Intelligent use isn't always well understood. A limitation of the simulators for this use is the extent to which they are accurately modelled.
An example of misuse happened on a helicopter simulator. A tail rotor fell off one of the aircraft and resulted in a fatal crash. To better prepare pilots for that scenario, the accident investigation and subsequent training was based on how the simulator performed, even though there was no confirmation that the simulator was an accurate representation of that failure.
However, studying human factors and procedures that contribute to an accident is a really good use of simulators.
Last edited by Matthew Parsons; 18th August 2006 at 04:13.