Originally Posted by Freewheel
What I've found so far is that lower spinal injuries (lumbar) tend to be from vertical compression loads such as rotary accidents and centre around where the spine has bent and the vertebrae have come into contact. Keeping the torso in place and supported during an accident event is most helpful there (ie sitting properly in a well designed seat and having your harness done up).
FW,
From personal experience: I have compression fractures of L3 and L4 vertebrae from a vertical impact following a wirestrike. Bell 206L, with the early (poxy) seat base, which was next to useless for a <80kg such as myself. Thrown around and also knocked out (no helmet, last time ever that happened!)
but: the director in the left front seat was a 100+kg fellow, and his weight actually broke his seat frame which absorbed most of the impact
As a result, he had severe bruising, but no major injury, and walked away
Early design parameter crashworthy Bell seats, as long as you're on the heavy side they'll work for you
