Millions of people choose to travel by airplane each year. One of the main reasons traveling by plane is so popular is that it is thought to be the safest way to travel, especially if you’re flying commercially.
However, just because it’s considered the safest travel method, doesn’t mean there aren’t accidents. Each year, between 70 and 90 plane crashes occur worldwide. This includes both commercial and privately owned planes. To find out more about this and why mechanical failure is often a factor in aviation accidents, check out the article below:
The Risk of Dying in an Aviation Accident
The risk of dying in an aviation-related accident is very low. As long as the plane crash is not a complete wreckage, you have a good chance of surviving an aviation accident. However, people involved in a plane crash may suffer emotional and physical injuries that may have long-lasting effects.
What Are the Main Causes of Aviation Accidents?
The leading causes of aviation accidents include mechanical failure, human error, and poor weather conditions. The good news is that most aviation accidents can be prevented through proper training and safety measures.
Why is Mechanical Failure Often a Factor in Aviation Accidents?
As mentioned above, several factors can cause aviation accidents; however, mechanical failure is the most common. Mechanical failure occurs in approximately 90% of all aviation accidents. But why is it such a common factor?
Most commercial flights keep up with aircraft maintenance and are strict about following pre-flight inspections, but private owners and smaller planes often take these steps less seriously or skip them altogether. This can lead to the aircraft malfunctioning while in flight. Almost 80% of all aviation accidents occur in smaller, privately owned planes.
Mechanical Failures That Lead to Aviation Accidents
Modern aircraft are fantastic pieces of machinery. They are built using a considerable number of complex parts and systems. However, as with any part of life that relies on technology, the failure of aircraft components can have devastating consequences.
While not all mechanical failures cause planes to crash, crew members or passengers can be seriously injured when aircraft parts fail to work as intended. Failures involving the following systems and components can lead to aviation accidents:
- Powerplant or engine failures – if the power plant stops working, the engine may fail.
- Fuel system failures – airplanes need fuel to operate. If fuel begins to leak or the pumps fail to work, accidents can occur.
- Landing gear failure – if the landing gear malfunctions on landing or take-off, it can spell disaster for the aircraft.
- Instrument failure – the instruments on the aircraft display important information for the pilot. If these fail to work correctly, the aircraft may start to make sudden violent corrections that can injure the people onboard. In extreme cases, it can even cause the plane to crash.
- Structural failures – if the aircraft was mis-designed, the plane may not be able to operate as it should.
Who is Responsible for Mechanical Failure on an Aircraft?
Although very few people are injured or killed in plane crashes each year, knowing where you stand is essential should you find yourself in this situation. However, working out who is responsible is more complicated than you’d expect. It depends on what caused the accident to occur. For example, if a defective part was to blame, the manufacturer and the seller may be liable. However, if an accident occurred due to pilot negligence, the employee and employer may be to blame. Contacting an expert attorney is the best way to determine what caused the accident and who is responsible.
If you’ve been involved in an aviation accident, contact our lawyers at Scarlett Law Group. They can help you win your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Visit our office at 536 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133, or call now for a free consultation on (415) 352-6264.