Postcrash Fuel Fire Hazard Measurements in a Wide-Body Aircraft Cabin
Abstract
This report describes results obtained utilizing a full-scale, wide- body test article for studying postcrash cabin fire hazards produced by an external fuel fire adjacent to a cabin door opening. Seventy-two tests were conducted at various ambient wind conditions and fire sizes in a fire-hardened cabin devoid of interior materials. This work was the first phase of a study to realistically characterize postcrash cabin fire hazards. Temporal data, taken at a large number of cabin locations, are presented and discussed pertaining to the effect of ambient wind on the rate of hazard accumulation inside of the cabin; stratification of heat, smoke, and toxic gases; the effect of fire size of thermal radiation through the opening; and the relative importance of heat, smoke, and carbon monoxide in a fuel-dominant fire. It is concluded that major stratification of hazards occurs in the cabin when the hazards are created by an external fuel fire, and that ambient wind determines the amount of hazards entering a cabin due to a given external fuel fire.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA079548
Entities
People
- Constantine P. Sarkos
- George R. Johnson
- Richard G. Hill