VDI 5911 Blatt 1:2022-10

Accident statistics show that light aircraft and gliders have an unusual frequency of accidents. Among other things, this indicates that most of the accidents occur in the critical phases of take-off and landing, occurring predominantly at low altitudes and at low crash speeds. It is noticeable that many accidents involving air sports equipment are fatal. Because of the increase in the number of general aviation aircraft in operation, an increase in safety is becoming increasingly important. With the spread of fiber-optic aircraft, several approaches have been taken to investigate and optimize these structures with regard to their complex failure behaviour. Existing approaches must be checked in order to develop and test concepts for the different types of aircraft. From these investigations, design guidelines and standards for improved occupant protection should be derived. This will allow aircraft manufacturers to make their aircraft safer so that their products will be more widely accepted by customers. This standard provides assistance to designers of small aircraft in designing an aircraft to be developed or modifications to such with the greatest possible accident suitability. It shows which influences favour or disadvantage accident suitability. Possible methods and technologies for an accident-capable design are mentioned. This standard covers the integrity of the structure. The airframe requirements described in this standard are mainly intended to contribute to the fulfilment of the survivability space conditions. However, in the pursuit of a maximally accident capable airframe, measures must also be taken to fulfil restraint, energy and post-crash factors. For this, reference is made to VDI 5911 Part 2.

49.045, 49.095