Air India 171 Crash: Top 20 Questions—Thrust Failure, RAT & Survivor’s Story | Ask the Captain

Summary

Captain Steve discusses the rare and complex aviation incident involving fuel starvation, explaining three possible causes: fuel cutoff, contamination, and vapor lock. He reassures viewers that such events are extraordinarily unlikely, with odds as high as 100 billion to one, due to advanced safety measures and technology. Emphasizing the safety of air travel, Steve encourages the community to learn from incidents like this to prevent future occurrences. He concludes by expressing his confidence that the cause will be thoroughly investigated, ensuring flying remains the safest way to travel.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fuel starvation is a possible cause of engine failure in jet engines, but it can happen in a few different ways.
• 😀 The first and most unlikely cause of fuel starvation is when fuel is cut off at the fuel control levers, which Captain Steve does when parking the plane.
• 😀 Fuel contamination, such as dirt, water, or other debris, is another potential cause of fuel starvation. However, it's considered improbable due to the advanced fuel monitoring systems in place.
• 😀 Fueling machines are highly effective at detecting even a drop of contamination, making fuel contamination a rare occurrence.
• 😀 Vapor lock is a possible cause of fuel starvation in any engine, including jet engines, but it is considered a low-probability scenario.
• 😀 Captain Steve emphasizes that despite these rare scenarios, air travel remains the safest mode of transportation.
• 😀 The crash discussed in the video is extremely rare, with odds that make it a one-in-a-hundred billion event.
• 😀 The aviation community analyzes such incidents to prevent similar events in the future and make air travel even safer.
• 😀 Captain Steve reassures viewers that the likelihood of this exact type of crash happening again is almost zero.
• 😀 The investigation into the crash will continue, and necessary adjustments will be made to ensure that such an event is prevented in the future.
• 😀 Captain Steve's final message is one of reassurance and commitment to safety, as he emphasizes the ongoing efforts in aviation to prevent future accidents.

Q & A

What is the primary cause of fuel starvation in jet engines discussed in the video?

The primary causes of fuel starvation in jet engines mentioned in the video are the fuel control levers being cut off, contamination of fuel (such as water or dirt), and vapor lock.

Why does the speaker dismiss the idea of fuel starvation due to the fuel control levers?

The speaker dismisses this possibility because they personally handle the fuel control levers when parking the airplane, ensuring that the fuel is properly set and not cut off.

How does the speaker view the possibility of fuel contamination causing fuel starvation?

While the speaker acknowledges that fuel contamination, such as water or dirt, could theoretically clog the system, they emphasize that the sophisticated fueling machines used in aviation are designed to detect even the smallest contaminants, making this scenario extremely rare.

What role do the fuel machines play in preventing contamination-related fuel starvation?

The fueling machines are highly advanced and are capable of detecting even the slightest amount of fuel contamination. If contamination is detected, fueling is automatically stopped, and further investigation is conducted to trace the source of the contamination.

What is vapor lock, and how does it relate to fuel starvation?

Vapor lock occurs when fuel vaporizes in the fuel lines, which can disrupt the flow of fuel to the engine, potentially causing fuel starvation. The speaker acknowledges it as a possible cause but considers it to be a less likely scenario.

How likely is it that the incident described in the video could happen again?

The speaker states that the likelihood of this type of event occurring again is virtually zero. They describe the incident as a '100 billion to one' scenario, which, in their view, means it's highly improbable to happen again.

What is the speaker’s overall message about air travel safety in the video?

The speaker reassures viewers that air travel is still the safest mode of transportation, despite rare incidents. They emphasize that the aviation community thoroughly analyzes such events to prevent them from occurring in the future.

What does the speaker mean when they say, 'We’ll make the adjustments as necessary so that it is absolute zero that it never happens again'?

The speaker is expressing confidence that aviation safety measures will be improved or reinforced after thorough investigation, ensuring that such incidents become virtually impossible to happen in the future.

What does the speaker mean by '100 billion to one' odds in the context of the crash?

The speaker uses '100 billion to one' to describe the extreme rarity of the crash scenario. It indicates that the event is so unlikely that it’s almost impossible for it to occur again.

What is the speaker’s stance on discussing accidents in aviation?

The speaker believes that discussing accidents is crucial to improving safety in aviation. By examining these events, the community can learn from them and make necessary adjustments to prevent future occurrences.