UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters: Reducing Friction Damage With Proven Anti-Chafe Tapes

Operators of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters at the US Army needed a durable and conformable material that prevents chafing damage caused by the abrasion of tail rotor gearbox fairing and access panels against the tail boom structure during daily operations.

The current provision for anti-chafe material applications in this area was less than fully effective, resulting in frequent damage to the structure and fairing sub-assemblies. Consequently, US Army operators noticed that paint was worn away to expose bare metal and gouges worn into the structure, requiring replacement and/or panel repair.