Advanced CBM Technologies for Helicopter Rotor Systems - Full Scale Rotor Demonstration and Test Results

Rotor system components are critical to flight safety and costly to maintain. While component structural life is limited by high-cycle fatigue, wear and damage are also common reasons for replacement. A major challenge for the rotor system is having reliable electrical power and data transferred between the rotating and non-rotating helicopter systems. This paper will address the requirements for implementing Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) in the challenging rotor system environment, and present the results from full-scale rotor testing conducted on a Bell Model 407 configured Rotor Test Facility. The information, results, and progress reported here were completed during the Army-Bell-funded Operations Support and Sustainment Technology (OSST) Advanced Technology Development (6.3) Program, a three-year research effort initiated in early FY 2008.