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Crash of Flight 111
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Classroom Activity
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Objective
To learn about the techniques and reasoning used to determine the cause of the 1998 crash of Swissair Flight 111.
- teams 1-4: copy of the "Piecing It All Together" student handout
(PDF or
HTML)
- teams 5-6: notebook paper
To determine the cause of the Swissair Flight 111 crash, investigators
meticulously studied salvaged plane parts and computer models and tested
different features of the plane. In this activity, students will track the
evidence scientists found and the information and conclusions they gathered
from that evidence.
Organize the class into six teams and provide each team member with copies
of the student handout.
Assign four teams to take notes on the information learned and conclusions
drawn for the following numbered areas on the chart—team 1: numbers 1-4;
team 2: numbers 5-7; team 3: numbers 8-10; team 4: numbers 11-13. Have team 5
take notes on the recommendations made by the Transportation Safety Board of
Canada and team 6 take notes on each of the specialists who took part in the
investigation.
After they watch the program, ask students to compare their charts or notes
with those of other team members and resolve any differences among their
recorded information.
Hold a class discussion about the investigation. First discuss with students
what specialists were involved in the investigation and what each specialist
did. Then review the information discovered and conclusions drawn in the
investigation. Using the chart in the Activity Answer below, help resolve any
differences among student answers. What were the key pieces of evidence? After
four and a half years of searching, what explanation did investigators find for
the crash? What recommendations did investigators make to ensure future
safety?
As an extension, have students research the status of the safety measures
recommended by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada after completion of
the investigation into the crash of Swissair Flight 111.
Steps
Taken
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Information
Learned
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Conclusion
Drawn
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1.
Listened to communications during the emergency.
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Smoke
was in the cockpit.
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Fire
may have been the cause of the crash.
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2.
Analyzed flight data recorder.
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Recorder
did not capture data from final six minutes of flight.
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An
event occurred that shut off the data recorder.
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3.
Heated paint samples identical to those on Swissair Flight 111.
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Metal
changes color based on the heat intensity it has been exposed to.
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The
darker the metal, the closer it was to the fire; high temperatures only found
in plane's forward section.
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4.
Studied remnants of kitchen galley.
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Heat
damage came from top down, not bottom up.
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Ovens
not responsible for fire.
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5.
Noticed melted plastic drip marks on carpet in flight cabin.
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Extreme
heat from above melted the plastic.
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Area
where plastic melted was extremely hot.
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6.
Sorted through 240 kilometers of wire.
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Twenty-three
wires showed indications of electrical arcing.
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Fire
may have been caused by an electrical system failure.
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7.
Retrofitted an MD-11 for smoke and air flow tests.
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How
air circulates in the MD-11.
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Fire
was probably raging unseen in attic.
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8.
Conducted flame tests on metallized Mylar.
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Mylar
readily ignited.
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Mylar
may have provided fuel for the fire.
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9.
Conducted flame tests on ventilation end caps.
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End
caps readily ignited.
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Fire
was exposed to the plane's fresh air supply; a blast of air would have fanned
the flames.
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10.
Studied wiring in computer image of plane.
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Entertainment
system wiring found in probable fire area.
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Entertainment
wiring could have been cause of fire.
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11.
Found entertainment wire with arc and brackets near wire.
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Brackets
showed no evidence of arcing.
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Unclear
whether this wire may have caused fire.
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12.
Surveyed all wires near newly found arc wires.
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Surrounding
bundle of wires indicates fire damage.
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Arced
wire may have caused the fire.
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13.
Retraced flight path of Swissair Flight 111.
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Pilots
had to fly by instruments alone; "black hole effect" makes horizon seem to
disappear.
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Co-pilot
trying to see out of right window may have veered plane into a right roll and
crashed it into the water.
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The key clues in the investigation were the wire with evidence of two arcing
events and the flammable Mylar insulation. The spark likely caused the Mylar
insulation to catch fire. The fire then likely moved above the ceiling toward
the back of the plane. When the air recirculation ducts were turned off, the
fire likely moved into the cockpit ceiling, causing the autopilot to
malfunction. Heat then melted the plastic cockpit liner, and fire came through
the opening. This is probably when the pilot and co-pilot simultaneously issued
emergency alerts.
Investigators recommended an integrated fire-fighting philosophy that included
adding smoke detectors and video cameras to seek out hidden fires before they
spread, increased visibility of standby instruments, a streamlined pilot's
smoke checklist, increased cockpit voice recorder recording time and backup
power supplies, seeking out cracks in wire, and creating a standard to prevent
future cracks from occurring. Investigators also recommended removal of all
flammable materials, including the Mylar insulation.
Web Sites
NOVA Web Site—Crash of Flight 111
www.pbs.org/nova/aircrash/
In this companion Web site to the NOVA program, learn about the possibility of
wireless black boxes, find out what happens inside an investigation, discover
post-crash safety measures, and explore the anatomy of a jetliner.
Aviation Safety Network Accident Description
www.aviation-safety.net/specials/sr111/main.htm
Features a preliminary accident description of Swissair Flight 111 and lists
significant smoke- and fire-related incidents and Swissair accidents since
1945.
The Crash of Swissair 111
www.swissair111.org/
Includes news articles and discussion groups about the crash and
investigation.
The Herald: Swissair Flight 111
www.herald.ns.ca/swissair/Swissair.html
Provides photos and news stories from the local paper that covered the
investigation.
Indepth: Swissair Flight 111
www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/show_swissair.html
Contains the transcript from the flight data recorder, a timeline of the
investigation, and recommendations issued by the Transportation Safety Board of
Canada.
Swissair Flight 111 Investigation Report
www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/air/1998/a98h0003/01report/index.asp
Details the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's complete report of the
investigation into the crash of Swissair Flight 111.
Books
Faith, Nicholas. Black Box: The Air-Crash Detectives—Why Air Safety Is No Accident.
Osceola, Wisconsin: Motorbooks International, 1997.
Provides an in-depth look at air-crash detectives and their investigations of
fatal plane crashes.
Gaffney, Timothy R. Air Safety: Preventing Future Disasters.
Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow 1999.
Examines the causes of plane crashes, including human error, weather,
mechanical failure, and terrorism, and explores current views on preventing
future accidents.
The "Piecing It All Together" activity aligns with the following National
Science Education Standards.
Grades 5-8
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Science Standard E:
Science and Technology
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Understandings about science and technology:
Perfectly designed solutions do not exist. Risk is part of living in a highly
technological world. Reducing risk often results in new technology. Technological solutions have intended benefits and unintended
consequences. Some consequences can be predicted, others cannot.
Grades 9-12
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Science Standard E:
Science and Technology
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Understandings about science and technology:
Classroom Activity Author
Developed by WGBH Educational Outreach staff.
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