Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

The FAA has requested NASA/JSC to perform approximately 20 component and full-scale tests in a 737 fuselage located at JSC to provide validation data or indicate changes that need to be made to fire math model (Dayton Aircraft Cabin Fire Mode) developed for the FAA.

C.B. Geyer, L.J. Brown, L.M. Neri, J.H. O'Neill

As a consequence of the Continental DC-10 aircraft accident at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on March 1, 1978, which involved an extensive fuel spill fire and the subsequent loss of the evacuation slides, a cursory look at the potential fire failure modes of slide fabrics was initiated at NAFEC.

An evaluation of the thermal resistively of aircraft evacuation slide materials was conducted employing laboratory and outdoor fire test procedures. Laboratory findings in the NBS Smoke Chamber were based upon both visual failure times and smoke density measurements of flat rectangular samples of slide material. Additional laboratory determinations were based on the depressurations times of short inflated samples of slide materials when exposed to known radiant heat flux levels. Outdoor tests were conducted by exposing a representatives slide materials to free burning aviation fuel fire in both the pressurized and unpressureized modes. The experimental results include radiation and temperature data and visual observation of the behavior of the slide samples.

A. San Miguel, M.D. Williams

A test apparatus consisting of large-scale airfoil located within a temperature-velocity-controlled airstream was used to evaluate the fire suppression afforded by FM9 antimisting fuel additive in Jet A. A homogeneous low turbine air-stream between 100 to 170 knots was used to obtain crash survivable antimisting fuel kinematic data. It was demonstrated hat FM9 could be an effective anitmisting agent. The failure envelope for FM9 in 27 degree C Jet A fuel was measured for agent concentrations from 0.3 to 0.5 percent and 32 degree airflow velocities between 100 and 170 knots.

Thor I. Eklund, William E. Neese

An automated small-scale test apparatus was developed for flammability testing of modified fuels. The test configuration consists of a ¼ inch fuel delivery tube within a 1-inch air atomization pipe followed by a diffuser section. A pressurized 30-gallon air tank supplies the atomization air while a syringe pump provides a specified fuel quantity for all tests. Isentropic calculations and hot wire anemometer measurements characterize the airflow during the transient air release. Oscillograph traces specify the sequencing and timing of events. It is concluded that this transient test is a practical device for modified fuel testing because of its simple construction, well-defined operation, and capability of distinguishing between candidate activities.

Charles R. Crane

Fire in the environment of an aircraft accident significantly increases the probability of serious injuries and death for those who otherwise would survive. Heat and the toxic gases that result from burning of fuel and thermal degradation of nonmetallic materials are the two agents primarily responsible for this increased risk. This report addresses the relationship between environmental temperature and that human response most closely associated with the potential for escape from a thermally hazardous environment, namely physical -incapacitation (or thermal collapse). Elsewhere the author has discussed human tolerance limits for toxic systemic gases.