Accident Investigation for Aircraft Reciprocating Engines Conducted by ATSB - Report Example

Download file to see previous pages Reciprocating engines are also known as internal combustion engines.
Although not common now, steam was also used as a power source for reciprocating engines. In such cases, high-pressure steam is used to drive the piston. But nowadays piston engines are replaced by turbines. Pistons are now used only in automobiles because of the requirement of a high level of torque (Reciprocating engine – Definition. 2009).
There have been cases of accidents with respect to carriers having reciprocating engines. In a specific case involving a reciprocating engine powered low capacity aircraft used for transporting passengers in Australia, a detailed investigation was conducted by the ATSB. The investigation revealed that from the period ranging from January 2000 to December 2005, twenty cases of failures in reciprocating engines were associated with aircrafts having reciprocating engines.

All these problems were associated with powertrain structural failures. The failures due to these were in-flight engine shutdown, engine failure, forced landing, engine failure which was combined with in-flight engine fracture of the upper mounts of the engine a last not but the least, structural failures of both the engines to ditching during night flying. For the safe operation of the aircraft, it is of at most importance that the reciprocating engines are totally reliable.

The study conducted by the ATSB revealed some interesting facts, it showed that the powertrain structural failure was not restricted to one engine model or one engine manufacturer or one single powertrain component. The failures associated with the engine can be grouped into the melting of combustion chamber melting breakup of bearing, and fatigue cracking of powertrain components. More analysis of each category revealed that the reliability of the powertrain component is affected by the development of shockwaves during the time of combustion. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More