The Airbag as a Supplement to Standard Restraint Systems in the AH-1 and AH-64 Attack Helicopters and Its Role in Reducing Head Strikes of the Copilot/ Gunner. Volume 1
Abstract
Accident investigation records of U.S. Army helicopter crashes show injuries of pilots due to striking a structure inside the cockpit outnumber those due to excessive accelerations by a five-to-one ratio. This two-volume reports presents the results of a study of the effectiveness of airbags in reducing the severity of contact injury to the gunner when striking the gunsight. Airbag systems were installed on the gunsights in simulated Cobra and Apache cockpits, then sled tested at 7 and 25 g. The tests indicated airbags reduced head accelerations by 65%, head injury criteria by 77%, and head angular acceleration by 76% in the Cobra tests. In the Apache tests, the airbags reduced those same indicators by 68, 52, and 83%. An airbag system, the report concludes, Volume 1 of the report describes the tests and discusses the results. Volume 2 consists of Appendixes A, B, C of the report and contains processed signal graphs of all sled tests. Volume II is available upon request from SIC, USAARL.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA233349
Entities
People
- Dennis F. Shanahan
- John V. Barson
- Nabih M. Alem
- William H. Muzzy Iii
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab