Foreign Object Damage

Helicopters are very susceptible to damage from foreign objects.

• Rotor downwash can dislodge any objects not secured to the ground and lift them towards the aircraft and damage either the airframe or the engine
• Airframe damage is usually confined to moving parts of the helicopter, i.e. rotors, and if the pilot suspects a rotor strike he must land at the earliest opportunity and inspect for damage

All HEMS machines are powered by gas turbine engines which are very susceptible to damage from even small objects passing into the engine air intake.

Actions

The following actions should be carried out at least 10 minutes prior to the arrival of a helicopter: