Are there any studies on helicopter engines (MH-60) after being exposed or actually ingesting CWAs or TICs into the engine, was there damage, and did it affect the engine's performance?

1. Inquiry

The Homeland Defense and Security Information Analysis Center (HDIAC) received a technical inquiry (TI) from the USCG CWMD Program Manager, Office of Specialized Capabilities (CG-721), Coast Guard Headquarters asking if there were any studies (classified or unclassified) on helicopter engines (MH-60) after being exposed or actually ingesting chemical warfare agents (CWAs), or toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) (chlorine, H2S, etc.) into the engine. The inquirer also asked if there was damage and did it affect the engine’s performance [1].

2. HDIAC Response

HDIAC conducted a literature search and review of the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Research & Engineering (R&E) Gateway and online scientific literature repositories and also sought assistance from the HDIAC subject matter expert (SME) network in the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) technical focus areas.

3. Literature Review

A search of DTIC’s online R&E Gateway and Google Scholar was performed to index pertinent literature. A review of the literature was conducted following keys word searches for “MH-60” and “NBC” and “hardness” and “engine” and “contaminants.” Search results ranged from test plans, information on corrosion control, to nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) survivability analysis. There were a number of documents with information on the UH-60. Unfortunately, literature search results did not specifically address the inquiry regarding the engines on the MH-60 helicopter. Although the MH-60 is a variant of the UH-60, they are built with different mission requirements that require different engines. Table 1 contains a list of literature pertaining to rotary wing equipment that may be relevant to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The documents listed in Table 1 vary in their distribution statements. Files of interest (based on their distribution statement) may be provided by HDIAC to the agency via the DoD SAFE file transfer system following confirmation of a valid .mil or .gov email address.

4. HDIAC SME Network Assistance

The HDIAC SME network is one of the Center’s most valuable resources, as it provides a body of knowledge and depth of experience that is far greater than any single person or entity. From time to time, the HDIAC SME network is sought out to assist in answering a technical inquiry. This inquiry, requesting assistance in determining research in a particular area, is the type of inquiry that benefits from reaching out to the SME network for their thoughts on the most current information available. However, our SMEs were not aware of any helicopter studies of engine performance following exposure to CWAs or TICs relevant to the MH-60.

Reference

[1] T. Murphy. Decontamination Studies, email correspondence, October 19, 2020.