airplane safety

On Friday, April 1, Southwest Flight 812 made an emergency landing in Yuma, AZ, after a large hole in the fuselage of the aircraft opened above the plane’s cabin shortly after it took off from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, reports The Yuma Sun.

Approximately 18 minutes into the flight, the Sacramento-bound plane, a 15-year-old Boeing 737-300, descended from its cruising altitude of 36,000 feet to 11,000 feet in about four and a half minutes after a 5-by-1-foot section of the plane’s fuselage burst open, requiring the passengers aboard to immediately use their oxygen masks. The plane leveled off at 9,000 feet, and landed safely in Yuma at about 4 p.m. There were 118 passengers aboard the flight and none were reportedly injured, although there have been reports that some passengers lost consciousness during the decompression. One flight attendant did suffer a minor injury during the plane’s descent but was able to be treated at the scene.

The incident prompted an immediate investigation of the aircraft by an 11-member team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and investigators revealed that tiny cracks had been discovered on the aircraft around rivet holes along a joint where two areas of the fuselage skin overlap. The cracks are not apparent to the naked eye, which has prompted air safety officials to question whether new criteria for aircraft inspection for 737s and other aircraft are needed.

Investigators are working to determine how long the cracks had been on the plane’s fuselage, and were extensively looking at the aircraft’s maintenance records. According to officials, the last time the aircraft had undergone heavy maintenance inspections was in March 2010, although several routine maintenance inspections have been performed since then. However, these inspections do not require the entire aircraft to be disassembled, as in heavy maintenance inspections. Officials stated March 2010 is likely the last time anyone had checked the concealed part of the aircraft.

Over the weekend, Southwest canceled about 300 flights on Saturday and another 300 on Sunday. It was expected at least 100 flights would be canceled on Monday as inspectors look at 79 Boeing 737 aircraft.

While airlines have a legal duty to perform regular maintenance to ensure the safety of their aircraft to passengers, airplane manufacturers also have a responsibility to design and create planes that are free of any defects or flaws. The California airline accident attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have successfully litigated against many large airplane manufacturers when it is discovered negligence contributed to a plane crash and/or a passenger’s injury. To find out how we can help, call 1-877-800-1700.

Aviation accidents can be deadly, and, depending on the size of a plane, can result in numerous injuries and fatalities. Often, airplane crashes are caused by a design or manufacturing defect. Crashes can also result from infrequent or negligent aircraft maintenance or an error on the part of the pilot or air traffic controller.

There are some steps pilots can take to potentially prevent emergency situations from occurring. In the recent issue of FAA Safety Briefing, an article entitled “When the Best Made Plans Go Awry” discusses precautions a pilot can take to help prevent aviation disasters. According to the article, one of the most significant steps a pilot can take to prevent a crash is to ensure the aircraft is legally airworthy during the preflight inspection. This involves checking that the aircraft is up-to-date on maintenance, certifications, and inspections to make sure it meets airworthiness requirements. This should be done regularly.

The article also notes that beginning pilots should be aware of how an aircraft operates normally, so if a malfunction occurs, it is immediately apparent. The article recommends that all pilots familiarize themselves with checklists in their Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) for emergency situations, and, if possible, to replicate these situations in flight simulators so they are prepared in case they encounter abnormal events during a flight. The article also advises that all pilots learn as much as they can through training and regular practice, and then learn more. Pilots should strive for perfection and proficiency in every flight.

However, regardless of a pilot’s training and preparations, accidents can occur, whether as a result of a pilot’s mistake, faulty maintenance or poor design. At Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, our aircraft accident lawyers offer legal assistance to those that have been injured or who have lost a family member in an airplane crash that was caused by another’s negligence. Our attorneys have extensive experience in aviation litigation and understand the complexities of the laws that surround aircraft accidents. Our record of successfully prosecuting airline accident cases is unmatched. Call us today at 1-877-800-1700 to learn how we can help you.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the gathering of aviators from around the world for the week of July 26 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The aviation community will have the chance to examine general aviation safety while participating in a variety of FAA activities. One of the FAA’s main goals at the gathering is to lower the number of fatal accidents in general aviation.

In acknowledging that general aviation accidents are down by eight percent from last year, the FAA notes that 303 people have been killed in these types of accidents as of June 2010 and significant work is still necessary to improve the general aviation safety record. Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) wrongful death crashes have dropped by more than 50 percent over the last three years in comparison to those previous three years. Fatal plane accidents in weather have decreased by almost 40% in the past three years, and nighttime weather aviation accidents are down by approximately 25%.

As the FAA continues to work with the aviation community to expand non-regulatory, pro-active plane accident prevention strategies, the organization recognizes that several issues must still be resolved regarding accidents involving amateur-built aircraft. The FAA reports that these types of aviation collisions accounted for 24% of all general aviation fatal accidents, an increase from only 10% a few years ago. Although amateur-built aircrafts have grown in popularity by about 4% annually in recent years, the accident rate has outpaced its growth in popularity.

Aviation accidents have devastating consequences for those involved and often result in fatalities. Even when an individual survives a helicopter crash, commercial airline accident, or private plane collision, he or she may face months, if not years, of rehabilitation as well as emotional trauma and financial challenges. The California aviation accident lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have years of experience successfully litigating aviation disasters that resulted in catastrophic injuries or the wrongful deaths of passengers or those on the ground. Call 877-800-1700 for a free consultation and to learn more about how the aggressive attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP can help you obtain full and just compensation for your injuries and other damages.