FULL-SCALE AIRCRAFT CRASH TESTS OF MODIFIED JET FUEL

Crash tests were conducted with two A3 and two RB66 aircraft under impact-survivable crash conditions. The wing tanks in the first RB66 aircraft contained Jet A fuel modified with an 0.7-percent polymeric additive. The aircraft was crash tested into the specially constructed test site at 104.6 knots. The fuel mist generated by the fuel released from four crash-inflicted openings in the front wing spar was not ignited by the array of ignition sources. The wing tanks in the second RB66 aircraft were filled with JET A fuel modified with 0.5-percent of the same polymeric additive. The aircraft was crashed into the test site at 102.4 knots. The test conditions for the second RB66 test were made more severe by increasing the fuel temperature, partially drilling out areas in the front spar to increase the opened fuel spillage area, and by adding four fuel release openings under the wing, larger ignition sources, and operating the engines. The fuel mist burst into flame and followed the aircraft down the test site, continuing to burn until extinguished by the firefighting crew. These full-scale tests indicate that modified fuels have a potential for reducing the postcrash fire hazard and that small-scale tests should be conducted which are representative of full-scale crash conditions to determine the additive concentration to be used in any future crash tests. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center

  Federal Aviation Administration
  Atlantic City, NJ  United States  08405
• Authors:
  • Ahlers, R H
• Publication Date: 1977-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 97 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerial reconnaissance; Air transportation crashes; Aircraft; Attack aircraft; Chemical spills; Crash tests; Crashes; Fire causes; Fire prevention; Fires; Fuel additives; Fuel tanks; Jet engine fuels; Military aircraft; Polymers; Prevention; Prototype tests; Test procedures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bombers (Aircraft)
• Old TRIS Terms: Aircraft fires; Jet a fuel
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Energy; Research; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167014
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FAA/RD-77-13 Final Rpt., FAA-NA-77-35
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 29 1978 12:00AM