Effects of Personal Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System (PHODS) Nasal Cannula Installation on the Lateral Impact Protection of the HGU-56/P Aircrew Integrated Helmet System (AIHS)

摘要

The USAARL was tasked by the Product Manager, Air Warrior, to evaluate the Aqualung Portable Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System (PHODS). The objectives were to assess the blunt impact protection and mass properties of the HGU-56/P helmets modified with the PHODS nasal cannula. Six small HGU-56/P helmets were modified with nasal cannulas and subjected to blunt eardome impacts per the HGU-56/P product specification. Mass and center of mass (CM) assessments were performed using one large HGU-56/P helmet modified with a nasal cannula. Modified HGU-56/P helmets limited headform accelerations to less than the 150-G criterion during eardome impacts. Thus, HGU-56/P helmets modified with the PHODS nasal cannula should provide adequate lateral impact protection in survivable rotary-wing mishaps. Installing the PHODS nasal cannula on the HGU-56/P flight helmet increased helmet weight and altered helmet CM position. The additional mass and change in CM did not appreciably increase the risk of sustaining acute lower neck injury for the conditions evaluated.