Airborne Collision Severity Evaluation - Structural Impact

Conventional 14 CFR system safety analyses include hazards to flight crew and occupants that may not be applicable to unmanned aircraft. However, UAS operations may pose unique hazards to other aircraft. The effect of an airborne collision between a UAS and a manned aircraft is a concern to the public and government officials at all levels. While the effects of bird impacts on airplanes are well documented, little is known about the effects of more rigid and higher mass UAS on aircraft structures and propulsion systems. Preceding work was focused on Narrow Body Commercial Aircraft and Business Jets operating under FAR 25 requirements. For this next progression of Airborne Collision Severity Evaluation work, three major research areas have been identified: (1) Identify the probability of impact deflection due to boundary layer interactions; (2) Evaluate the severity of small UAS collisions with Rotorcraft; and (3) Evaluate the severity of small UAS collisions with General Aviation. Research will be completed cooperatively utilizing the resources at Wichita State University – National Institute for Aviation Research (WSU-NIAR), Mississippi State University (MSU), University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH), Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), and Montana State University (MtSU).

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Start Date: 20180830
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air transportation crashes; Aviation safety; Boundary layer; Crash severity; Deflection; Drones; Evaluation and assessment; General aviation aircraft; Helicopters
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01684637
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE)
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 30 2018 8:58AM