AATD APU EROSION KIT FOR THE AH-64 D APACHE LONGBOW

Experience in desert operations demonstrated that a substantial improvement is needed in inlet protection systems. Sand ingestion causes severe performance degradation, excessive wear, increased maintenance and eventually premature failure of gas turbine engines. In order to extend the life of helicopter main engines and Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) in severe sand environments, new and innovative inlet protection system concepts and technologies must be explored. The Power Systems Division of the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) was approached by the Apache Longbow Project Manager (PM) to develop a quick and inexpensive way to provide erosion protection for APUs in severe sand environments. In a six-month effort, an APU erosion kit was developed, tested and installed (1.5 hours) on an AH-64 D Longbow Apache helicopter. Erosion kits have been installed on aircraft deployed in support of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The erosion kit has proven successful in desert operations and additional units are being provided to other Apache Longbow units worldwide.