Registration: https://aiaa-sf.org/registration/
Defects in Aircraft Design & Materials: Engineering Lessons Learned
Why have preventable mishaps in aircraft occurred (which are not the fault of pilots), resulting in loss of life and property? How are aircraft put into service with potentially fatal control and stability issues? Many of these incidents are directly attributed to human error and negligence in aircraft design as well as processing of materials (manufacturing issues). How can engineers prevent or at least minimize such unpleasant events, thus improving aircraft safety? What lessons can we learn from historical mishaps, so that they might be avoided in the future?
Answers to these questions will be addressed, in the course of exploring a series of famous case studies, involving both civil and military aircraft. We will see in these cases how engineers recovered from hidden defects (discovered downstream via aircraft mishaps), and developed workable solutions.
Larry Rinek, a Senior Consultant in the Automotive & Transportation practice at Frost & Sullivan in Palo Alto (as well as an aviation historian, former USAF officer, former student pilot, trained engineer, veteran of the U.S. aerospace industry, active member of both AIAA and SAE technical societies) will present an interesting and educational PowerPoint slide show on this topic.
Despite lessons learned (presumably) and continual upgrades of engineering methods/tools as well as manufacturing processes over time, unfortunate things still manage to happen to aircraft that are avoidable. Views on future solutions for this challenge will be discussed. Larry will include a dramatic video clip of a defective aircraft suffering the consequences.
Advance registration required! Tickets will not be sold at the event. Refreshments (pizza, sandwiches, drinks) will be served at the presentation for paid attendees only.