Crashworthiness Versus Cost: A Study of Army Rotary Wing Aircraft Accidents in Period January 70 through December 71,
Abstract
This paper discusses the economic benefits of providing improvements in crashworthiness within future Army aircraft. The crashworthiness improvements considered are those of Military Standard 1290, Light Fixed- and Rotary-Wing Aircraft Crashworthiness. The benefits in reduced personnel losses and airframe damage were studied using 299 severe accidents occurring to Army rotary wing aircraft during 1970 and 1971. These accidents were analyzed in detail under a joint USAAAVS/USAARL study effort. The crashworthiness benefits are applied to the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) and projected on a per-flight-hour basis over its lifetime. The total costs of providing these crashworthiness improvements are estimated using a simple model based on aircraft weight. These costs include both initial acquisition costs and recurring maintenance and operating costs. The benefits resulting from the increased level of crashworthiness are then compared with the costs of providing these improvements in UTTAS aircraft. The features which contribute most heavily to the projected personnel and hardware savings are discussed in an estimated order of priority according to their relative cost-effectiveness. Recommendations are made regarding use of the results of this study and possible expansion of the study to other future aircraft systems. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- ADA062722
Entities
People
- J. E. Hicks
- J. L. Haley
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab