The troubled history of the DC-10 aircraft, especially in relation to questions raised as a result of its involvement in three major accidents between 1974 and 1989, provides a multidimensional case study in the ethics of engineering design and the uses of technology.

The DC-10 is a wide-bodied aircraft with two wing engines and a third engine distinctively placed in the tail fin. It was introduced into commercial service in 1972, during a time of unusually intense competition in the U.S. aviation industry. The market would support only two viable manufacturers, and because the Boeing 747 was well established, either Lockheed Corporation or McDonnell Douglas Corporation would have to withdraw and suffer a substantial financial loss. McDonnell Douglas won the competition, but evidence of its haste to beat Lockheed is reflected in these case studies.

Design Vulnerability

Because airliners fly at high altitudes, the passenger cabin must be pressurized...