PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS OF AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS IN U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER COCKPITS

Despite significant advances in accident prevention, crashworthiness and individual protective equipment, head and torso injuries continue to cause death and disabling injuries in survivable Army helicopter accidents. Most of these injuries are caused by occupants striking internal structures. This study reviewed Army helicopter accident records over a 9-year period and developed a computer model to determine the number of fatal and disabling injuries in cockpit crewmembers that could be prevented with an airbag supplemental restraint system. The model considered severity and mechanism of injury as well as the type helicopter and dynamics of the crash. We identified 30 fatalities and 11 crewmembers with disabling injuries that could have been prevented with a cockpit airbag system. Including the hospital costs of lesser injured individuals, the estimated annual injury cost savings associated with incorporating an effective cockpit airbag system into the Army helicopter fleet was approximately $4.3 million.