1 / 61

Risk, Perception, and Probability of Smoke, Fire and Fumes

Reducing the Risk of Smoke and Fire in Transport Airplanes: Past History, Current Risk, and Recommended Mitigations By: John M. Cox, FRAeS President Safety Operating Systems. Risk, Perception, and Probability of Smoke, Fire and Fumes. What are the odds?. Probability.

lilika
Download Presentation

Risk, Perception, and Probability of Smoke, Fire and Fumes

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Reducing the Risk of Smoke and Fire in Transport Airplanes: Past History, Current Risk, and Recommended MitigationsBy:John M. Cox, FRAeSPresidentSafety Operating Systems

  2. Risk, Perception, and Probability of Smoke, Fire and Fumes What are the odds?

  3. Probability In-flight fire is the 4th leading cause of fatalities in commercial jet aircraft accidents 1987 – 2004 (Boeing Study) • Loss of Control (LOC) • Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) • Specific Component failure (non-powerplant) Probability is > 1 in 10,000

  4. Probability IATA STEADES DATA 36 months: Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2004 Total Air Safety Reports (ASRs) = 2,596 1701 of the 2596 events were in-flight occurrences of smoke

  5. When Cruise IATA DATA

  6. Where

  7. Probability • > 1000 in-flight smoke events occur annually • Resulting in >350 unscheduled or precautionary landings • In-flight smoke rate is 1 in 5000 flights • In-flight smoke diversion rate is 1 in 15,000 flights IATA Data

  8. Terms • AC 25-1309 1A • Catastrophic (not all fires are, but potential) • Extremely improbable • 1 x 10-9 or less • Probability of diversion due to cockpit smoke could be a reasonably probable event and within the range of remote (Halfpenny) 1 x 10 -5

  9. History • July 1785, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier’s hydrogen balloon ignited and burned over the English Channel. • Aviation’s first fatal accident was an in-flight fire Credits - 2001 National Air and Space Museum,Smithsonian Institution (SI Neg. No. A-4691)

  10. Propeller Transports • Trans World Airlines, July 11, 1946, Lockheed Constellation • Smoke overwhelmed the crew • Similar accidents from generator leads issue still occur • Open Flight Deck Window did not allow landing

  11. Propeller Transports American Airlines, November 11, 1947, DC-6 • Fire from heater ingesting fumes • Fume ignition remains an issue

  12. 1973 and B707 fires Varig Flight 860, July 11, 1973 Cabin fire with heavy smoke Landed in a field 70 second from Paris Orly Crew and Passenger experienced smoke inhalation Open Flight Deck Windows did not provide sufficient visibility

  13. Varig Flight 860

  14. Pan Am Flight 160 • November 3, 1973 • Cargo Flight - Hazardous Material Fire • Smoke overwhelmed Flight Deck • Continuous Smoke Generation • Flight Deck Window Opened - Not Successful Landing

  15. Changes • Regulation • Smoke Goggles • Smoke Removal Procedures • Tightened Hazardous Material Requirements • Banned Smoking in Lavatories • Improved Cabin Airflows • Waste Towel Receptacle Made More Fire Resistant

  16. Air Canada Flight 797 • June 2, 1983 – DC-9-30 • Fire began in Aft Lavatory – Spread • Cause believed to be electrical near flush motor • Smoke filled Cabin and Flight Deck • Flight Deck Door Broken

  17. Air Canada Flight 797 • F/A and Passengers Smell Smoke • Pilots Hear Circuit Breaker Trip • Reset once • Smoke Increases • CO2 Fire Extinguisher Discharged into Lavatory • Not effective • Not applied directly at base of fire

  18. Air Canada Flight 797 • Fire and Smoke Spread • First Officer Went Aft to Investigate • Flight Deck Door Left Open • First Officer Switched Off Air-conditioning Packs • Ventilation flow aft stopped • Flight Deck Windows Opened and Closed • Reversed • High Noise

  19. Changes • Lavatory Fire Detection • Full Face Masks Portable Crew Oxygen • Protective Breathing Equipment • Fire Blocking Seats (650,000) • Halon Fire Extinguisher (2 – 2.5 lb) • AC 25-9 • Smoke Testing

  20. Single Failure – Multiple Results

  21. Single Failure – Multiple Results • RAF Nimrod Example • #1 Engine DC Wire Loom Failure • Uncommanded Opening of #4 Engine Starter • Starter Turbine Valve Over Speeds • Air from operating engine • Starter Turbine Disintegrates • Turbine Escapes Housing • Turbine Punctures Fuel Tank • Severe Fuel Tank Fire • Ditching in the North Sea – All Survived

  22. Single Failure – Multiple Results • Swiss Air 111 • In-Flight Entertainment Systems Wiring • Likely initial location of arcing and/or fire • Spread to Nearby Wiring • Multiple system failure • Flight instruments failed • Unrelated Systems Affected by Initial Event

  23. Location, Location, Location • Inaccessible Areas Contain • Wiring • Thermal Acoustic Blankets • Contaminates • Conductive • Non-Conductive • Liquids • Corrosion Block • Lubricants

  24. Unprotected Area of Aircraft • Examples were all unprotected areas • No Detection • No Suppression • Most in-flight fires are in unprotected areas

  25. Unprotected Area of Aircraft

  26. Wiring

  27. Wiring • 2/3 In-Flight Fires are Electrical • 2003 MITRE Report • 81 Large Transports Inspected • 40 wiring anomalies PER airplane average • 39 Small Transports Inspected • 58 wiring anomalies PER airplane average

  28. Wiring • FAA Report 1995 to 2002 • 397 Wiring Failures • 84% burned, loose, damaged, shorted, failed, chafed or broken wires • TWA 800 NTSB Report • Examined 25 Transport Aircraft • 24 had metal shavings in wiring bundles • 5 showed evidence of heat or fire damage

  29. Wiring • Supplemental Type Certificate • FAA Study of 316 Circuit Breakers • Many lugs contained two different size wires • Violation of 14 CFR Part 25.1357 • Swiss Air 111 IFE • No wiring routing drawings • By-Passed Cabin Bus Switch

  30. Wiring Arc Fault Circuit Breaker

  31. Wiring Arc Fault Circuit Breaker

  32. Wiring Flash of unprotected circuit

  33. Vision Assurance • Vision to Maintain Control • Navigate • Accomplish Checklist • Land

  34. Full Face Masks • Full Face Masks • Better protection • Better ability to purge • Eliminates ability to only use mask • FedEx 1406 • Sufficient Oxygen Supply for Landing • MEL does not consider Smoke/Fire/Fumes

  35. Halon Fire Extinguishers • FAA Tests • 2 ½ lb did not extinguish fire • 5 lb could have extinguish fire

  36. Fire Access Ports • Access to Previously Inaccessible Areas • Allow extinguishant in without increasing airflow • Universal Compatibility • Flexible tubes allow high flow rate of extinguishant • Some Areas Are Too Large for Ports • Attic of wide body aircraft

  37. Mark Location of Access • Provide Marking of Access to Inaccessible Area • Where is it safe to open an area • Where is will there be collateral damage

  38. Training FAA Tech Center

  39. Training • FAA Tests • Line Flight Attendants • With 2 ½ lb Halon – Fire was not extinguished • PBE problems • Smoke Migration • Training was not adequate

  40. Training • Smoke • Toxicity • Improved but still a serious consideration • Location • Access • Remove panel or “ax it” • Collateral Damage • Amount • Continuous • Combustion ongoing

  41. Training • Smoke Barrier • Maintain • Close the Door! • “Captain there is smoke in the galley” • Communication • Protect Flight Deck from Smoke • Maintenance • Swiss Air 111 example

  42. Training

  43. Training • Smoke Barrier Examples • Cubana DC-8, October 6, 1976 • Explosion in cargo hold • Smoke in cabin • Flight Attendant opened the Flight Deck Door • Captain’s voice on CVR “Close the door! Close the door!” • Smoke filled the Flight Deck

  44. Training

  45. Training • Smoke Barrier Examples • AirTran Flight 913 – August 8, 2000 • Just after takeoff – Electrical Fire • Location aft of Captain behind circuit breakers – Forward F/A jumpseat • Smoke in Galley Area • F/A opened door found pilots wearing masks and goggles • No attempt to fight fire • Returned for landing

More Related