Incident and Accident - Attributable To Human Factors / Human Error

Incidents and Accidents Attributable To Human Factors / Human Error

 In 1940, it was calculated that approximately 70% of all aircraft accidents were attributable to man’s performance, that is to say human error

Causes/ major contributory factors                 % of accidents in which  this  was a factor    
  1. Pilot deviated from procedures                                          33
  2.  Inadequate cross-check by                                               26
  3. Design faults                                                                      13  
  4. Maintenance and inspection deficiencies                          12  
  5. Absence of approach guidance                                         10
  6. Captain ignored crew inputs                                               10
  7. Air traffic control failures or errors                                       9
  8. Improper crew response during abnormal conditions         9
  9. Insufficient or incorrect weather information                        8
  10. Runways hazards                                                                7
  11. ATC/crew communication deficiencies                                6
  12. Improper decision to land                                                    6

Examples of Incidents and Accident

  1. Accident to Boeing 737, (Aloha flight 243),
  2. Accident to BAC One-Eleven, G-BJRT 
  3. Incident involving Airbus A320,   1993;
  4. Incident involving Boeing 737,  near Daventry, 

Causes  of the incidents -  characterized by the following

• Staff shortages;
• Time pressures existed;
• All the errors occurred at night;
• Shift or task handovers were involved;
• Supervisors doing long hands-on tasks;
• Element of a “can-do” attitude;
• Interruptions occurred;
• Failure to use approved data or company procedures;
• Manuals were confusing;
• Inadequate pre-planning, equipment or spares

           The accident involving Aloha flight 243 in April 1988 involved 18 feet of the upper cabin structure suddenly being ripped away in flight due to structural failure. The Boeing 737
involved in this accident had been examined, by two of the engineering inspectors. One inspector had 22 years experience and the other, the chief inspector, had 33 years experience. Neither found any cracks in their inspection. Post accident analysis determined there were over 240 cracks in the skin of this aircraft at the time of the inspection. The ensuing investigation identified many human-factors-related problems leading to the failed inspections.
As a result of the Aloha accident, the US instigated a programme of research looking into the problems associated with human factors and aircraft maintenance, with particular emphasis upon inspection.

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