11/27/2014 Fire Protection and Detection for Aircraft and Engines

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Building Kit Aircraft

Drilling, Riveting, Sheetmetal
Aircraft Electrical Systems Fire Protection
Alternators, Antennas & Lights
Proficient Airmanship
Human Factors, Decision Making
Firewall Foreward
Everything On The Nose Fire protection systems are installed on aircraft to detect and protect
Secondary Systems
Brakes, Hydraulics & More
against an outbreak of fire. You will find these systems near the
engines and in the fuselage.
Secondary Systems
Brakes & Wheels
Fire & Oxygen These systems monitor the conditions which could lead

Pitot Static System to a fire and are comprised of smoke detectors, heat
Gyroscopic Systems sensors near engines or hydraulic systems and visible
Hydraulics & Pneumatics and audible warnings in the cockpit.

Fire & Oxygen

Fire Detection & Extinguishing The chance of a fire in small general aviation or
Putting Out That Fire
experimental type aircraft are very remote but at least
Oxygen Systems
Breathing At High Altitudes the engine compartment should have some form of

Related Ads detection as this is the area where heat, air and a

Home Alarm System combustible fluid are together in close proximity.

Fire Extinguishing
Systems You as the builder of an experimental aircraft have the option to install an fire extinguisher under the cowling,

Aircraft Sales space permitting of course.

Types Of Fire
Extinguishers

Experimental Aircraft Fire Detectors

Engines

Home Alarm
There are two basic type of unit fire detectors: thermocouple and a bi-
Halon 1211 metallic switch.

Portable Fire
Extinguishers A thermocouple consist of two dissimilar materials which will generate a
Light Aircraft small voltage when its heated. They are also used in exhaust gas
temperature (EGT) or cylinder heat temperature (CHT) sensors.
Fire Protection Systems

Home Sprinkler The bi-metallic switch detects a temperature change as each of the two
dissimilar materials have a different expansion thereby deforming the
Security Alarm
metal arm and contacting a switch, thereby opening or closing it

National Fire Sprinkler depending on the type of switch that is used.

Association

Fire can also be detected by infrared sensors connected to a circuit where a threshold is set to indicate a
temperature that has gone up and action of the pilot might be required.

Detection loop

A different method of fire detection uses a continuous loop device. This is a thin wire inside a capillary tube
insulated with a thermistor type material. This material will become a conductor when a certain high

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11/27/2014 Fire Protection and Detection for Aircraft and Engines
temperature is reached.

When the loop is triggered (by heat) a small current will flow and this trips a detector circuit and warning
device. After the temperature drops (fire is extinguished) the wire will stop conducting and the system is reset
and can be used again.

Fire Extinguishers

In fixed installations the gas is held in pressurized bottles ready to be

expelled by either an electric trigger or automatically by inertia
switches in the event of a crash.

The gas is released from the bottle and routed through tubing to
nozzles to be expelled in the engine or cargo compartment. Older installations use a one shot (one time use
only) or a double shot system.

Extinguishing agents

To put out a fire you will need to take away one of the three items that sustain the fire: air, temperature or the
combustible agent. A fire extinguishing agent replaces air with an inert gas so that combustion can no longer
take place. Water cools the temperature with the same results.

Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 )

This type is commonly used in cargo/ freight compartments. Also in small handheld extinguishers in the cabin,
but the size must be in proportion with the cabin to allow for sufficient breathing by the occupants after
releasing of the agent.

Methyl Bromide (MB)

Commonly used in engine bay compartments, much more effective with an equivalent weight compared to
CO2 agents. It is also toxic and thus unusable in the cabin or cockpit.

Dry Powder

Usually found in handheld extinguishers in the galley areas. It is a powder and very effective against liquid,
electrical and the usual combustibles such as paper and fabrics.

Wr it t e n b y E AI .

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