Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Miscellaneous Comet Crash Comet Crash MISHAPS AND HUMAN FACTORS OF THREE MAJOR ACCIDENTS There are many airplane accidents a year. On an average, 70 –80% are human error. Though there are many other factors, such as design factors, management, and weather factors, human error is the largest. Each one of these factors played a certain role in the three articles of accidents. The BOAC Comet, the PSA crashes in San Diego, and the Air Florida crash in Washington D.C., were analyzed differently, taking into consideration each possible factor. Within the follow, each accident will be discussed. The cause in every accident of the BOAC Comet was a design factor. The pressurization limitations were determined wrongly. In the mid air collision in San Diego, the cause was human error of the Cessna pilot for changing headings, the Boeing for not being sure of having the right traffic insight, and the tower for not warning the aircrafts they were very close together when his warning went off. Finally, the Air Florida crash, investigators took into consideration the factors of the weather, engine performance, and pilot error. The Comet DH-106 was the first jetliner to carry passengers. The person to give credit for this accomplishment would be de Havilland. The DH-106 carried thirty-six passengers, had a pressurized cabin, a ceiling of 40,000ft, and traveled 500mph. According to the investigation of the BOAC Comet, the reason the comets were exploding, was because of the pressurization within the cabin. There was no real sufficient information prior to the flights that indicated there was a problem. At first, the pilots of the comet does not know that in roll out, they need to use a lesser angle of attack and keep the nose on the ground longer. Many pilots flying the Comet had little to no experience flying this aircraft. There was a singular error in the engineering of the aircraft. The structure of the aircraft was said to with stand a certain amount of pressure. Today, the skin of an airplane is much thicker. Also, the windows are a lot smaller. In actuality, the plane could not with hold this amount of pressure and stress. In the PSA crash in San Diego, information was sufficient to both pilots prior to mid air collision. Both aircrews were aware of one another. The 727 aircrew assumed they had the right traffic insight to avoid collision. The Cessna made the mistake of altering his designated heading from tower. Air Traffic Control (ATC) made the mistake of not notify either of the aircrews of collision when the warning went off in the tower. If the Cessna had informed tower of their heading change, this accident would had not happened. Also, both aircraft were on different frequencies. Maybe, if they were both on the same frequency, positive identification of the Cessna from the 727 could have been made. The crash in Washington D.C. with Air Florida could have definitely been prevented. Even though engine instruments were reading abnormally the pilots still took off. Even the sound of the aircraft was not normal. The First Officer noted both of these factors. This accident was human error. First, the captain wanted to get off the ground as soon as possible because they had been delayed so long already. So, the crew decided not to get de-iced again even though they need to. The plane had a ¼ inch of snow on it. This process would have delayed their takeoff even more. The snow on the wings reduced their lift greatly. Then, during the pre-takeoff checklist, the engine anti-ice system had been over looked. It was never turned on like it should have been. This accident could have been prevented if the pilots would have been more patient and thorough. Also, the Captain of this flight had received an unsatisfactory grading on a proficiency check in memory items, and knowledge of aircraft. This could greatly be a factor too. All the sufficient information and data was available to the pilots prior to takeoff to prevent this accident. The structure of the aircraft (Hardware) failed to with stand the capabilities stated by the engineers (Liveware). The aircrew of the 727 not sure of correct traffic insight (Liveware) and the Cessna altering his designated course (Liveware). Tower not warning the 727 or Cessna they were about to collide when their warning sounded (Hardware) and the Cessna altering its assigned heading from the tower (Liveware). The engine performance of the aircraft (Hardware) due to the weather (Environment). The captain being impatient and not getting de-iced (Liveware) and the first officer not speaking up (Liveware). All accidents have many factors leading up to the event. In these three accidents, Human error was the biggest factor. With the comet, it was the human error of the engineers/manufactures stating falsely that the structure could withstand a certain amount of stress and pressure. In San Diego, ATC and both pilots contributed to the mid-air collision. This was a lack of communication. Finally, with Air Florida, the captain’s attitude, lack of knowledge, and insufficiency with the checklist got them in trouble. Bibliography: Air Disaster; Volume 1 Air Disaster; Volume 2 Word Count: 887
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