General Guidelines For The Design Of Helicopter Engine Protection Devices

The operational use of turbinepowered helicopters in extreme environments by the Navy and Marine Corps has brought about the need for helicopter engine protection devices. Several model helicopters have incorporated either sand and dust separators, or icing shields. Although each specific design is efficiently operated in a limited environment, no one design has been tested and approved by the Navy to protect the helicopter engine against all environments. This paper sets forth some general guidelines for the design of helicopter engine protection devices, not only for engine protection, but also for ease of maintainability, and compatibility with the basic helicopter. Three current helicopter engine protection devices are analyzed to demonstrate deficiencies within the systems themselves, and the environmental limitation of each.