this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2025
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iiiiiiitttttttttttt
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you know the computer thing is it plugged in?
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I was watching a documentary about a plane that crashed, killing everyone on board, because someone left tape on a pitot tube during maintenance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroper%C3%BA_Flight_603.
Terrifying.
Fortunately, I was not working on safety-critical systems at the time. Now I am, so this is a great case study.
The article glosses over whether or not Boeing was even partially found at fault. In my opinion, this was a major design flaw on their part.
Here is the documentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceXSwstXo6A
Wish it were an article.
Ice crystals in the pitot tube:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_447
Wasps nest in the pitot tube:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birgenair_Flight_301
Pitot tube blocked by tape:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroper%C3%BA_Flight_603