Visit to AAIB, Farnborough

A group of 14  members visited the Aircraft Accident Inspection Branch (AAIB) at Farnborough in mid April 2009.

EXPLANATIONS:

After being admitted through the impressive security system we passed an open air compound where the sad remains of several (mainly ‘solved’) accidents could be seen through the barriers.

We were then shown an explanatory video, which was followed by a short question and answer session led by our host for the visit Tony Severs, an accident investigator. This was in the AAIB’s recently completed HQ building and from there we were privileged to be taken into one of the two inspection hangars for a walk round and talk.

The hangar is dominated by the remains of the Lockerbie Boeing 747 where we were able to differentiate quite clearly between the damage done by the initial bombing and the subsequent structural disintegration. Although Pan Am 103 is now well in the past, the rest of the hangar contents were from considerably more recent accidents, some of which sadly could be regarded as ‘local’.

Tony gave us a brief verbal history of each accident and investigation with the cause, where known, and the obvious consequences being highlighted.

Most aircraft types were represented from Executive jets, twins, Cessna/Piper types, home-builds, helicopters, autogyros, microlights and a para-glider.

It was a moving experience for us all.

CONCLUSION:

Whilst a couple of the accidents had been attributed to structural failure, the overriding impression we all gained was of the dangers inherent in taking things too far, be it Human Factors or Aircraft Performance. All too often, it seemed to us all, the root cause or a contributing factor to the accident had been operation outside the approved envelope.

THANKS

We expressed our thanks to Tony for a most interesting visit and for the openness with which he had answered our questions.

RECOMMENDATION

If other Club members are offered the opportunity to visit the AAIB they should take it. It is a salutary experience which could just prevent you from taking similar risks.

The Club intend to organise a further visit.

Paul Haigh