Present an essay that describes the role of aviation safety investigations in relation to aircraft
component failure or structural failure.
From a simple single engine general aviation aircraft up to a complex airliner an aircraft is made
up of many systems – engine or engines, propellers/ fan blades, gear boxes, fuel systems,
hydraulic systems, fuel systems, electrical systems, instruments and avionics, pressurization and
air-conditioning systems –in airlines, for example. Likewise, aircraft structures include hulls,
wings, tail-planes, fins, undercarriage, rotor blades in the case of helicopters. They are complex
machines.
Keeping everything working safely is a complex business involving intense and closely managed
maintenance and the investigation of failures and issues.
Your assignment should clearly identify an aircraft component, system or structure where failure
has occurred and make this the focus of your assignment. It should review the investigative
process itself and the corrective actions to show how these are communicated and actioned
across the international aviation community.
A good start point would be take a specific component or structural failure investigation report
(search investigative agency websites) and then broaden your assignment from there to cover
such issues as the history of similar component or structural failures to consider whether or not
it is an original design problem, is it a materials failure, has there been inadequate inspection or
maintenance, has there been operational overload? Comment also on the corrective actions
which are likely to involve steps such as service letters, operational restrictions, airworthiness
directives right through to mandatory groundings of the aircraft type or those fitted with the
faulty components.
Sample Solution