SHAPED AIRCRAFT FUEL CELLS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCED CRASHWORTHINESS

An aircraft, such as a rotorcraft, may have (an) area(s) designated to house (a) fuel cell(s) and (an) aircraft structure(s) that may translate, during a drop impact of the aircraft, into the area(s) designated to house the fuel cell(s). (A) shaped fuel cell(s) may be provided and deployed therein, in accordance with the present systems and methods. Each respective shaped fuel cell may define (a) respective through-void(s) defined through the respective shaped fuel cell, and/or (an) respective edge cavit(y)(ies) defined along an edge of the shaped fuel cell, wherein the respective through-void(s) and/or the respective edge cavit(y)(ies) correspond to the respective aircraft structure(s) that may translate, during the drop impact of the aircraft, into the area(s) of the aircraft designated to house the respective fuel cell(s) to receive and accommodate the respective structure(s) during the drop impact.