Research Hypothesis

Kaushik Anantha
Intern/Mentor Pd. 5 & 6

10/20/15
Air Crash Investigation: An Analysis on Air Crashes, Investigations, and Advancement of
Aerospace Industry to Prevent Air Disasters
Research Question:
How can air disasters such as that of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 be prevented or lessened in
impact, and how can investigations predict future designs of aircraft?
Hypothesis:
In todays modern world, despite umpteen technological advancements, air disasters still occur.
With extensive analysis into previous air crashes, safety procedures and standards, aerospace
industry timeline, and aircraft designs, future air crashes can be prevented and/or lessened in
impact.
Background/History of Air Disasters
On September 17th, 1908, the first aviation disaster involving a defined airplane was recorded.
Orville Wright of the Wright Brothers crashed one of the first airplanes at Fort Meyer, injuring
himself and killing the passenger, Thomas Selfridge. Every since that day, the aviation industry
has been improving with new innovations in air vehicles advancing the transportation sector of
the world. No flying machine will ever fly from New York to Paris [because] no known
motor can run at the requisite speed for four days without stopping. Orville Wright was correct
in saying this back in the late 1800s to early 1900s, but this doesnt hold true today. The longest
flight today is a 17 hour non-stop journey from Dallas/Fort-Worth International Airport to
Sydney Airport on board a Qantas A380-800. Orville...You were wrong!
Though the aviation industry has come very far since the Wright Brothers, aviation incidents are
still prevalent. From the crash of Concorde which ended its career to the 2014 mysterious crash
of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, all incidents are crucial to the improvement to the aerospace
industry. Incidents are investigated by professional air crash investigations teams and forensic
professions, safety procedures are added based on the incident, and a report of the disaster is
generated. The aerospace industry needs more than just the analysis of crashes...They need
improvement based on this.
Rationale
Yearly, the number of air disasters range from 100 to 200. The causes of these incidents range
from human error to mechanical failure. My focus is on air crashes because with enough research
and implementation of improved safety and designs, they can be prevented. Maryland is a state
that has easy access to Washington D.C., the capital of the US and the home of the Federal
Government. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are
both headquartered in DC.
They have recorded and analyzed hundreds of air disasters.
Any aircraft can go down due to pilot error of technical failure at any time which makes air
disasters unpredictable. This shouldnt be the case, and therefore, air travel needs to be
improved. The world wants to see the number of air disasters and deaths associated with them to
recede. By following the right path, air crashes will reduce and air travel will be safer.
Basis of Hypothesis
I have researched air disasters on my own such as that of Florida Airlines Flight 90. My focus is
on all aspects of air disasters, from the time of taxiing to the final impact. I piloted a 3-seater
from a local airport in New Hampshire at the age of 10 alongside an FAA approved pilot. Even
for a 3-seater, the cockpit has many systems and controls. Once you get the hang of driving a car,
it becomes easy and gradually becomes habitual for you to drive every day. With airplanes, it
takes a while and a great deal of experience to master the skies. To become a commercial pilot,
one must have a minimum of 1500 hours of piloting. Ive based my question and my research on
the technical understanding of flight systems, flight navigation, cockpit and cabin crew
procedures, flight structure, and flight mechanics. A huge machine has massive behind-thescenes, and thats what I want to understand in order to discover air crash prevention methods.
Operational Definitions:
Aviation Disaster: an event associated with the operation of an aircraft which occurs any
time from boarding of an aircraft to the disembarkation where people are seriously
injured, and the aircraft obtains structural damage or mechanical failure.
Federal Aviation Administration: premier US government organization that handles
everything related to aerospace in the US
National Transportation Safety Board: premier US government agency that handles and
investigates air disasters, road disasters, rail disasters, hazardous material disasters,
pipeline accidents, and marine accidents
Descriptors
- Timeline of major air disasters
- Investigative process in air crashes
- NTSB
FAA
ICAO
Navigation Systems and Aids
Flight Systems
Cockpit Crew, Cabin Crew, and Passengers safety standards and procedures

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Kaushik Anantha

Intern/Mentor Pd. 5 & 6

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