Performance Evaluation of Crash-Recording Technologies in a Full-Scale CH-46 Airframe Crash Test

Two CH-46 airframe crash tests were conducted at NASA-Langley Research Center. During the first test, as a result of densely measured accelerations, it became apparent that the crash environment for military helicopters is almost never as well defined as it could be. Crash recorders were installed in a second CH-46 airframe for a second crash test. The recorders performed quite well and captured the differing crash environment for different locations in the airframe. It is believed that technology has advanced to bring crash recorders that are small, inexpensive, effective, and accurate. Therefore, implementation of crash recording capability should be considered for military aviation.