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Airplane incidents and accident investigation

8 min read

From: inteligencialtda

Airplane incidents and accident investigation are crucial aspects of aviation, continuously evolving through lessons learned from past events [03:51:56]. Experts like Lito Sousa, a guest on the “Limited Intelligence” podcast, explain how aviation safety operates and how incidents are investigated to prevent future occurrences [03:55:03].

Causes of Airplane Incidents and Accidents

Accidents are rarely caused by a single factor but rather a conjunction of multiple issues [00:50:00].

Mechanical Failures

Aircraft, while robust, can experience mechanical problems. For example, a Varig plane sold to Zaire had a fuel tank sealant dry out due to consistent low fuel levels, causing leaks when the tank was full for an oceanic crossing [00:54:50]. Another case involved a specific plane where a lubrication error on a screw accumulated, leading to its breakage in flight and causing the plane’s nose to point only downwards [03:00:00].

Human Error and Pilot Factors

Human factors play a significant role in aviation incidents.

  • Complacency: Experienced pilots can sometimes develop complacency, leading to less vigilance compared to younger, recently trained co-pilots [04:11:00].
  • Hierarchy Issues: Historically, rigid hierarchies in cockpits meant co-pilots might not question a commander’s wrong decision, even if they knew better [04:20:00].
  • Decision-Making Under Pressure: The short timeframe during an emergency often leads to quick decisions. In the case of the Hudson River landing, the pilot had to make a rapid choice on where to land after losing both engines [02:10:00].
  • Loss of Proficiency: It has been observed that pilots can lose proficiency in manual flying skills when relying heavily on automation, a factor noted in the Air France Flight 447 accident [03:22:00].

External Factors

  • Bird Strikes: Collisions with birds are common [03:19:00]. While rare for large birds to impact both engines simultaneously, a single large bird like a vulture can damage an engine during takeoff, requiring the pilot to land immediately [03:25:00]. Airports use methods like fireworks and trained falcons to deter birds [03:09:00].
  • Weather: Storms can cause turbulence and require pilots to divert [01:00:00]. The intertropical convergence zone near the Equator is known for severe atmospheric phenomena [01:49:12].
  • Drones: Drones near airports pose a collision risk, although for large commercial planes, the direct danger is generally monetary damage rather than catastrophic failure due to their small mass [01:41:31].
  • Balloons: Uncontrolled balloons, especially those with large wads of paper, can get tangled in aircraft engines, leading to dangerous incidents [01:42:51].

Planes use kerosene, which is less flammable and volatile than gasoline [01:03:05]. Fuel leaks can occur, especially if tank sealants dry out from consistently low fuel levels [00:54:50]. Combat aircraft and aerobatic planes have specialized fuel systems to ensure continuous flow even when inverted [03:11:00].

Notable Incidents and Accidents

Hudson River Landing (US Airways Flight 1549)

This incident involved a plane that lost both engines after a bird strike on takeoff from New York [02:13:00]. The pilot, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, made an emergency landing on the Hudson River, saving all passengers [02:02:50]. The pilot’s quick decision-making was critical, as the human element could assess the situation and opt for the river over attempting a return to the airport, which simulators later showed would have been impossible given the human reaction time [02:10:00].

Canada/Azores Glide (Air Transat Flight 236)

A plane traveling from Canada to Europe experienced a fuel leak due to an incorrectly installed component, leading to the loss of both engines over the Atlantic [02:05:00]. The pilots glided the plane for over 300 km for 26-27 minutes, landing safely in the Azores. This demonstrates that even without engines, large aircraft can glide for significant distances, allowing time for pilots to plan an emergency landing [02:05:00].

Brazilian Aviation Accidents

  • TAM Airlines Flight 3054 (Congonhas): This accident in 2007 involved a plane that landed on a wet runway with an inoperative thrust reverser on one engine, and the other thrust reverser lever in the wrong position [04:22:00]. One engine braked while the other accelerated, leading to the plane overshooting the runway and hitting a gas station [04:46:00]. The incident highlighted issues with runway conditions and pilot decision-making under pressure [04:55:00].
  • Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907: This mid-air collision in 2006 involved a Gol plane and an executive jet. A series of errors, including an incorrect flight plan, failure to change flight levels, and a transponder issue on one aircraft, led to the collision [04:55:00].
  • Varig Flight 254: In 1989, a Varig plane crashed in the Amazon due to pilot error in programming the flight management system, leading to fuel exhaustion. There were 41 survivors, including a flight attendant who became a pilot [05:24:00].
  • Chapecoense Accident: This 2016 accident was deemed criminal negligence rather than an accident due to insufficient fuel for the planned route [02:40:00].
  • Mamonas Assassinas Accident: The 1996 crash that killed the band Mamonas Assassinas was attributed to communication problems and pilot fatigue [02:46:00].
  • Fokker 100 Accident: In 1996, a Fokker 100 had an uncontained engine failure shortly after takeoff from Congonhas. The pilots had no chance to save the flight due to the nature of the failure and limited time [02:39:27].
  • Latam Emergency Landing (Confins): An incident where a Latam flight made an emergency landing at Confins airport due to an electrical issue [02:09:02].

Air France Flight 447

This 2009 accident, where a plane fell into the Atlantic, is considered impressive because it occurred despite modern aircraft and an experienced crew [00:59:00]. It involved a conjunction of issues, including icing of pitot tubes (speed sensors), which led to conflicting speed readings and pilot disorientation [02:19:56].

Lake Constance Mid-Air Collision

In 2002, a Russian plane collided mid-air with a DHL cargo plane over Lake Constance. This accident, which killed many children on holiday, was caused by a combination of air traffic control errors and conflicting instructions from the aircraft’s own anti-collision system (TCAS) [02:40:30]. This incident led to clearer regulations defining which instruction (TCAS or air traffic control) takes priority [02:42:53].

Boechat Helicopter Accident

The 2019 helicopter crash involving journalist Ricardo Boechat was an accident “waiting to happen” for 30 years due to improper maintenance [01:10:48]. The helicopter had been grounded by ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency) for maintenance issues, and a critical component was replaced incorrectly, leading to an engine breakdown in flight [01:10:48]. The actual crash occurred when the helicopter, attempting an emergency landing, hit a truck on the highway [01:14:00].

Aviation Safety and Investigation

Accident Investigation Processes

When an incident or “almost accident” occurs, it is documented as an “incident report” and entered into a database for analysis and learning, to prevent future occurrences [01:15:00]. Aircraft are equipped with “black boxes” (flight recorders) that are virtually indestructible, recording flight data and cockpit voice recordings [00:39:00]. While the concept of building an entire plane from black box material is often joked about, it’s not feasible due to weight and dynamic challenges [02:53:00].

Pilot Training and Crew Resource Management (CRM)

Pilot training is rigorous. Pilots undergo continuous training, including simulations, to recover proficiency in manual flying, especially after identifying a trend of reliance on automation [03:22:00]. Crew Resource Management (CRM) is a key aspect of modern pilot training, focusing on effective communication and teamwork in the cockpit [04:14:00]. It addresses the historical problem of rigid hierarchy by promoting an exchange of ideas, where the co-pilot can question decisions, even though the commander retains final responsibility [04:26:00].

Technological Advances in Safety

Modern aircraft are highly automated, with advanced systems and alarms [01:29:00]. Alarms have specific frequencies and intervals to indicate the severity of a problem, from minor issues to critical events like engine fires, prompting immediate action [01:29:00]. Aircraft technology also includes features like auxiliary power systems that keep computers and controls operational even if engines fail [02:26:00]. Anti-collision systems (TCAS) warn pilots of potential collisions and provide avoidance maneuvers [02:41:51].

Distinction: Commercial vs. Private Aviation Safety

Commercial aviation is significantly safer than private aviation [01:00:00]. Statistics show that private aviation has an exponentially higher accident rate (e.g., 18,000% more accidents) compared to regular commercial aviation [01:09:00]. This difference is attributed to several factors:

  • Inspection and Maintenance: Commercial airlines adhere to rigorous, centralized inspection and maintenance protocols [01:05:00]. Private aircraft might not have the same level of oversight, sometimes relying on less regulated mechanics [01:09:00].
  • Training and Operational Procedures: Commercial pilots receive continuous, standardized training, and airline operations involve a large support team (e.g., dispatchers, fuel planners, maintenance crews), reducing the burden on pilots [01:26:00]. Private pilots often accumulate more functions, from pre-flight checks to in-flight decision-making, increasing their workload and potential for error [01:42:00].
  • Aircraft Certification: Large commercial planes are certified to fly and climb even with one engine inoperative at maximum takeoff weight and worst conditions [01:51:00]. Smaller private twin-engine planes typically do not have this same certification, meaning a single engine failure significantly impacts performance [01:54:00].

Misconceptions and Conspiracy Theories

  • Contrails: The white trails left by airplanes are simply condensation trails (contrails), formed when hot engine exhaust condenses in freezing atmospheric conditions. They are not “chemtrails” meant to reduce population or cause environmental changes [01:54:00].
  • Bermuda Triangle: The legend of planes disappearing in the Bermuda Triangle stems from a time without GPS or cell phone technology. Disappearances in that area were more likely due to strong storms or areas of great calm, which could strand sailing vessels or disorient aircraft [01:49:00].

Conclusion

Aviation safety is a field of continuous learning, with each accident and incident leading to new regulations and improvements in pilot training and aircraft technology [02:38:00]. The rigorous processes involved make commercial air travel extremely safe, with a strong focus on addressing every identifiable factor that contributes to incidents [02:38:00].

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