AIRLINER DESIGN FLAWS: From the de Havilland Comet 1 to the Boeing 737 MAX Paperback – April 8, 2025

Accidents due to design flaws in airliners are very rare but they are particularly distressing because they should never have been allowed to occur in the first place. However, humans are fallible and all man-made structures, from dams and bridges to nuclear reactors and spacecraft, are susceptible to design errors, often with tragic results.The book is a unique compilation of material that examines and explains errors incurred in the design of airliners that led directly to fatal accidents or to the suspension of the certificate of airworthiness. It covers twelve errors in the design of airliners in the period 1952-2022, including the “jet-age” in which air travel greatly expanded.Most accidents are due to multiple causes and in some cases there are different theories as to the real cause. Here, the results of official investigations are presented, together with other evidence where necessary to provide a wider picture.As a background to each design flaw, the origins, development and commercial operation of the airliner is presented. Then follows a description of the accidents attributed to the design flaw, the investigations and the actions taken by the regulating authorities. Finally, the corrective measures carried out by the manufacturers and the consequences for civil aviation, are described.Some design flaws are difficult to predict and identify: this is especially true of metal fatigue because the rate at which a part may suffer from this defect is subject to many variables. On the other hand, some of the accidents due to design flaws related in this book clearly could and should have been prevented, had the interested parties been more proactive in eliminating the potential danger.The book is intended for anyone interested in aviation. It is extensively illustrated and the technical aspects are carefully explained for the benefit of the non-specialist. Read more