Neck Injury Criteria Formulation and Injury Risk Curves for the Ejection Environment: A Pilot Study

Helmet mounted displays (HMDs) have been shown to increase pilot performance during military operations and are becoming human-machine interface equipment in manned flight. Because of the increased mass, HMDs can threaten pilot safety during ejection and contribute to neck and back injuries, making it important to have an evaluation criteria to understand the impact of helmet mass on the risk of injury. A frontal impact neck injury criteria has been established by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) for assessing risk in automotive crashes. This study assesses the applicability of NHTSA's neck injury criteria to the evaluation of helmet systems of varying mass under various acceleration levels in the aviation environment. The sensitivity and appropriateness of the neck injury criterion to helmet mass, acceleration, and anthropometric factors were observed and evaluated. The study proposes modified risk curves to improve risk prediction in the aviation environment.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3357/ASEM.3722.2013
• Record URL:
  • http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem/2013/00000084/00000012/art00004
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00956562
• Authors:
  • Parr, Jeffrey C
  • Miller, Michael E
  • Pellettiere, Joseph A
  • Erich, Roger A
• Publication Date: 2013-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1240-1248
• Serial:
  • Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
  • Volume: 84
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Aerospace Medical Association
  • ISSN: 0095-6562
  • Serial URL: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Crash injury research; Ejection; Human machine systems; Injury characteristics; Injury rates; Military aviation; Neck
• Uncontrolled Terms: Head and neck injuries; Helmet mounted displays
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01501318
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 16 2013 10:37AM