Crash survival analysis of 16 agricultural aircraft accidents.

PDFTech ReportFAA-AM-72-15DOT/FAA/AM-72/15Agricultural aviationAircraft accidentsOn the scene accident investigationCrashworthinessVehicle designCockpitsAir pilotsSeatsRestraint systemsSeat beltsCrash injuriesHeadCase studiesUnited StatesCivil Aerospace Medical InstituteSwearingen, J.J.Wallace, T.F.Blethrow, J.G.Rowlan, D.E.Civil Aeromedical InstituteUnited States. Office of Aviation MedicineNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Safety/AirworthinessNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-AccidentsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Aviation Safety/AirworthinessNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Vehicle DesignUS Transportation CollectionThe study presents pertinent findings from on-the-scene investigations to evaluate the crashworthiness of the present fleet of agricultural applicator aircraft. A detailed presentation of 16 crashes illustrates the fact that most of these specialized aircraft structures are well designed to protect the pilot, even in severe crashes. Most injuries and deaths of aerial applicator pilots are not attributable to failure of the cockpit structure itself, but rather to factors associated with (1) pilot restraint equipment, (2) seat failures, (3) failure of the roll-over structure, and (4) a lack of heat impact attenuators at the top of the instrument panel