GENERIC DESIGN OF AN EMERGENCY RECOVERY AND ESCAPE PATH CLEARANCE SUBSYSTEM FOR ROTARY WING VEHICLES

INFLIGHT RECOVERY OR ESCAPE FROM A DISABLE HELICOPTER REQUIRES THAT THE ROTOR BLADES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE ORDERLY OPERATION OF THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT WILL RETURN THE OCCUPANTS SAFELY TO EARTH. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PRESENT A METHODOLOGY FOR REMOVAL OF THE ROTOR BLADES IN A CONTROLLED MANNER TO ELIMINATE THEIR BECOMING A FLYING HAZARD TO OTHER AIRCRAFT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. THIS REPORT PRESENTS A GENERIC DESIGN FOR BOTH BLADE REMOVAL AND DECELERATION TO DELETHALIZE THEIR DANGER AS FREE FLYING MISSILES. STARTING FROM A TRADE-OFF STUDY OF CANDIDATE CONCEPTS WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT COMPLEXITY, COST, RELIABILITY, MAINTENANCE, AND SYSTEM SAFETY FACTORS, A GENERIC DESIGN IS PROPOSED FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE OBJECTIVE.