Product Liability and Innovation Managing Risk in an Uncertain Environment (1994) / Chapter Skim
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Innovation, Engineering Practice, and Product Liability in Commercial Aviation
Innovation, Engineering Practice, and Product Liability in Commercial Aviation
Pages 113-119
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From page 113... ...
The aircraft must also satisfy the economic needs of the consumer and the airline. This paper will describe how the primary goal of safety is obtained, how engineering practices have changed to obtain increased safety, and how product liability affects our design and maintenance practices.
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From page 114... ...
As new airplane programs are initiated, design teams study existing and emerging technologies that will further improve safety, reduce weight, provide operational efficiencies, and simplify production. Before any decision is made to implement these new technologies, they are assessed against Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
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From page 115... ...
As operators experience flight delays, cancellations, diversions due to mechanical difficulties, or maintenance difficulties, they report them to the manufacturer through its worldwide network of field service representatives. The manufacturer makes engineering changes that are developed to correct the problems and incorporates the changes into production.
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From page 116... ...
Figure 3 compares the causes of accidents in 1940 and today. The percentage of accidents due to engine and airplane failure has declined and the overall total accident rate has been reduced dramatically.
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From page 117... ...
, which is primarily responsible for investigating airplane accidents, it was determined that the probable cause was failure of the airline's maintenance program to detect the presence of significant disbonding and fatigue damage, which ultimately led to the failure of the lap joint. The airplane had been delivered in 1969 and had accumulated 35,496 flight hours and 89,680 flight cycles (landings)
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From page 118... ...
The compelling reason for improvements and innovations in the aircraft industry is to maintain the reputation and public trust of the industry, not to allay product liability fears. This is not to say, however, that companies do not spend substantial amounts of resources defending themselves in litigation arising out of accidents.
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From page 119... ...
CONCLUSION Innovation in design both in current and future generations of airplanes is part of the engineering culture. Accidents and exposure to product liability are minimized in the following ways: · Designing redundancies into the airplane structures so that if a structural element fractures, a backup load path will carry the loads.
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