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Patient Litter System Response in a Full-Scale CH-46 Crash Test
Charles A Weisenbach1, Tyler Rooks1, Troy Bowman1
1United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, 6901 Farrel Road, Fort Rucker, AL 36362.
Military Medicine
|March 15, 2017
Summary
U.S. Military patient litter systems failed during a crash test, highlighting inadequate static strength requirements. A new dynamic performance standard is needed to ensure patient safety during aircraft incidents.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Crash Safety Research
Background:
- Current U.S. Military aeromedical patient litter systems rely on component-level static strength requirements.
- These systems must perform reliably as a whole under dynamic operational conditions, including turbulent flight and crash events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance and structural integrity of a patient litter system during a full-scale aircraft crash test.
- To assess the response of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) within the litter system during a dynamic crash event.
Main Methods:
- A full-scale CH-46 helicopter crash test was conducted at NASA Langley Research Center.
- A three-tiered litter system with three ATDs was instrumented and subjected to a crash event.
- Analysis of component failures, ATD displacement, and injury criteria from collected data.
Main Results:
- The patient litter system failed structurally, collapsing during the crash test.
- Significant displacement of ATDs occurred, with potential for patient injury (e.g., neck injury).
- Component failures indicate static testing is insufficient for dynamic crash scenarios.
Conclusions:
- Static component testing does not guarantee system integrity or patient protection during dynamic crash events.
- A systems-level dynamic performance requirement is necessary for aeromedical litter systems.
- Developing new standards will enhance patient safety, providing protection comparable to seated occupants.
