Analysis of Rotorcraft Crash Dynamics for Development of Improved Crashworthiness Design Criteria

A review was conducted of U.S. civil helicopter accidents occurring between 1974 and 1978 to determine impact conditions and injuries to the occupants. This report describes the distribution of impact conditions. Also, six typical impact scenarios were developed to represent classes of accidents. A rank-ordered analysis of crash hazards is presented. The report also contains an evaluation of computer techniques available for structural crash dynamics simulation and a comparison of the civil and military helicopter crash environments. Recommended crashworthiness design criteria for civil rotorcraft are presented.