Centrisep® Engine Advanced Protection System (EAPS) for MIL Mi-17 Series Helicopters

Fit and Forget Engine Protection

The Mi-17 helicopter is a multipurpose helicopter used in a variety of roles, including civil and military transport, fire-fighting, and search and rescue. These demanding missions can mean anxious and dangerous minutes spent hovering close to the sea or ground, along with frequent landings on unprepared landing zones. In addition, these helicopters must be available 24/7 for rapid deployment to any location.

The “fit and forget” Centrisep EAPS is an ideal solution for such
challenging operations. It shields the engine inlet from airborne
contamination which results in:

Safer operation (protection against sand and dust, FOD, salt spray, ice and snow) Increased operational availability Enhanced protection against engine erosion Reduced maintenance and operational costs

On the Mi-17 helicopter, the unit consists of a box-shaped filter installed in front of the engine air intakes.

Part numbers:

• QB0440
• QB0440-04¹

¹ The 04 suffix on the part number indicates that a snow and ice protection system is included.

Scavenge system:

• Fan

Certification:

• Russian Helicopters, JSC

In June 2009, Pall signed an agreement with Russian Helicopters for the Mi8/17 modernization program. A Service Bulletin authorizing installation of the Centrisep EAPS on the civil helicopters is anticipated following completion of type certification flight trials.

There are no additional limitations for operations in winter conditions. It is allowed to operate without a by-pass door and differential pressure monitoring systems.

Maintenance

The Centrisep EAPS is a “fit and forget” system; there are no inlet barrier filters to replace or clean.  As with all aircraft equipment, routine visual inspection is recommended.  In case of damage, please refer to the Component Maintenance Manual, available through Pall Aerospace.

For additional information about this product, please contact your local Pall representative.

The Pall Centrisep EAPS solution is also an environmentally friendly alternative to oil-wetted barrier filters. There is no filter replacement and no daily cleaning as with oil-based solutions which are difficult and expensive to dispose of.

The Mi-17 helicopter is fitted with Pall's Centrisep EAPS, a “fit and forget” solution that provides enhanced protection against engine erosion.

Agusta Westland AW109 Power AW109S AW119 AW139	Bell 205 / UH-1 206	Boeing CH-47	Eurocopter AS330, AS332, EC225, EC725, Denel Oryx AS350, EC130, EC550, Z11 EC135 / EC635 SA315, SA316 SA341, SA342 Tiger
HAL Dhruv Advanced Light	Mil Mi 8 Mi 17 Mi 24, Mi 25, Mi 35	NHI NH90	Sikorsky Sea King, S-61 and SH-3

Pall Aerospace has been providing engine inlet protection for Russian helicopters since 1980.   The original MIL Centrisep design evolved from the Centrisep EAPS that Pall designed for the Commando Helicopter, an Army Aviation version of the Navy Sea King. Subsequently, at the request of North African and Middle East operators, the use of the Commando EAPS was extended, with some interface modifications, to the MIL Mi-8, then the Mi-24 and Mi-17 families.

These Centrisep EAPS differ among each other only in the mounting arrangements for attaching the units to the helicopter fuselage, the scavenge fans and the option for the addition of mesh screen cones.

Since 2001 customers can specify Pall Centrisep EAPS  for the new Mi-17 family helicopters built at the MIL factories.

In 2001, internal conical mesh screens were introduced inside the Centrisep EAPS (P/N QB0440-04). These screens help:

• Provide secondary filtration preventing FOD or ice over 2mm in size from entering the engine intakes
• Enable the Centrisep EAPS to meet the bird strike requirements of both FAR 29 (Airframe) and FAR 33 (Engines)
•  Prevent cross-ingestion of debris resulting from a failure of the opposing engine.

Quick release fasteners allow the screens to be easily removed for inspection of the engine intakes.

In hover, out-of-ground effect, the power loss of the Mi-17 Centrisep EAPS with scavenge fans operating is equivalent to that of an inactive OEM dust protection unit (DPU) separator. The power loss of the Centrisep EAPS unit is lower than the DPU separator once the scavenge ejector is activated.