Effects of Inadvertent UH-60 Cockpit Airbag System Deployment on Flight Control

Two studies were undertaken to assess the effect of inadvertent deployments of a prototype UH-60 cockpit airbag system (CABS) on flight control. In Study One, the effects of inadvertent four-airbag (two forward and two lateral) CABS deployments were investigated; Study Two looked into the effects of inadvertent two-airbag (two forward airbags only) CABS deployments. In both studies, current and qualified UH-60 aviators were recruited to fly 1-hour sorties in an NUH-60 research flight simulator. Simulated inadvertent CABS deployments were introduced into these sorties during six predetermined flight maneuvers. The simulated deployments included uncommanded cyclic and collective motions, obstruction of the forward and lateral viewscreens, obstruction of the instrument panel, and an audible cue (used to crudely mimic airbag deployment noise). Data were collected on the probability of crashing, the time to recover from, or to crash as a result of, each simulated deployment, as well as on the severity of each simulated deployment as perceived by the test subjects, simulator operator, and simulator observer. Results show flight control to be more adversely affected by inadvertent deployment of the four-airbag CABS, particularly during high-speed, low-level flight.