Operational Effects on Crashworthy Seat Attenuators

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Operational Effects on Crashworthy Seat Attenuators

M. K. Richards

Energy absorbers were removed from crashworthy crew and troop seats aboard UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters which had been in service for up to nine years. The fielded energy absorbers were tested both statistically and dynamically and the load-deflection characteristics were compared to new energy absorbers to determine the operational effects. There were three energy absorber types tested: inversion tube, rolling torus, and wire bender. Seat systems with energy types absorbers not meeting the manufacturer's specified load-deflection characteristics were modeled by computer simulation to determine the change in injury potential in a vertical crash scenario. In general, the inversion tube and rolling torus energy absorbers' performance did not change as compared to new attenuators. The wire benders, however, had a failure rate of 48 percent which appeared to be fatigue related. Energy absorber; Crashworthy crewseat; Crashworthy troop seat; Helicopters; Attenuator; Inversion tube; UH-60A Black hawk; Rolling torus; Wire bender; SOM-LA; Operational effects; Environmental effects; Injury evaluation. (jg)