ABSTRACT
This chapter determines the extent to which cognitive failure analytical protocols could be generalised beyond fixed-wing aircraft accidents and incidents to identify cognitive failures involved in rotary-wing and glider aircraft occurrences. It also determines the extent of the differences that emerge following the classification of aircraft mishaps using the human error taxonomies developed by Nagel, Rasmussen, and Norman. A comprehensive review of Australian general aviation accidents and incidents between 1990 and 1995 was conducted using air safety occurrence reports maintained by the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI). The practical implementation of an information-processing model to aircraft accident investigation requires several major steps for a successful transition. Firstly, aircraft accident investigators need to be fully trained in using appropriate human failure taxonomies to aircraft mishaps. Secondly, accident database records need to be modified according to the type of aircraft involved in the accident or incident.
