Navy will study Sea Dragon engine problems

[unhappycamper]

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/03/navy-will-study-sea-dragon-engine-problems



An MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter performs mine countermeasure training using the MK-105 sled in the Persian Gulf on Nov. 12, 2007.

Navy will study Sea Dragon engine problems
By Mike Hixenbaugh
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 14, 2014

NORFOLK

The Navy has asked Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to study ways to reduce the risk of engine fires in its MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters.

The Navy says the study is part of an ongoing effort to correct a known defect in the helicopter’s No. 2 engine and was not prompted by the crash of a Sea Dragon off the coast of Virginia two months ago. Three sailors were killed and two others were injured in the Jan. 8 accident, which remains under investigation.

The Navy’s plan to study the engine issue was posted Tuesday on a government website that tracks federal contracts. Specifically, the Navy plans to negotiate a sole-source contract with Sikorsky to study ways to “reduce or eliminate the risk of inflight fires and heat damage in the No. 2 engine compartment as a result of engine exhaust backflow ingestion,” according to the document.

The Connecticut-based company will study the same problem in the Marine Corps version of the helicopter, the CH-53E Super Stallion.