Which type of aircraft engine does ingest foreign object debris?

Jet engines are designed to operate by drawing in air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel, and igniting the mixture to produce thrust. During this process, these engines can ingest foreign object debris (FOD), which may include items like birds, stones, or other debris that may be present on the runway or in the vicinity of the aircraft. Since jet engines utilize a high-speed airflow and are equipped with various components such as fan blades, they can be particularly vulnerable to FOD, which can cause damage and affect engine performance.

Piston engines and turboprop engines, while also capable of ingesting some debris, generally have different configurations and operational mechanisms. Piston engines, mainly used in smaller general aviation aircraft, rely on a different form of air intake and combustion, making them less susceptible to significant FOD impacts compared to jet engines. Turboprop engines, which are a mix of jet engine and propeller technology, also have rotating blades but do not operate at the same high-speed suction as jet engines, leading to a lower risk of severe damage from debris ingestion.

Thus, the design and operational principles of jet engines make them the type of aircraft engine most associated with ingesting foreign object debris.