An Improved Concept for a Crashworthy Cyclic Control Stick

SURVICE Engineering, under an R&D contract from Sikorsky Aircraft, developed an improved concept for a Crashworthy Cyclic Control Stick. The design, based on a Sikorsky Aircraft patent, uses a cable pulled by the stroking of the pilot’s crashworthy crew seat to first unlock, then displace the upper portion of the control stick. The cyclic control stick is displaced forward and to the left out of the pilot’s head and upper torso strike zone in severe crash impacts. Two sets of components were manufactured, and then dynamically tested at NAWCAD, Patuxent River, MD. The two tests clearly demonstrated the validity of the CWCS concept by preventing any contact between the occupant and the cyclic stick grip, thus leading to the recommendation of further design, development, and integration in all aircraft equipped with rigid cyclic sticks and crashworthy crewseats.