M7.2 VCL Survivability

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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University *

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330

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Mechanical Engineering

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Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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- Identify items associated with three phases of survivability (impact, egress, and environment). - Integrate the CREEP (see Chapter 36 of your textbook) method into your evaluation. - Take photographs and create diagrams of your findings to support your response. Consider the following when in the Crash Lab: 1. Describe CREEP as the term relates to crash survivability. 2. Did you detect any obvious signature revealing issues with survivability? Compare and contrast your findings. Hi all, Let’s start with the three phases of survivability: impact, egress, and environment. Impact refers to how the aircraft takes the brunt of the impact force instead of the passengers. Two identical aircraft can experience largely varying damage and survivability rates based on the angle of impact, the speed, and/or the terrain. Egress is the concept of moving passengers from the crashed aircraft to safety and the factors affecting this process. This could involve damaged exits, obstacles, and exit paths. Environment looks at factors affecting the occupants such as physical obstructions from safety, leaks or spills, or components posing a threat. We can use the CREEP framework to analyze the survivability of this crash and identify the  C ontainer refers to the space in which the occupants are located – in our case, the aircraft structure. In this crash, the aircraft broke apart at the forward wing root section indicating a significant impact bringing about the separation of fuselage sections. The left wing and engine have also broken off, indicating a similar or additional impact. However, that does not mean this was the only impact as some areas may have bent and then returned to their original position without breaking.  R estraint examines occupant restraint aiming to increase their safety in case of abrupt movement of the vehicle. Aircraft are required to have - and show passengers how to use - seatbelts. In this accident, occupants in the back of the aircraft seem to have experienced the most restraint being the farthest from the fuselage braking section and the fire (Figure 1). Three rows from the back of the aircraft there are lap belts that have disconnected from the seat, possibly due to the impact, indicating the restraints were not sufficient to contain the occupant. Closer to the fuselage section with burn marks, some

seats are burnt or missing. The first officer's seat seems to be unaffected with the seat belts and shoulder harnesses in place, while the captain’s seat seems entirely thrown forward, possibly by the same impact that punctured the forward left side of the flight deck.  E nergy Absorption describes the forces of decelerating experienced by occupants as a result of Newton’s law of motion – the occupants are continuing their movement while the aircraft structure is experiencing resistance. This involves the structure of the aircraft as well as the capabilities of the seat. For example, if the seatbelt is attached to the structure and not the seat the occupant and seat may be thrown whereas the structure is slowing down, possibly increasing injuries. In this case, the seats in the aft section seem to have experienced more of the fire, while the seats in the forward section seem to have experienced the impact of the aircraft, as indicated by the seats thrown forward with passenger blood on the forward seat and the seats that have been entirely uprooted and thrown.  E nvironment reviews the components of the aircraft and the crash area that may become a factor in the crash or the circumstances after the crash. In our case, objects seem to have been violently moved around after coming loose from their installed locations, including seats, restraints, and pieces of the structure. There is a seatback in the aisle, a beverage cart near the front, and magazines and drinks in multiple places. These should have been better secured or put away before landing.  P ost Crash Factors refer to the factors occurring after the crash, such as fires, obstructions, and accidents. Witnesses explained the difficulty exiting after the crash, which is in line with the condition of the aisle, exits, and even fuselage holes. Burn marks indicate a significant fire on the fuselage and seats as far back as the last two seat rows of the aircraft. Parts of the approach light structure collapsed and are directly blocking the forward section of the fuselage that broke open. Occupants exiting the left overwing exits would have encountered the broken wing and could have hurt themselves on the debris, in addition to the slide not inflating. The forward left door did not open and the slide did not inflate, and the rear left exit had an attempt at opening but was blocked by the light structure.

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