FLOOR ACCELERATIONS AND PASSENGER INJURIES IN TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS
Abstract
Floor level deceleration data obtained in FAA crash tests of a DC-7 and a L-1649 transport are analyzed and compared with earlier NACA data on twin- engine transports. Generally, the comparison of the NACA and FAA data revealed that for equal impact angles and velocities, the deceleration pulses as recorded by NACA and the FAA were nearly equal. When fuselage breaks occur, deceleration values in the separated sections may exceed the deceleration level of an intact airframe. The longitudinal compressive strength of a separated fuselage section may allow as much as 19G to be imposed on the section when one-third of the cross-sectional area is effective in buckling. A study of 61 survivable transport aircraft accidents in the years from 1955 through 1964 revealed the following significant points: (1) Floor deceleration pulse magnitudes and durations seldom exceed human tolerance limits if proper body restraint is available, (2) At least one fuselage fracture 'break' was noted in each of 35 accidents out of a total of 61 accidents studied, and these breaks resulted in seat failures and passenger injuries in many of these cases, (3) Two-thirds of the accidents studied resulted in a postcrash fire, and (4) It is estimated that approximately one-half of the injuries and fatalities could have been prevented by the use of improved passenger restraint systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0815877
Entities
People
- Gerrit J. Walhout
- James W. Turnbow
- Joseph L. Haley