Name:Kangad Devang

Roll No:ME16BTECH11015
Accident and Failure in Aircrafts

Introduction
Any mode of transportation is not completely safe. Aerospace vehicles are also
not completely accident proof. However with the development of different
aviation technology number of accident happening is decreased. Here we will
not consider terrorist attacks or sabotage or accidents in war.

Reasons of aircraft accident

1,Pilot error
2,Mechanical or structural failure
3,Weather
4,Sabotage
5,Other human error

According to statistic done from 1960s to now for passenger aircraft, 58%
accident happen due to Pilot error,14% due to Mechanical or structural
failure,6% due to Weather,9% due to Sabotage,10% due to other human error

Now we will look into each reason and example of the crash

1,Pilot error:
Pilot error includes improper procedure of flight, Losing control in terrain,
Premature descent, Excessive landing speed ,Fuel deficiency, Less runway
speed, Mid air collision due to both pilots
Example:
1,Charkhi Dadri midair collision 1996
On 12 november 1996 Saudi aircraft Boeing-747-168B collided in mid air
with Kazakh llyushin-76TD.Saudi aircraft was on way to Jeddah and Kazakh
aircraft was on the way to IGIA-Delhi. Tail of Kazakh aircraft collided with the
wing of the Saudi aircraft. The reason for midair collision was pilot error. Both
aircraft was going to cross in their path so Air traffic controller decided to keep
both aircraft 1000ft apart. They told Saudi aircraft to maintain 1400ft and
Kazakh aircraft to maintain 1500ft but due to pilot error aircraft descended to
1450ft then to 1400ft and even lower. All the 349 people on board on both
plane died.

2,2010 polish Air-force TU-145 crash

On 10 april polish Air-force Tu-145 arriving from Warsaw to Smolensk
airport failed to make safe approach and crashed into woods. Pilots attempted
landing despite dense fog against advisors. And visibility was only 500m.It was
national tragedy for Poland because President Lech Kaczynski his wife and
other prominent political polish figures were killed in that crash.

This type of error can be reduced by proper pilot training. Pilot should fly
only their physical and mental condition is fit.

2,Mechanical or structural failure

This type of failures are Engine failure, Equipment failure, structural
failure, maintenance error

Example:
1,Aloha Airline 243
On 28th April 1988 Boeing 737 of Aloha airline had explosive
decompression caused by metal fatigue. This incident occurred mid air at
height of 24000ft. Pilots heard a clap followed by wind noise and knowing the
situation airplane lands immediately. There were only one fatality. Later a
passenger said that he noticed a crack in the upper row when she was
boarding flight.

2,Alaska Airline Flight 261

Alaska airline flight 261 was operated from Mexico to Seattle It was
McDonnel Douglas MD-83 aircraft. On January 31, 2000 it suffered
catastrophic failure and crashed in pacific ocean. Upon investigation it was
found that due to bad maintenance led to wear and eventually failure of
Horizontal stabilizer. All 88 people on board was killed.

To avoid mechanical aircraft should be maintained and inspected

regularly also fail safe design should be introduced so if failure occurs then still
it can survive.