Investigating the Air India Crash: Expert Analysis of Proposed Failure Scenarios

Strategic Insights -

The recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad has sparked widespread concern about potential causes. As an expert in aircraft design, I will examine the various flight scenarios being discussed and explore what they imply from the perspective of aircraft design and performance. Understanding how such factors interact with aircraft systems and flight performance can shed light on how modern aircraft are designed to handle rare but critical situations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The loss of engine thrust, as seen in the Air Transat Flight 236 incident, is a critical scenario that can occur during takeoff and climb. Modern commercial aircraft are designed to safely continue takeoff and climb with one engine not operating, but the loss of both engines is an extremely serious scenario.
  • Bird strikes, like the US Airways Flight 1549 incident, can cause engine failure and require pilots to make emergency decisions to ensure the safety of passengers. The "miracle on the Hudson" demonstrated the importance of pilot decision-making, aircraft design, and altitude in the outcome of rare engine failure events.
  • Landing gear not retracting during takeoff can produce significant aerodynamic drag, reducing the aircraft's climb performance and fuel efficiency. However, commercial aircraft are designed to remain controllable and flyable even if the landing gear fails to retract.
  • Flaps retracted prematurely can result in a sudden loss of lift, potentially leading to a stall or insufficient climb performance. This becomes critical if it occurs in combination with other issues, such as extended landing gear or a loss of engine thrust.
  • The investigation into the Air India crash has recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, providing hope for identifying the precise cause of the crash.
  • Each incident, including fatal ones like the Air India Boeing 787 crash, offers valuable lessons for enhancing aviation safety through aircraft design, maintenance, and operational procedures.

Statistics:

  • The Air Transat Flight 236 incident occurred on July 24, 2001, and managed to glide approximately 75 miles (120km) before safely landing at Lajes Air Base in the Azores.
  • The US Airways Flight 1549 incident on January 15, 2009, resulted in an emergency water landing on the Hudson River, with all passengers and crew members surviving.
  • According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), bird strikes are a significant safety concern, with over 5,000 reported incidents in the US in 2020.
  • The US National Aviation Safety Data Analysis Center reported a total of 14 fatal commercial airliner crashes worldwide in 2020.

Sources:

  • Ali Elham, Professor of Design Optimisation, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Southampton
  • The Conversation -- UK -- By Ali Elham, Professor of Design Optimisation, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Southampton
  • What could have caused the Air India crash? An expert examines the proposed failure scenarios -- https://theconversation.com/what-could-have-caused-the-air-india-crash-an-expert-examines-the-proposed-failure-scenarios-259099
  • Ref: The Conversation -- UK -- By Ali Elham, Professor of Design Optimisation, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Southampton