Part 2 Aircraft Accident Analysis: The Role of the Aviation Maintenance Technician in Aircraft Inspection

In the aviation industry, aircraft maintenance technicians play a central role in
guaranteeing the airworthiness and reliability of airliners and the subsequent safety of crew
members and passengers. They do so by developing aircraft inspection protocols, procedural
steps, regulatory changes, or program strategies that can aid in preventing accidents that may
result from potential system failures, training shortcomings, communication breakdowns, and
insufficient crew responses. There are multiple instances in the aviation industry whereby failure
to detect system, structural, or component failures led to fatal accidents, long investigations, and
financial and reputational damages to airlines. A case in point is the 2009 Air France Flight 447
that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 228 crew members and passengers on board
(Breeden, 2023). One of the main causes identified by France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis
for Civil Aviation was a fault in the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting
(ACARS), a critical component of the Airbus 330 fleet.
The primary responsibility of aviation maintenance technicians is to avert avoidable
aircraft accidents. They work with aircraft manufacturers, authorities/regulators, and other
experts to design, test, implement, review, and improve/redesign inspection guidelines and
protocols. Their expertise, skills, and knowledge in aircraft components/systems and industry
policies and standards allows them to be part of this highly professional and skilled team.
Technicians can typically perform all aircraft inspections, including annual, 100-hour, and
progressive (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, n.d.). They can schedule inspections in the
future, record findings of their inspections, and file reports. Therefore, the primary role of
maintenance technicians in preventing accidents is ensuring aircraft airworthiness, reliability, and

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safety. By conducting thorough inspections, technicians ensure that only safe, reliable, and
flightworthy airliners or jets are allowed in the air.

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References

Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association. (n.d.). Guide to aircraft inspections.
https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/aircraft-and-ownership/maintenance-and-
inspections/aircraft-inspections
Breeden, A. (2023, April 17). Airbus and Air France are acquitted in 2009 Rio-Paris crash. The
New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/world/europe/airbus-air-france-
brazil-crash.html