Civil Aviation Authority

Full-scale fire test programmers under controlled conditions\s in both the UK and the US have confirmed the effectiveness of low volume cabin water spray systems in providing considerably enhanced protection to passengers in the event of fire on the ground.

The Authority considers that serious consideration should now be given to introducing regulations requiring the installation of such systems in large transport aircraft. To this end it is initiating broad discussions with industry to review the results of the tests and studies carried out so far. Work on the preparation of functions and performance specifications is commencing to provide standards against which industry can seek to optimize their systems and seek approval.

Dave Blake

The purpose of this project was to determine the likelihood of fire development and growth in accessible areas of an aircraft and the resulting hazards to cabin occupants from these fires. Numerous inflight fires or smoke events occur in accessible areas but are controlled by the crew or self-extinguish. Fatal inflight fires are rare events but originate in inaccessible areas. This project consisted of 57 tests of hidden inflight fires in a section of a DC-10 test article. The fires were started behind sidewall panels, below the cabin floor, above the cabin ceiling, in overhead stowage bins, in lavatory trash receptacles, and adjacent to lavatory flush motors. The conclusions were that (1) although uncontaminated insulation blankets did not readily support combustion, contaminated insulation blankets were found to support combustion ( consistent with service experience); and (2) in this project and also consistent with actual service experience, the built-in Halon 1301 trash receptacle extinguishers did not always completely extinguish trash fires.

Thomas L. Reynolds

A "proof-of-concept" on-board water spray system has been developed to demonstrate its ability to suppress aircraft cabin fires. This system has been demonstrated on a fully furnished aircraft and the results published in CAA Paper 88014 "Aircraft Cabin Fire Suppression by Means of an Interior Water Spray System."

These tests have shown potential promise in improving passenger safety, resulting in the Airworthiness Authorities in both North America and Europe to initiate joint research programs. The programs seek to establish the effectiveness of a cabin water spray system as well as identify associated service considerations. The information gained in these various research programs will enable a net benefit analysis to be carried out. The results of the benefits analysis will establish, in part, the basis for potential regulatory action in the future.

In order to obtain a balanced opinion on the benefits of water spray systems, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration have requested Boeing Commercial Airplane Group to investigate the potential disadvantages of such a system. A water spray system will be evaluated for its impact on airplane operation and evacuation in two scenarios: inadvertent operation inflight, and commanded operation with the airplane on the ground.

This plan is in response to the FAA Technical Center (FAATC)!NASA Langley Research Center Contract NASl-18027, Task 22 "Water Spray System DisbenefIt Study" and specifically addresses the requirements of the Statement of Work (SOW) of the aforementioned contract in detail.

John C. Clark, Burton P. Chesterfield

This text is aimed at you, the FAA inspector. who, in the process of an accident investigation, has to evaluate the survival aspects of the accident and complete all pertinent Supplements to the NTSB's Factual Report (Form 6120.4). Although you are not required to calculate crash forces and other impact parameters, the data you gather at the scene form the basis for subsequent crash injury analyses. Therefore, your understanding of the reasons for certain measurements and estimates adds immeasurably to the accuracy and validity of the data you provide. "

Thomas Rust

Three groups of investigators were formed to determine the circumstances that caused an accidental, fuselage-destroying fire that occurred on June 28, 1989, in the research and development area of the FAA Technical Center. From interviews with witnesses and analysis of the structural fire damage to the fuselage, a probable sequence of events was developed and an analysis of the contributing causes of the damage was determined. A number of recommendations for future test scenarios were established in order to prevent the extensive fire damage that resulted duriing this test.