Recommendations for Shoulder Restraint Installation in General Aviation Aircraft

摘要

The use of inadequate or incomplete body restraint systems is a major factor in the current trend of increasing serious and fatal type injuries reported from general aviation accidents. An analysis of these accident injuries and conditions clearly indicates that the use of a seat belt without additional upper body restraint cannot provide adequate protection. This project was initiated to study the feasibility of upper body restraint installation in general aviation aircraft. The primary concern of this study is to select specific locations on internal structures that can be recommended as points of upper restraint attachment without major structural modification. A series of five basic makes, models, and types of general aviation aircraft were dynamically tested on an acceleration track to evaluate the structural integrity of each area selected for restraint attachment. Structure deceleration peaks in excess of 20g's occurred from onset rates of 47-49 ft./sec. and event durations of .33 sec. All recommended areas for restraint attachment were found reliable for minimum dynamic loads of 500 pounds. (Author)