861450 - Airbus Helicopters OEM Power Device Cartridge

861450 – Airbus Helicopters Emergency Flotation System Power Cartridge

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Overview

The Airbus Helicopters 861450 is a flight-critical, OEM pyrotechnic power device cartridge designed for a single, vital purpose: initiating the deployment of an aircraft's emergency flotation system (EFS). This component is a Cartridge Actuated Device (CAD) that serves as the primary trigger in the float inflation sequence. Upon electrical activation by the pilot during a ditching event, the 861450 instantly generates a powerful pulse of gas pressure. This pressure drives an internal piston to mechanically puncture the seal on a high-pressure cylinder of stored gas (typically helium or nitrogen), which then inflates the emergency floats in fractions of a second.

Manufactured to the exacting standards of Airbus Helicopters, this hermetically sealed, single-use cartridge guarantees the split-second reliability required for life-saving equipment. Its function is not merely mechanical; it is the linchpin of the aircraft's ditching survivability system. For operators of compatible rotorcraft, using a certified, in-date 861450 cartridge is an absolute requirement for ensuring the EFS will perform as designed during an emergency.

Key Features

• Pyrotechnic Actuation: Utilizes a stable, solid propellant charge to deliver instantaneous and powerful mechanical force, a reliability standard unattainable by conventional electromechanical systems.

• High-Reliability Initiator: Incorporates a military-grade electrical initiator (squib) for dependable activation from the cockpit flight controls.

• Hermetically Sealed Construction: Features a robust, corrosion-resistant steel case with hermetic seals to protect the internal pyrotechnic composition from environmental factors such as moisture and humidity, ensuring its specified service life.

• Life-Limited Component: Engineered and marked with a specific service life from its Date of Manufacture (DOM) to guarantee performance.

• OEM Certified Performance: As a genuine Airbus Helicopters part, it ensures perfect integration, function, and compliance with the aircraft's type certificate.

• Focused Mechanical Output: Designed to produce a precise, high-pressure gas pulse that drives a piston, providing the force needed to actuate the main inflation cylinder valve.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: 861450

• Component Type: Cartridge Actuated Device (CAD) / Pyrotechnic Power Cartridge

• OEM Manufacturer: Airbus Helicopters

• Material (Case): Per OEM specification, typically high-strength Corrosion Resistant Steel (CRES). Confirmation must be made with OEM documentation.

• Output: High-pressure gas pulse for mechanical actuation.

• Initiation: 28 VDC electrical signal (nominal).

• Service Life: This is a life-limited component. The expiration date is calculated from the Date of Manufacture (DOM) marked on the unit and must be strictly adhered to per the Component Maintenance Manual (CMM).

• Shipping Classification: Hazardous Material (HAZMAT). Typically UN 0323, Class 1.4S - Cartridges, Power Device. Shipper must be HAZMAT certified.

Aircraft Compatibility

This power cartridge is specified for use on specific Airbus Helicopters models equipped with emergency flotation systems. Primary compatibility includes:

• Airbus Helicopters H145 (BK117 D-2 & D-3)

Note: Verification of applicability is the responsibility of the installer. The specific configuration of the aircraft's emergency flotation system may vary. Always consult the current version of the aircraft's Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) and maintenance manual to confirm part number eligibility for a specific helicopter serial number.

Applications

• Sole Application: Initiation of the Emergency Flotation System (EFS). This cartridge is the trigger that releases the main gas charge to inflate the helicopter's floats for emergency water landings (ditching).

Why Choose 861450?

The 861450 is a life-saving device where performance cannot be compromised. Choosing a genuine Airbus Helicopters OEM cartridge is the only way to guarantee compatibility and the validated reliability required for a flight-critical pyrotechnic component. The use of non-certified, improperly stored, or expired cartridges presents the unacceptable risk of a complete EFS failure during a ditching scenario. This OEM part provides full traceability, assured material integrity, and the peace of mind that the helicopter's most critical safety system is equipped to perform its mission.

The Airbus Helicopters 861450 operates on the principle of controlled pyrotechnic deflagration to convert stored chemical energy into precise mechanical work. This Cartridge Actuated Device (CAD) contains a stable, solid gas-generant propellant, not a detonating explosive. When the low-voltage electrical current is applied to the internal initiator, its resistive bridge wire heats, igniting a primer charge. This primer initiates a rapid, subsonic, and predictable burn of the main propellant grain. The burn progresses along the propellant's surface, generating a precisely controlled pressure-time curve within the cartridge's high-strength steel housing. This tailored gas pressure provides a powerful, non-destructive impulse that drives an internal piston forward with immense force and speed. This action delivers a reliable, split-second mechanical actuation of the float system's high-pressure cylinder, a task for which purely electromechanical or pneumatic systems cannot match the power-to-weight ratio and environmental resilience.

Note: This is a flight-critical, life-limited, single-use pyrotechnic component. It must be replaced on or before the expiration date calculated from the Date of Manufacture (DOM). This item is classified as a Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) for shipping, storage, and disposal. All handling, installation, and removal must be performed by certified technicians in strict accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) and all applicable federal and international regulations.

Documentation

No public-facing OEM or regulatory documentation was located for this part. All technical data, service life information, and handling procedures are proprietary to Airbus Helicopters and contained within the official Component Maintenance Manual (CMM) and Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM).