Fire Saftey Systems Evolution in Aviatino (Essay Sample)

Fire Safety Systems Evolution in Aviation
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Fire Safety Systems Evolution in Aviation
Introduction
TWA Flight 800 Accident
On July the17th, 1996, the TWA flight 800 departed from New York JKF Airport en-route to Paris in France and at 8:31 pm, an explosion occurred that left the Boeing 747 jet damaged. Lives of 230 people were also lost during the explosion. Most of the victims were thrown into the Atlantic Ocean located off along the Long Island. As soon as the news about the explosion was spread various theories emerged concerning the real cause of the accident. Many explanations were given regarding the accident by people from different parts of the world. Some people claimed it was a terrorist bomb and the theory was believed by many people. Others suggested a possible mechanical failure ('Response to TWA flight 800 crash', 2004). The possibility of an unprecedented mechanical failure is always there although the magnitude of the explosion raised doubts about it. This is because aircraft do not often explode in the air without any reason. The accident marked the third deadliest aircraft accident in the United States territory with all the 230 people onboard perishing.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived at the scene of the accident the next morning to gather more information about the accident. It is believed that a terrorist attack could have been the cause of the accident. This prompted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to launch criminal investigations immediately regarding a possible terror attack resulting in the crash. After the close six month investigation, the FBI revealed that there was no enough evidence to claim that the accident had been due to acts of terror. The investigation case was later closed.
It took NTSB four years to investigate the root cause of the crash. The investigation process of TWA Flight 800 marked the most complex, costly, and extensive air accident investigation in the history of the United States. The board resolved that the most probable cause of the crash was the explosion of highly flammable air or fuel in the aircraft’s fuel tank. It was not possible to determine the certainty of the report fully. The most likely cause of the crash, on the other hand, is believed to be a short circuit (Reed, 2000). Due to the accident and subsequent investigations, the requirements were established for airplanes to prevent such disasters resulting from fuel tank explosions.
Aviation Fire Rates - Other Incidents
Safety in the aviation sector is a word that encompasses various aspects, such as categorization and classification of flight failures and thereafter establishing mechanisms that can be used to prevent such accidents. The prevention measures are carried out using various means like training, education, and regulation procedures. It is also important to inform the public and specifically the travelers about their safety in such environments. Safety regulations and mechanisms are aimed at stopping and preventing tragedies like aviation fires. Aviation fire rates have been reduced in the United States with the help of automated fire systems. Normally these prevention measures require testing. These tests are used to gauge the flammability of items and the toxicity of the smoke produced.
Using such measures has made the rates of aviation fires go down by a big margin over the past decades. Fire and smoke produced during aircraft crashes are the major causes of deaths. The smoke produced is highly toxic due to poisonous chemicals. In 1983, an electrical fire resulted in death of 23 out of 46 passengers on Air Canada Flight 797. This prompted the introduction of floor level lighting that assists passengers to evacuate from any smoke filled airplane. In the past years, aviation fires rates were higher compared to the modern times. In 1985, the fire on the runway resulted in the death of 55 people in the British Air tour Flight 28M. It is believed that around 48 of the people who perished suffered massive poisoning due to lethal toxic smoke and gas that emanated from the aircraft fuel tanks. This particular accident raised concerns about survivability of passengers in aircraft in case of a crash. Since then, the field has been studied broadly. Certainly, this kind of research has resulted in the reduced number of aviation fires witnessed currently.
Incursion of fire into fuselage and the arrangement of aircraft prevent passengers from being evacuated. Particular areas of the aircraft act as hindrances to their ability to escape. These include the forward galley area. Aviation fires have caused many deaths with most passengers dying while escaping near the exits. Cranfield Institute did a detailed research pertaining to the appropriate seating arrangement to curb the increased number of deaths caused by aviation fires. The institute looked at the best evacuation route for passengers. It led to the invention of the seating layout commonly known as ‘Overwing’ exit. This kind of layout was found appropriate for better control of disasters caused by aviation fires. Cranfield Institute also proposed the use of smoke hoods but that idea was later rejected as it was found counterproductive.
Other statistics regarding the aviation fires rates indicate the seriousness and damage caused by fires. South African Airways Flight 295, for instance, lost direction above the Indian Ocean in the year 1987. This was after an in-flight fire occurred around the cargo section. This led to the invention of mechanism for installing fire extinguishers in the cargo section to combat fire that might occur there. In the year 1996, ValuJet Flight 592 also crashed into Florida Everglades a few minutes after takeoff due to fire in the cargo hold. This resulted in the death of 110 people.
To fight accidents caused by fires in the aviation industry, it was suggested that fire fighting foam paths should be laid down before emergency landing. The practice was later considered marginally effective as it depleted the capability to fight fire when it occurred. This weakness made the United States FAA remove its recommendation in 1987.
The findings have established that the most common cause of fires in aircraft is wiring complications that entail intermittent faults. Such faults include: wires having breached insulation that touch each other, water that drips on the wires, and short circuits. These kinds of faults are difficult to detect while aircraft is on the ground. Sophisticated technologies like the spread-spectrum use have been employed recently to test wires on the airplane before flight.
NTSB
Initial Investigation
National Transportation Safety Board started investigations immediately to establish the cause of the accident. NTSB was informed about the accident at around 8:50pm. An entire go-team was organized and assembled in Washington, D.C to deal with the crisis. The team arrived at the scene of the accident the next morning. Many initial witnesses described the possible cause of the accident as either a missile attack or a bomb. It is critical to note that the National Transportation Safety Board does not have the mandate to conduct criminal investigation. In the previous investigations, any suggestions of a possible criminal activity resulted in the intervention of the FBI to carry out investigations. The function of NTSB in that case was to provide relevant support that was required or requested by the instigating body. After TWA 800 accident, the FBI started a parallel criminal investigation that was carried out alongside NTSB’s accident investigation.
Initial searches and recovery operations were done by the state, federal and local agencies with the help of government contractors. Remote operated vehicles were used in the search and investigation of debris fields in the water. Wreckage and debris were excavated by scuba divers with the help of remote operated vehicles. The initial investigations were marked with confusion caused by the agencies. Controversial information regarding the accident was given by officials and agencies (Friedrich, 2002). NTSB chairman Robert Francis confirmed that the authority gave priority to the recovery of stuck bodies and that divers were used in the process when it was discovered that some victims were hidden underneath. Family members of the deceased became suspicious about the investigations and termed the investigators as untrue for withholding information.
Initial investigations of the tragedy resulted in pressure from all corners. Differences in cultures and agendas of the two investigating bodies (FBI and NTSB) resulted in strife.The FBI claimed that criminal activity was the cause of the accident. This demonstrated NTSB as irresolute. The FBI was frustrated at NTSB’s failure to comment on the possible cause of the accident.
Theories
Conspiracy theories related to the crash of TWA Flight 800 indicate that the causes of the accident were different from the ones articulated by the National Transportation and Safety Board. According to NTSB, the possible cause of the accident was the explosion of flammable air or fuel in the fuel tank due to a short circuit. The conspiracy theories indicate that the actual cause of the crash was the United States Navy missile test that had gone awry, possible terrorist missile attack or an onboard bomb. In the year 2013, a documentary was released that stated that the causes that NTSB had indicated as the causes of the crash were not the real ones. The documentary alleged that the investigation conducted by NTSB was a cover up. The documentary contains the statements of 6 members of the initial investigation team. The members although retired also filed a petition to have the probe reopened and investigated afresh.
While NTSB arrived at the scene of cras...