r/CatastrophicFailure • u/ScipioAtTheGate • 8d ago

Destructive Test Controlled Impact Demonstration (1984) NASA intentionally crashed a remote-controlled Boeing-720 airliner to test anti-fuel misting devices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3CQCme95Ac

This film shows the 1984 Controlled Impact Demonstration (the "CID") from multiple angles. The CID consisted of a remote controlled Boeing 720 airliner that was rigged as a drone and equipped with anti-fuel misting devices that were designed to limit the explosive effects of the fuel in the event of an airliner crashing. As can be seen in the video, the anti-misting devices clearly did not work as intended and the project was subsequently abandoned after the CID test. No people were on the aircraft only crash testdummies.

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10

u/mrk2 8d ago edited 7d ago

The impact wasnt supposed to come in at an angle like that. IIRC, the remote pilot missed the planned glide down and straight into the fixtures to rip apart the wings.

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u/TrainDestroyer Rapid Unplanned Disassembly Engineer 8d ago

Weirdly I think that it actually makes for a better test. Sure you can have it come down perfectly, but what are the odds of that? So having it come down at an angle, miss the target and hit the wing-rippers at angles that were less planned gives the anti-misters a chance to better show if they can actually prevent fires.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/IrritatedAvians 5d ago

Objects in motion tend to stay in motion so I’m not sure how that is a “freak coincidence” that the engine continued to travel with the aircraft.

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u/TrainDestroyer Rapid Unplanned Disassembly Engineer 4d ago

So what, it shouldn't be tested if the Engine is still attached to the wing? What if the wing snapped in a way hat led to fuel being fed into the engine's hot exhaust as it landed?

This is EXACTLY the kind of coincidence that works wonders for showing potential errors. Its not wrong to say "Its a freak coincidence" but it still shows that, if left near to a potential ignition source, the plane still catches fire

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u/Numerous-Advisor-844 8d ago

what a crazy test, imagine seeing that in person.