Aviation Accident Investigation Research Paper

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Total Length: 5518 words ( 18 double-spaced pages)

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Summary

Over the past few years, the aviation sector has experienced tremendous growth and development due to growth in air traffic. Despite the growth and development of this industry, safety concerns continue to increase even as technological developments are adopted to improve aviation safety. One of the major areas in aviation safety that has been characterized by numerous concerns include aviation accident investigation. Aviation accident investigation plays a crucial role in aviation safety since it provides recommendations that are utilized to prevent future aviation accidents resulting in improved safety.

Aviation accident investigations have been characterized by some challenges that have hindered the effectiveness of the recommendations in preventing future reoccurrences of aviation accidents under similar circumstances. Even though the current state and strategies employed in aviation accident investigations are relatively effective, the process is characterized by some challenges that necessitate improvements. Some of these challenges include involvement of different stakeholders with differing interests, complexities in the investigation process, interference from external forces, and generation of conflicting reports and opinions. Due to these challenges and complexities, the investigation process has been slow.

The most suitable and effective approach toward improving aviation accident investigation is combining independent investigations with structured approaches for aviation accident investigation. The combination of these two techniques helps to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the investigation process by eliminating complexities and reducing uncertainties. Through this process, the combination of the techniques helps aviation accident investigators to determine the root cause of an accident and develop suitable recommendations to prevent future reoccurrences under similar circumstances.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The aviation industry has experienced tremendous growth and development in the recent past given the growth in air traffic. According to Milosovski (2008), by the start of the 21st Century, airlines across the globe operate over 22 million passengers every year. These airlines transport more than one billion passengers worldwide, which demonstrates the significant role air traffic continues to play in modern transportation. Due to the growth of this industry, air traffic has emerged as a prevalent means for transporting passengers and cargo over long distances to an extent that it has exceeded road and marine traffic.

Even though air traffic has significantly increased in recent decades, safety concerns have also increased given that aircrafts usually navigate complex terrain. Aircraft usually fly across oceans, huge ice wastelands, huge deserts, and complex desolate regions. The complex terrain increases safety issues because of the adverse conditions. Additionally, there have been increased cases of human errors, unprecedented events, and equipment malfunctions. Drury (2000) states that human factors still account for a significant percentage of aviation mishaps. It is estimated that nearly 20% of aviation accidents or mishaps are brought by human factors, particularly in aircraft maintenance. Xavier (2005) argues that while aircraft maintenance programs have been established and improved from time to time, they are still characterized by numerous inconsistencies that make them ineffective in preventing aviation accidents or mishaps. These factors imply that aviation accidents still take place despite measures undertaken to enhance aviation safety. Even though aviation accidents are increasingly rare, they are usually devastating when they occur. Milosovski (2008) states that there have been more than 1600 aviation accidents that resulted in 64,000 deaths over the past five decades worldwide, which shows that air traffic is still imperfect.

Since aviation accidents still take place, one of the fields in the aviation industry that has continued to develop in recent years is aviation accident investigation. These investigations are usually carried out to help determine the causes of the accident and to promote the establishment of suitable measures to prevent similar incidents under similar circumstances. However, aviation accident investigations have been characterized by numerous challenges. These challenges have compromised the capability of the investigations to achieve their main goal/objective i.e. preventing future reoccurrences of accidents under related circumstances. Therefore, aviation accident investigation ought to be improved through addressing these challenges to help establish strategies and measures that prevent future reoccurrences.

1.1 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to explore the current challenges in aviation accident investigation and recommend strategies for improving the process. This exploration is conducted on the basis that aviation accident investigation requires improvement in order to enhance aviation safety. Therefore, through identifying these challenges, effective measures for preventing future reoccurrences would be established and aviation safety enhanced.

1.2 Significance of the Problem

As previously indicated, aviation accident investigation has been characterized by numerous challenges that comprise its effectiveness in enhancing aviation safety.

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In light of the purpose of this study, this research will help enhance understanding of the major challenges that characterize aviation accident investigation. Through improving understanding of these challenges, the study will also contribute towards enhanced aviation safety. The study seeks to provide recommendations on measures that can be used by relevant aviation professionals to improve aviation safety.

1.3 Problem Statement

The main goal of aviation accident investigation is to prevent accidents and incidents in the future without apportioning liability or blame (Balcerzak, 2017). Aviation accident investigation is usually a complex process since its both an art and a science (Federal Aviation Administration, n.d.). Some of the scientific processes involved in aviation accident investigations include laboratory testing of materials, sample evaluation, and failure modes. Over the past few years, numerous measures and strategies have been established to help enhance aviation safety and accident investigations. These measures have focused on addressing the scientific aspects of accident investigation as well as addressing human factors that cause these accidents or incidents.

However, aviation accident investigation is still characterized by numerous challenges that hinder its effectiveness in promoting aviation safety. McCain (1997) states that accident investigations and execution of successive safety recommendations in the aviation industry have been criticized for being bureaucratic and slow. Therefore, there is need to address these challenges and speed in aviation accident investigation.

1.3 Research Questions

To achieve the purpose of the study, the researcher has identified two research questions to guide the research. The research questions, which have been identified based on the problem statement and background information are…

1. What is the state of the current measures and strategies employed in aviation accident investigation?

2. How can the current challenges and complexities in aviation accident investigation be improved?

Chapter 2 – Literature Review

The issue of aviation accident investigation has been the subject of numerous studies, particularly in aviation safety and aircraft maintenance. This chapter reviews some of the existing studies that have been carried out on this issue. The review provides background information and understanding of the topic as well as any existing gaps in literature.

2.1 Aviation Accidents

Boyd & Stolzer (2015) conducted a study in which they examined the causes and trends in aviation accidents that are related to aircraft maintenance. To achieve the purpose of their study, these researchers examined aviation accident data that was published by the National Transportation Safety Board in 2014 for accidents between 1989 and 2013. Following the review, the study established that the accident rate for general aviation is still very high. The high rate of these accidents is attributable to combination of pilot-focused errors (human factors) and aircraft maintenance errors. This study highlights the role that human errors or factors play in aviation accidents in the modern aviation industry.

In an earlier study, Shappell & Wiegmann (1997) established that human errors continue to be a major factor in a huge number of aviation accidents. Shappell & Wiegmann (1997) state that human error accounts for a significant number of occupational accidents and nearly 80% of accidents in civil and military aviation. As a result, most of the analysis of post-accident data in the aviation industry in recent years focuses on examining the causal role of human errors in these incidents.

According to Singer (2002), the fatal accident rate in commercial aviation has remained relatively static since the 1980s. While this rate was initially considered insignificant, it has assumed greater significance because of the growth of air transportation and commercial aviation in the 21st Century. In light of this growth, a flat fatal accident rate in commercial aviation traffic in today’s aviation industry is considered significantly high and a major issue of concern. As a result, many organizations and relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry have undertaken various measures to help reduce accident rates in air traffic. Singer (2002) contends that new safety programs have become more prevalent and significant in the modern aviation industry. Some of these programs established by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board include Safety Action Partnership Program (ASAP) and Flight Operations Quality Assurance Program (FOQA).

Oster Jr., Strong & Zorn (2013) provide a different perspective of the rate of aviation accidents in today’s aviation industry. They contend that scheduled passenger airline service has become more safe given the reduction in the number of aviation accidents in recent.....

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