope, which comprises a connecting line to which an inspection element is attached and which is installed into the guide tube,
• the guide tube being insertable into the gas turbine engine toward a location of the indirectly accessible cavity in the straightened configuration and heatable to cause the guide tube itself to return to the memorized bent shape in order to move the inspection element into the indirectly accessible cavity whereupon the inspection element is disposable to inspect the indirectly accessible cavity, and
• the guide tube itself being reconfigured into the straightened configuration following inspection completion and removed from the gas turbine engine.