CONCEPT FEASIBILITY DEMONSTRATION FOR THE ARMY COCKPIT DELETHALIZATION PROGRAM

Injury data indicate secondary cockpit strikes to the head and upper torso account for approximately two thirds of all major and fatal injuries in potentially survivable Army helicopter mishaps. LME, Incorporated, under a contract with the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, (USA AVSCOM) Ft. Eustis, VA, performed a two-year program of research, biodynamic simulation, detail design, test and evaluation, to examine the head/upper torso strike problem and demonstrate potential solutions. This paper describes the investigation and conceptual process leading to the development of passive and active crew protection designs that could be candidates for current, as well as year 2000, helicopter or light aircraft applications. The LME protective concepts were evaluated in a series of computer simulations and in seven (7) out of eight (8) dynamic tests using a replication of an advanced attack helicopter crewstation interior with a stroking crewseat. Overall effectiveness and physiological compatibility of the protective concepts were evaluated under varying crash pulses and impact orientations. Results show significant improvement was achieved in reduction of head and neck accelerations and forward displacement when compared to a baseline conventional restraint.