Rotorcraft fall restraint protection attach points and mechanism systems

Abstract

The present invention includes a safety apparatus and method for protecting users during maintenance operations for a rotorcraft comprising: at least one permanent, semi-permanent, or detachable safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop that is attached or attachable to a rotorcraft, wherein the safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop is positioned in an area or surface between a windshield of the rotorcraft and a tail boom of the rotorcraft and is connectable to a user safety device to provide fall protection from the area or surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety apparatus for a rotorcraft comprising:
 at least one permanent, semi-permanent, or detachable safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop that is attached or attachable to a rotorcraft, wherein the safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop is attached in an area or surface at a top of the rotorcraft between a windshield of the rotorcraft and a tail boom of the rotorcraft, wherein the area or surface is at the rotor system, rotor blades, engine, engine cowling, engine firewall, or a shaft that extends from the top of the rotor craft; and   a user safety device is connected to the rotorcraft during maintenance on the rotorcraft, wherein the at least permanent, semi-permanent, or detachable safety bar, strap, fastener, hook or loop is attached to the rotorcraft to provide fall protection during maintenance of the rotorcraft on the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is positioned on the side or top of the rotorcraft and provides an anchor point for the user safety device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the anchor point comprises the hook, the loop, a ring, a D-ring, a lanyard, a tie off, or a carabiner. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more safety bars are connected to one or more sides of the rotorcraft at hard points that are within or outside a body of the rotorcraft, wherein the one or more safety bars have at least one of vertical, horizontal, or diagonal orientation to the ground and provides an anchor point for the user safety device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the safety bar, hook, or loop is positioned on a grip or a flapping stop of a main rotor of the rotorcraft. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the safety bar, hook, or loop is positioned in, on, within, or about a firewall. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop is attached from a rotor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop is attached to one or more hard points on an engine. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop is attached to a yoke of the rotorcraft. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user safety device is a line, belt, harness, fall limiter, sling seat, bosun chair, chest harness, fall prevention device, fall prevention system, fall restraint device, or personal fall arrest system. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the permanent, semi-permanent, or detachable safety bar, strap, fastener, hook, or loop is attached to a user via the safety device under austere environmental conditions. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the user safety device is disconnected from the rotorcraft after performing the maintenance on the rotorcraft.