Development and Growth of Inaccessible Aircraft Fires under Inflight Airflow Conditions
Abstract
The purpose of this project was to determine the likelihood of fire development and growth in accessible areas of an aircraft and the resulting hazards to cabin occupants from these fires. Numerous inflight fires or smoke events occur in accessible areas but are controlled by the crew or self- extinguish. Fatal inflight fires are rare events but originate in inaccessible areas. This project consisted of 57 tests of hidden inflight fires in a section of a DC-10 test article. The fires were started behind sidewall panels, below the cabin floor, above the cabin ceiling, in overhead storage bins, in lavatory trash receptacles, and adjacent to lavatory flush motors. The conclusions were that (1) although uncontaminated insulation blankets did not readily support combustion, contaminated insulation blankets were found to support combustion, contaminated insulation blankets were found to support combustion (consistent with service experience); and (2) in this project and also consistent with actual service experience, the built-in Halon 1301 trash receptacle extinguishers did not always completely extinguish trash fires.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA236031
Entities
People
- David Blake
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration