Fuel Starvation Crashes

There is rarely one incident that dooms an aircraft. An air crash is usually the result of a number of errors or failures that lead to a catastrophe. Fuel starvation has proven to be troublesome throughout the history of aviation, resulting in many lost aircraft and flight fatalities. Understanding fuel starvation is key to knowing your rights if you are involved in an air accident.

What is Fuel Starvation?

Fuel starvation is a condition in which an aircraft's engines cannot function because of a lack of fuel. This phenomenon can occur for a variety of reasons, from pilot error to sabotage and miscalculations. The result is a situation in which both pilots and passengers are at risk. Throughout history, there have been several incidents in which fuel starvation has been blamed for aircraft damage and passenger fatalities and injuries.

Avianca Flight 52, January 1990

This New York bound airliner was forced into several holding patterns on approach due to inclement weather. The crew failed to alert the air traffic control tower that they had insufficient fuel to continue their hold pattern, and failed to request priority landing clearance. As a result, the jetliner crashed just short of the airport on Long Island, killing 73 passengers and crew.

Air Canada Flight 143

Due to a conversion error, this aircraft suffered fuel starvation when the crew failed to fuel the plane with the right amount of fuel. The crew loaded the aircraft with pounds instead of kilograms of fuel. As a result, the plane was fueled with only half of what it needed to make the flight. The plane was able to glide safely to a nearby airport. There were no fatalities. This error lead to changes in how fuel is measured and how flight crews are trained to read fuel gauges.

Air Tahoma Flight 185

On August 13, 2004, Air Tahoma crashed in an open field, killing one of the pilots. An investigation revealed that the crew had mismanaged the fuel tank system. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Further digging turned up numerous incidents of mishandled fuel tanks leading to air crashes. Aircraft accident lawyers have fielded many cases in which flight crew mismanagement has lead to accidents and fatalities.

Human Factors in Fuel Starvation Accidents

There are numerous safeguards in place to ensure that an aircraft has the right amount of fuel for a trip. In most fuel starvation accidents, pilot or other human error is to blame. In the Avianca crash, the accident could have been avoided and many lives saved if the pilot had alerted air traffic control to the severity of their dwindling fuel supply. Fuel starvation is one of the most avoidable causes of air fatalities, and victims are often at a loss to understand why these accidents occur.

If You Have Been Involved in an Accident

If you have been involved in an accident, the best thing you can do is to hire an attorney that will fight for your rights. Personal injury law covers aircraft accidents as a part of product liability, and you may be able to receive compensation for your pain and suffering. There have been many lawsuits in recent years that have lead to widespread changes in the aviation industry, making flying safer for both pilots and passengers.

Louisiana Still Hazardous When It Comes to Industrial Accidents

Though the wheels of industry have again begun moving faster in the past few years, one negative aspect of that growth has been in relation to industrial accidents within Louisiana.

Sobering Numbers

In 2013, the last year for which statistics are available, 114 people died in work-related accidents in the state. That was actually a slight improvement (by two) from the year before, with just over 60 percent of those deaths taking place in one of five fields: 37 came in the utilities, trade and transportation fields; the construction industry dealt with 17 deaths; and mining and natural resources accounted for 15.

Even for those accidents that don’t result in a fatality, Louisiana’s status as having the second highest rate of workplace illnesses or injuries in the United States shows that the problem is a continuing one.

Real-Life Examples

Some recent stories from the past few years show that dangers lurk everywhere when it comes to the industrial workplace within the Bayou State:

One mechanic was killed and another injured in New Orleans in February 2011 when the force from a tire they were working on exploded off its axle. The injured man suffered a number of broken bones in the tragedy.

In October 2013, a worker at a plant in Baker that helps create pipes for oil and gas companies, died after being pinned between a pair of large pipes. The man was caught between them when one was rolled forward.

In Lincoln Parish, two men were killed in June 2014 after a drilling rig’s components was unable to control the extreme pressure that had built up. The resulting explosion also injured another worker, who was treated and released at a nearby hospital.

A fish processing plant in Empire was the site of an August 2014 accident in which two men suffered severe injuries to their legs. The two had been performing maintenance on the counter machine of a fish sorter when a slip resulted in the mishap.

The Causes of Accidents in Industry

Given the potential dangers involved with these different industries, companies can fail to make sure that the people they’re hiring are made aware of those hazards and trained appropriately.

The company itself may not have been proactive in establishing specific areas that could possibly be dangerous. For example, the many simultaneous events taking place on a construction site demand an awareness from all involved.

That concentration may not have been emphasized when using equipment such as saws or those that are electricity-based. In addition, working conditions surrounding these areas may be surrounded by a host of negative issues. These can include noise, excessive heat or unhealthy fumes or odors.

Other workers are at risk if another employee attempts to take a shortcut in order to save some time. This might involve rushing to get the job started before receiving all instructions or neglecting to take the proper safety precautions. In some cases, it may be simple attention to the task at hand.

The Bottom Line

While avoiding these situations in the first place is the goal for both employers and workers, the information above shows that reaching anything near perfection is still nowhere within reach.