Second helicopter crash test

The second crash test of a small lightweight helicopter at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., was a smashing success, literally -- just as engineers had predicted.
The helicopter smacked hard into the concrete. Its skid gear collapsed, its windscreen cracked open and its occupants lurched forward violently, suffering potentially spine-crushing injuries according to internal data recorders. The crash test was all in the name of research to try to make helicopters safer.
For full story: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/helodrop-mar2010.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• crash
• helicopter
• NASA
• safety
• test
• research
• Langley
• engineering
• dummies
• drop

[thewaterfalloflove]

In the recent video of the pilot who survived a crash while trying to set up a Christmas tree, why did the tail of the helicopter snap off while still in the air? Is that by design or a flaw?

[NASALANGLEY]

@thewaterfalloflove Good question. We have a call into one of our researchers and will hope to have an answer soon.

[vassdel]

What was the initial helicopter height?

What was the VVI showing at the momoent of the crash?

What was the maximum G's attained?

Thank you in advance for the info (a concerned helicopter pilot...)

[NASALANGLEY]

@vassdel Helicopter height was 35 feet. The flight path angle was about 33 degrees and the combined forward and vertical speeds were about 48 feet per second or 33 miles per hour. Have to doublecheck G forces and get back to you.

[MrBJC1996]

If this was a fairground ride, i'd go on it!

[NASALANGLEY]

@MrBJC1996 Choose the first helicopter drop test with the deployable energy absorber - a lot more survivable!

[X0Pete]

Isn't a helicopter, when crashing usually out of control? Like flying around?

[NallePu83]

Black Hawk Down...We got a Black Hawk Down

[Thewickedjunglist]

Wow, expecting scrap metal.

[vassdel]

@thewaterfalloflove If you look carefully on that video, you will see the main rotor hitting a hanging cable. The cable was wrapped around the revolving rotor hub and mast, bringing the rotor to a complete and violent stop. This created a massive spinning force, wich along with the vibrations caused by the dissolving rotor, forced the tail boom to bend. The tail shaft was spinning with more than a thousand RPM and was doomed to snap off.

So, not a design, nor a flaw. Just Neutonian physics...

[vassdel]

... moment I ment...

[MrBJC1996]

@NASALANGLEY hahaha dont worry, I will!! XD