Dynamic Performance Assessment of Side Facing Troop Seats During Impact

The Air Force Research Laboratory Aircrew Biodynamics and Protection Group of the Applied Neuroscience Branch (711HPW/RHCPT) conducted a dynamic impact comparative test program of currently-fielded side facing troop seats to evaluate how effectively the seats protect occupants ranging from the 5th percentile female to the 98th percentile male during crash events. The test program consisted of impact testing stock H-60A/L, CV-22, and CH-53E seats and quantifying the safety effectiveness of each seat using recommended injury criteria from the Full Spectrum Crashworthiness (FSC) report and other historical criteria. The program demonstrates a methodology to quickly and inexpensively compare occupant protection across different designs and platforms. The program also identifies serious structural and functional deficiencies of several operational seats that correlate with rotorcraft mishap injury and mortality data.