A-70-042
NTSB Safety Recommendation — Aviation
Recommendation text
1. SHOULDER HARNESSES SHOULD BE REQUIRED ON ALL GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT AT THE EARLIEST PRACTICAL DATE. THE RECENT AMENDMENT 23-7 IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. THE DRAFT REPORT MADE BY FAA'S DR. JOHN SWEARINGEN ON CRASH INJURY FURTHER PROVIDES CORROBORATIVE PROOF OF THE BENEFIT OF SHOULDER HARNESSES IN GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT. 2. DELETHALIZATION OF AIRCRAFT INTERIORS SUITABLE ENERGY-ABSORBING PADDING BE REQUIRED ON ALL INTERIOR STRUCTURES TO PROTECT OCCUPANTS. ALL PROTUBERANCES LIKELY TO CAUSE 3. DYNAMIC TESTING OF SEATS CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH DATA ARE AVAILABLE, POINTING TO THE NEED FOR DYNAMIC TESTING OF AIRCRAFT SEATS. STATIC TESTS ALONE ARE NOT REALISTIC, AND CANNOT DIRECTLY BE RELATED TO CRASH ENVIRONMENTS. THESE CONCLUSIONS ARE VERIFIED BY THE WORK COVERED IN FAA'S AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT SERVICE REPORT NA-69-5, "DYNAMIC TEST CRITERIA FOR AIRCRAFT SEATS. "IT IS THEREFORE REQUESTED THAT THE FAA INITIATE REGULATORY ACTION TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS REPORT. 4. EMERGENCY LANDING CONDITIONS REGULATORY ACTION BE INITIATED TO RAISE THE "MINOR CRASH LANDING" INERTIA FORCES OF FAR 23.561 TO A LEVEL COMPARABLE TO THOSEPRODUCED BY A MODERATE-TO-SEVERE CRASH LANDING. UNTIL A REASONABLE CRASH DESIGN CONDITION IS DECIDED UPON, INCLUDING A SPECIFIED CRASH ACCELERATION PULSE, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LONGITUDINAL INERTIA FORCE BE RAISED TO 20 TO 25 AND THE FORCES ABOUT THE OTHER AXES BE SIMILARLY INCREASED. THE INERTIA FORCES SPECIFIED IN TABLE 1-1 OF THE U. S. ARMY AVIATION MATERIAL LABORATORIES TECHNICAL REPORT 67-22, "CRASH SURVIVAL DESIGN GUIDE" COULD WELL SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR A CIVIL AIRCRAFT CRASH DESIGN CONDITION. 5. CRASH FIRE PROTECTION FUEL TANKS AND FUEL SYSTEMS BE DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE THE SPILLAGE OF FUEL IN MODERATE TO SEVERE CRASHES. MATERIALS USED IN AIRCRAFT INTERIORS SHOULD NOT SUPPORT A SELF-SUSTAINED COMBUSTION, AND SHOULD NOT GIVE OFF TOXIC FUMES. FURTHER, FUEL IGNITION BE MINIMIZED BY REQUIRING THE CIRCUIT ISOLATION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY SOURCES IN CRASHES.
In plain language (FlightFinder summary)
The FAA is asked to initiate regulatory action to require shoulder harnesses on all general aviation aircraft, mandate energy-absorbing padding and removal of protuberances in interiors, implement dynamic testing of seats, raise crash landing inertia forces to a level comparable to moderate-to-severe crashes, and improve crash fire protection. The recommendation is based on research data and reports indicating that current standards are insufficient for occupant survival in crashes.
This plain-language summary is written by FlightFinder to explain the recommendation above. It is not the official wording — the verbatim NTSB text is quoted above.
Details
| Status | Closed - Acceptable Action |
|---|---|
| Mode | Aviation |
| Closed | Oct 26, 1989 |
| NTSB number | 80460 |
| Addressees | FAA |
External links
NTSB safety recommendations are advisory; addressees are not legally required to adopt them. Source: NTSB CAROL (public domain).