Assessment of Cargo Space Seating Performance in Pave Hawk and Black Hawk Aircraft

Operational mishap data shows that helicopter cabin passengers are more likely to have major or fatal injuries than pilots. The purpose of this study was to compare occupant protection of operational and prototype H-60 troop seats during a crash event. Several operational and prototype troop seats were dynamically tested in multiple impact orientations, accelerations, and energy levels using small female and large male manikins. Test configurations were based on H-60A/L seat qualification tests and MIL-S-85510(AS). Acceleration, force, and moment data were collected and compared to established injury criteria. All seats generated seat pan accelerations within the "Area of Moderate Injury" when using Eiband criteria. All seats performed well with a large occupant; however, all seats showed deficiencies with a small occupant. Relative comparison of occupant protection was made to the H-60A/L seat with operational mishap data. The H-60A/L seat generally produced lower peak lumbar z-axis forces and resultant chest accelerations than the UH-60M and prototype seats. The same types and magnitudes of major and fatal injuries are anticipated with any of the seats. Seat structural strength was the most distinguishable variance between seats.