Military Aviation > Military Aircraft

(Airforce) Ground Crew sucked in Jet Engine?

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Phixer:

--- Quote from: ilikef4 on March 12, 2017, 08:22:09 AM ---
--- Quote from: Phixer on March 11, 2017, 11:47:09 AM ---Working around aircraft is hazardous and the chance of getting sucked into an air intake is a reality in everyday aviation. I worked on the F-4N and F-4S, the A-7E aircraft while serving in the Navy.
There is protection from being sucked into an intake for maintenance engine turns. But not for launch and recovery.
For a maintenance turn a set or a single intake screen is attached to the intake opening to protect the engine from FOD (foreign object damage) but at higher throttle settings it's still possible for ground crew to be sucked up to the screen. 
Hope this helps

--- End quote ---

That's correct, I was an engine operator for my shop. Before attaching the screens I would "dive" the intake/s to inspect for FOD and turbine blades were not chipped, cracked and no blades were missing. Then I would climb out of the intake and hang the screen/s. If it's to be placed back on the flight schedule immediately it's ready for the pilot and RIO (radar intercept officer) if not intake covers would be pushed on the intake openings. This is done to prevent FOD getting in or birds or insects from building a nest.

One thing to remember is the flight deck of a carrier is nothing like land based flight ops.
 More aircraft, jet, propeller and helos in close proximity of each other.  The possibility of being blown into support equipment, another aircraft or over the side by jet blast or prop or rotor wash can and has happened. Night operations is a completely different world altogether.
Working the flight deck is one of the most exciting things I've ever done.
thank you for both of you (Phixer and Webmaster)

to Phixer.

thank you for sharing the expert knowledge and thank you for your service!

based on the information, it is good to have at least some kind of protection to ground crew (screen attached to intake opening during maintenance).

then i think i can conclude this way. please correct me if i am wrong.

1. F-4 comes back to aircraft carrier after patrol fly / operation
2.  F-4 takes maintenance turn
3. before starting the maintenance turn, screen is attached to air intake opening to prevent FOD (including protection for ground crew)
4. Screen is being attached during entire maintenece process
5. F-4 is about to be back to patrol fly/operation.
6. screen is detached before take off. then F-4 take off for flying.

i am very interested in the procedure and i would be glad if you can confirm the procedure i enumerated above is correct.

if my assumption above is correct, it seems that the most dagerous time is 'right before taking off'  on catapult since the engine runs in high capacity and still ground crew work for setting the taking off near the plane. 

regards

 

--- End quote ---

SukhoiLover:
The best way to prevent being sucked in is to just stay the heck out of the hazardous zone.

....yeah, I´m  still alive.....

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