Process for Real-Time Monitoring of a Turboshaft Engine

Abstract

For helicopters engaged in sling loads or heavy lift, there is a need to report current turboshaft engine health (e.g., margin) and contingency power available from the engine in realtime. Displaying this information allows the pilot in command of the aircraft to make more informed decisions about the safety of continuing a mission. For engine margin, when aircraft parameter data is recorded by a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) or flight data monitoring system (FDM), this functionality allows maintainers to be notified of the engines’ degraded performance to initiate an inspection/maintenance action to restore the engine to its designed performance. However, this does not help the pilot make mission-critical decisions during the flight. The paper covers the method to use HUMS/FDM data to calculate, in real-time, the power available to the pilot.