A review of contingencies related to the failure of potentially hazardous equipment of the aviation and space-rocket complexes showed that they lead to explosions, fires, deaths and destruction of infrastructure. The causes of accidents and disasters are errors in the selection of technical solutions and materials during design, imperfection of algorithms and software for flight control systems, malfunctions in on-board computers and security systems, navigation systems, engine failure, defects in components and assemblies. Examples of accidents and disasters related to technical failures leading to a violation of the tightness of the aircraft fuselage and depressurization of spacecraft are given. It is shown that the main types of damage to the units are corrosion damage, fatigue and metal wear. The conclusion is made about the negative impact of the “human factor” regarding the adoption of erroneous decisions, failure to comply with regulatory requirements and actions in extreme situations. There is a risk of fatigue cracks and degradation of the properties of stringer metal, landing gear struts, wing tail trim, fuel tanks, engine pylon flanges, and imperfect methods, equipment, and technology for monitoring fatigue defects of critical components and mechanisms of aircraft, helicopters, and space systems. It is shown that modern achievements are poorly used in research and development of physical methods and diagnostics of elastic constants of metals working under high pressure, their changes in conditions of wide temperature drops, cosmic vacuum, vibration and other influences. It is proposed to combine efforts with scientists and experts in the field of strength, resource assessment and operational safety of aviation and space technology.
