Civil Rotorcraft Crash-Resistant Fuel System Performance

A detailed review of 14CFR-Part-27/29.952-certified rotorcraft accidents from 1996 through 2015 has been performed. 58 incidents were recorded in the NTSB accident database, 48 of which were considered crashes. 12 of the accidents were rated as severe or extreme, in which 29 out of the 31 occupants onboard the rotorcraft received fatal injuries. There were three extreme crashes that resulted in significant fuel leakage and post-crash fires. According to autopsy data and the NTSB reports, all of the fatalities aboard these three extreme crashes were a result of blunt-force trauma (not thermal caused). For all of the 45 remaining crashes, there were no recorded occupant thermal injuries. All of the results indicate that rotorcraft certified to 14CFR Part 27/29.952 are performing as intended, and that the specified design / performance levels are appropriate for civil rotorcraft. Other rotorcraft that have crash-resistant fuel systems installed in them, but which are not certified to 14CFR Part 27/29.952, were not included in the analysis.