A pilot nozzle heat shield includes a generally cylindrical body having a first end for receiving a pilot nozzle. The body includes a plurality of radial retention pin cavities for receiving retention pins. A frustoconical flow tip is located at a second end of the body that includes a proximal periphery and a distal periphery. A plurality of flow jets are circumferentially spaced about the proximal periphery of the frustoconical flow tip which further includes a plurality of slots extending distally from the plurality of flow jets. The plurality of slots define a plurality of tangs and the plurality of tangs define an aperture at the distal periphery of the flow tip. At least two of the tangs are connected about the distal periphery of the flow tip and the pilot nozzle heat shield generally includes at least two sets of connected tangs.