Anthropomorphic Test Device Response in Vertical Drop Tests and Sled Tests

The Federal Aviation Administration has regulations designed to protect aircraft occupants in the event of a crash. Two-drop tests of a Fokker 28 (F-28) small regional jet airframe performed at the National Aeronautics and Space Agency provided full-scale crash data on the performance of transport category aircraft seating systems. The crash pulse measured at the floor differed from the certification tests and the performance of the seats did as well. To assess injuries in the spinal column, lumbar loads were collected for all Anthropomorphic Test Devices, and a range of occupants was included for comparison. Overall results were positive in that the seats were able to maintain their attachment to the aircraft with most of the ATDs measuring loads that would be considered acceptable during certification testing. Additional comparative testing was done in a laboratory environment on an accelerator sled to compare the certification input pulse to the achieved accelerations from the drop. Laboratory testing included triple and double places pitched up at the certification configuration 60° from the horizontal for combined loading. While these tests were with a Part 25 aircraft, the measured peak G (39 G) and the mostly vertical direction make the results applicable for rotorcraft safety. This testing demonstrated that seats dynamically qualified for lower impact severities (14 G) were able to maintain structural integrity but were not able to control spinal injury risk in all seating configurations.