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Design Flaw History

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Recommended: Following the code of ethics for engineers

On March 3, 1974, 346 people lost their lives to one of the worst crashes in aviation history, a fatality that could have been avoided.
Engineering keeps pushing innovation to previously unattainable levels. However, to ensure we advance in a safely manner, ethics and moral codes, amongst other things, have to be taken into account in this process, as not everything that looks good on paper will work as intended in real life. If a design flaw is found in a product, there should be no hesitation whether to fix it o not. It is a priority to ensure all information provided from the manufacturer or any other organism is trustworthy and a product poses no threat to its users. This matter applies to the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) aircraft DC-10, as …show more content…

Consequently, the plane went out of control and crashed into a forest near Paris, killing all 346 occupants. In this essay, I aim to display the development of the cargo-door problem over the years, showcasing McDonnell Douglas’ and associated organisations’ …show more content…

The electrical door opened outwards and relied on a latching mechanism actuated from the outside to close itself shut. The purpose of this was to be able to use more space inside the cargo compartment. With the final design ready, production of the aircraft started in 1968. Whilst performing a ground test in 1970 on the first produced plane, one of the cargo-doors blew open, causing a sudden change of pressure. This made the cabin floor collapse. It became obvious that the DC-10’s floor was too weak for such a wide airplane and the door’s locking mechanism had some sort of flaw, as, while the door could appear locked from the outside, the locking pins on the inside were not correctly engaged. Was this to happen mid-flight, the airplane’s controls, which run through the floor, could result severely damaged when buckling occurred. Convair, a sub-contractor and manufacturer of many parts, recognised the flaw and discussed further actions with MDC. It was not clear who would pay or produce the changes in design and as a result there was no further action. MDC took The aircraft underwent the usual tests and inspections, carried out by the manufacturer’s

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In deciding on a course of action, I must ask these questions; Who does the public refer to in this case and does this NSPE fundamental canon apply to the public in countries with no safety regulations? According to Michael Davis a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions and Professor of Philosophy, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, “public would refer to as those persons whose lack of information, technical knowledge, or time for deliberation renders them more or less vulnerable to the powers an engineer wields on behalf of his client or employer.” . In the dealing with foreign countries, care must be taken not to fall into the trap of blanket acceptance .

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253 Words | 2 Pages

On 10:50 AM July 29, 1967, The Forrestal was conducting combat operations on Yankee Station off the coast of North Vietnam. During the second launch cycle of the day, a pilot accidentally fired a rocket from an F-4 Phantom into a parked A-4 Skyhawk. The Rocket caused the fuel tank and a 1,000 pound bomb on the Skyhawk to fall off. The fuel tank broke open and spilled jet fuel onto the flight deck, which later ignited a fire. Within a minute and a half, the bomb cooked-off and exploded.

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614 Words | 3 Pages

Technical Sergeant Van E. Ripley is a Jet Engine Mechanic for the 122nd FW Jet Engine Intermediate Maintenance Shop, Fort Wayne, Indiana 122nd Air National Guard Base. He is responsible for providing direction to resolve problems on A-10 Aircraft Engines installed and un-installed. He leads other Engine subordinates, advises, trains, and works alongside others. He monitors work of assigned personnel, coordinates, and works with Aircraft Specialists of other shops to ensure that assigned personnel are fully utilized and work is accomplished in accordance with established time frames priorities and proper Technical Orders. All while, checking work in progress and ensuring all safety, security, environmental rules, and procedures are followed.

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1484 Words | 6 Pages

One of the greatest mysteries is the D. B. Cooper case. The legend of D. B. Cooper has inspired many books, movies, songs, and more. In just the last 40 years there have been over 1000 suspects and over 40 deathbed confessions of being D. B. Cooper (Hannaford 10). The case is still unsolved after 52 years of investigation. The crime committed by D. B. Cooper is still the only unsolved case of air theft on commercial airlines.

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922 Words | 4 Pages

(Wright 13) When he saw the luggage he knew something was up and his mother was afraid to tell him what was going on. They then tell him

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550 Words | 3 Pages

The Crash of Flight 800 has been shrouded in mystery and still bewildered people today. First of all,on July 17, 1996 Trans Atlantic Flight 800 departed from New York to France (Schlager 1).While in the air the flight exploded 11 minute from takeoff which killed all 230 people (Schlager 1).In addition, the plane has also had problems with baggage and ground equipment (Schlager 2).The plane has crashed mysteriously with little evidence of anything. After all, the plane has already been checked and had taken off successfully (Cole 30). Flight 800 had very minor problems and had everything else done successfully but still exploded.

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1576 Words | 7 Pages

The main character in the book, George McGovern , is an extraordinary pilot and he has an amazing crew. They are so good because of all the unyielding missions they have been through which have taught them to be better than other crews. McGovern tells us “ The Dakota Queen had 110 holes in its fuselage and wings” (Ambrose 245). George McGovern later states that it was a wonder the plane stayed in the air. Because he was such a good pilot he was able to make it home in a plane that should not have been able to fly.

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1366 Words | 6 Pages

Although repairs were done, they were unsuccessful because they did not appropriately restore the weight carrying ability of the wing assembly. The chalks also failure to identify and repair the part properly which laid to repair fatigue cracks in the wings and also many different maintenance correlated difficulties which were found on the misfortune aircraft, which should have been repaired appropriately in the first place (NTSB, 07) Also, Chalks Ocean Airways did not keep detailed repair work logbook for such work such as the doubles used or even the river work as no mention can be found in any records, but work which was done to the left wing was stated in the repair booklet. The investigating team establish out that neither the performance or the exterior of the aircraft would have provided a warning sign to the flight staff of the right section forthcoming disaster, the aircraft was operating with it certificated design carrying aerodynamic weight when the wing disconnected. Pre-Existing damage to the wing structure would not have been detectable to the flight crew.

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1774 Words | 8 Pages

Given these incidents, and the uncontrolled space junk the near-Earth atmosphere may become too hazardous for future space operations (Reynolds, Rice, Edgecombe 117). Similarly to the dangers of  space pollution, the Space Race also initiated an era of mechanical failures and malfunctions that would last for

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683 Words | 3 Pages

So instead he decided to take a different plane that was slightly older. Even though they planned everything about this flight. He looked where the best place to stop for fuel was, emergency airport in case something went wrong, the exact route they were going to take and the exact weight of every little thing that wasn’t strapped down in the airplane. He even had to ditch somethings because they would have been over weight. These items included things like the fire extinguishers.

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606 Words | 3 Pages

The Major ordered the four men to remain inside the aircraft, that he wouldn’t be gone long. The Major was true to his word, within thirty minutes, the Major was spotted in an open Humvee on his way back to the aircraft and he wasn’t alone. With him was what looked like another Airman, all they could tell was that he had brown hair which was closely cropped. The Humvee pulled up and the Major got out and turned the Humvee over one of the ground crew, his passenger who turned out to be a Master Sergeant, unloaded his gear, and placed it aboard the C-141.

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1286 Words | 6 Pages

On January 27, 1967 disaster struck for NASA, and America. The first Apollo manned aircraft with the set lunar destination caught fire once deployed. Unfortunately the crew of three did not survive the horrific event. Being the first manned aircraft that NASA’s Apollo program deployed it had significant influence on it’s viewers, and on the space agency. The failure of Apollo 1 was NASA’s first attempt at greatness.

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525 Words | 3 Pages

In 1956, Congress passed a new Federal-Aid Highway Act. Taking about 35 years to build with the estimated cost about $114 billion, thus giving us the outcome of more than 47,000 miles of highway. Now today we have more than ten times that amount. Like then safety was always the government's top priority, but with technology changing more and more everyday we’re not really sure how to safely incorporate into our highway system. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao delivered a speech last year talking about some benefits we could gain from new technology, but of course with that also came many challenges we may have to face, but the question on everyone’s mind is, is there a way we could factor in technology safely, and beneficiary for everyone.

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1238 Words | 5 Pages

American Airlines Flight 587 Title: Aircraft Accident report: In-flight separation of vertical stabilizer of American Airlines flight 587, an Airbus Industrie A300-605R aircraft on November 12, 2011. Author of this paper are Nitin Jayant (2012CE10371) & Jitesh Kumar (2012CE10355). Abstract:

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948 Words | 4 Pages

Second of all I will talk about technical issues and finally I will talk about accidents caused by supernatural phenomena. Aircraft are increasingly become the most important means of transport for passengers and freight. Globalization has been made possible in principle only by the flight technique, can melt the large distances. However, there is in many people, at least subliminally, the fear of plane crashes. This fear finds its justification mainly in the often sensationalist manner in which the media treat airplane crashes.

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