Impact of Improved Materials and Cabin Water Spray on Commuter Aircraft Postcrash Fire Survivability.
Abstract
Twelve full-scale tests were conducted in a modified Metro-liner fuselage to study the impact of using improved fire retardant materials and a cabin water spray system on postcrash fire survivability. Currently, commuter category aircraft as defined in Part 23 are exempt from meeting the stringent Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's) requiring seat cushion fire blocking layers and low heat/smoke release panels in large transport aircraft. A zoned cabin water spray system which allowed for the individual activation of spray zones depending on cabin temperature was designed and installed in the fuselage. The system consisted of four 100 inch long zones, each containing 6 nozzles. Of the twelve tests, five were run with the water spray system and a different combination of cabin materials. These five tests were repeated without the water spray system in order to establish baseline data for each material combination. Two additional tests were conducted to investigate the impact of a partially obstructed forward test and also to evaluate the effect that the channel-type floor geometry used in the Metro-liner aircraft has on flame propagation during a cabin fire. Temperature, smoke levels, and gas concentrations were continuously monitored at a forward cabin location and each test was recorded on video. Zoned Cabin Water Spray System Commuter Aircraft Fractional Effective Dose
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA274421
Entities
People
- Timothy R. Marker
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration