I could have sworn this was discussed on the forum but now I can't find the thread.
NASA did some crash, bang, boom tests on some ELTs and I just saw on the their homepage that they published the findings.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20170002586
TL:DR
QuoteAntenna connection integrity and crash sensing, along with installation and mounting issues, were observed to contribute significantly to system failures and both can be addressed by modifying the way in which new designs are qualified. Vibration and fire sensitivity have also been shown to detract from ELT performance and means for mitigating those effects have also been demonstrated.
One of the drop tests
A C182 fatal accident occurred north of Coeur d' Alene, ID a couple of years ago. The 406 ELT survived the post crash fire long enough to send a single data burst. That was sufficient to launch CAP and other SAR resources and for searchers to located the wreckage about six hours later. See: The NTSB Factual report for Accident Number WPR16FA006 at https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20151008X00634&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=FA (https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20151008X00634&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=FA). That is a pretty good testimonial to the effectiveness of the 406 mhz ELT.
QuoteThat is a pretty good testimonial to the effectiveness of the 406 mhz ELT.
And the effectiveness of the Cospas-Sarsat system to have a satellite system that can detect a single burst. The new MEOSAR system is not only be able to detect a single burst, but it can determine the location of a single burst even if there is no encoded position data.
Mike