Air Force Study on Composite materials hazards

Updated on

Composite Material Hazard Assessment at Crash Sites, January 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page
LIST OF FIGURES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..iii
LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………………………………….iii
SUMMARY OF CHANGES FROM IERA-RS-BR-TR-2001-0009 …………………………………….. iv
1.0 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
2.0 PRE-MILLENIAL CRASH RECOVERY ILLNESSES ……………………………………………. 1
3.0 HAZARDOUS AEROSPACE MATERIALS…………………………………………………………… 1
3.1 Sources of Exposure…………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
3.2 Hazardous Aerospace Material Mishap Emergency Response (HAMMER) Program … 2
4.0 ACTUAL AND SIMULATED CRASH SITE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENTS …………….. 2
4.1 F-14 Crash, 1986……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
4.2 AV-8B Crash, 1987……………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
4.3 AV-8B Crash, 1988……………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
4.4 F/A-18 Crash, 1988……………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
4.5 F/A-18 Crash, 1989……………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
4.6 F-16 Crashes, 1998 and 1999………………………………………………………………………………. 6
4.7 HAMMER Burn Study, 2000 ……………………………………………………………………………… 6
4.8 B-2A Crash, 2008………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
4.9 F-22 Crash, 2009……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
4.10 C-17 Crash, 2010……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
5.0 COMPOSITE HAZARD ASSESSMENT………………………………………………………………… 8
5.1 Visual Assessment……………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
5.2 Duration and Location of Fire……………………………………………………………………………… 8
5.3 Physical Damage ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
5.4 Aircraft Type/Quantity of Composite Material………………………………………………………. 9
5.5 Terrain and Environmental Conditions…………………………………………………………………. 9
5.6 Phase of Response/Recovery ………………………………………………………………………………. 9
6.0 RISK MITIGATION MEASURES……………………………………………………………………….. 10
6.1 Applying Fixant……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
6.2 Wrapping………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
6.3 Establishing Zones …………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
6.4 Minimizing Personnel Exposures ………………………………………………………………………. 10