Air Disasters Season 18 Episode 14 A Wounded Bird

In season 18, episode 14 of the popular show AIR DISASTERS, titled A Wounded Bird, viewers are taken on a harrowing journey through the tale of a TransAsia Airways Flight 235. On February 4th, 2015, the flight was headed from Taipei to Kinmen on a standard domestic route when the pilots received a warning message from the left engine. Suddenly, the engine faltered and immediately shut off, leaving the plane with only one functioning engine. This caused the airplane to roll forcefully to the left, before finally plummeting into the shallow waters of the nearby Keelung River.

As the details of the accident began to emerge, investigators worked to identify the cause behind this deadly crash. Soon, they would discover that the plane had been flying for less than a minute when the engines began to fail. A passing motorist captured the final moments of the ill-fated flight on video, which would later become a crucial piece of evidence for investigators.

In this episode of AIR DISASTERS, experts analyze the video footage alongside black box data, to determine the series of events that led to the catastrophic accident. The cockpit voice recorder provided valuable insights as the panicked pilots struggled to restart the engines and make a safe landing. Although the pilots initially believed that both engines had failed, the data showed that only one had shut off, and that the other was still functioning.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the engine had indeed been damaged, caused by an incident several months earlier in which the aircraft collided with another airplane during a ground maneuver. However, the engine had been approved as safe for flight by TransAsia Airways' manual certification process despite severe damage, resulting in critical stress fractures that led to the engine failure during the flight.

As the investigation continues, viewers are taken through the painstaking process of unraveling the complicated circumstances surrounding the accident. The role of pilot error, certification processes, and other critical factors is carefully examined, highlighting the importance of identifying potential genetic and ethnicity concerns when training pilots. The episode portrays the thoroughness and dedication of air crash investigators as they work tirelessly to piece together the factors contributing to such incidents.

Ultimately, AIR DISASTERS: A Wounded Bird is a powerful example of both the beauty and fragility of flight, and the risks faced by those who take to the skies every day. The episode is a testament to the dedicated efforts of investigators, engineers, and aviation experts as they work to make flying safer for everyone. It's sure to captivate viewers with its gripping story and thorough examination of the accident, leaving audiences with a newfound appreciation for the complex and vital work of air crash investigators.