Methodology for Evaluating Risk of Visual Inspection Tasks of Aircraft Engine Blades

Risk assessment methods are widely used in aviation, but have not been demonstrated for visual inspection of aircraft engine components. The complexity this field arises from the variety defect types and different manifestation thereof with each level disassembly. A new risk framework was designed to include contextual factors. Those factors were identified using Bowtie analysis be criticality, severity, detectability. This yields a metric that describes extent which might stay undetected during task, result adverse safety outcomes. simplification provides method go/no-go decision-making. results study reveal detectability is highly dependent on specific views blade, can quantified. Defects involve material separation or removal such as scratches, tip rub, nicks, tears, cracks, breaking, best shown airfoil views. deformation change shape, curl, dents leading edges, bents, battered blades, lower if edge provided. research proposes many assessments may reduced three factors: consequence, likelihood, cofactor. latter represents industrial context, comprise multiple sub-factors application-specific. has devised, including appropriate scales, inclusion these into assessment.