The aircraft lands. It’s late at night, cold and the entire crew has had enough for the day.
The Captain elects to skip his post flight inspection, secure in the knowledge that a maintainer will be preforming a daily inspection in just a few hours time. And besides, no body else does a post flight inspection.
The maintainer arrives on the seen unfit for duty. He has been up all night with sick kids. Does not feel he can take the day off because he had a day off last week.
The Maintainer elects to skip the daily inspection. What could have changed in a day anyway? Secure in the Knowledge that the Pilot will do a preflight shortly anyway.
Along comes tistisnot with clean hands and a clean uniform. He has been busy briefing his crew for the day and looking at the weather, airman’s notes and the latest staff instructions.
Before starting the aircraft tistisnot preforms a ”walk around”. The walk around is carried out in accordance with what ever has become normal for the company he works for. Three wheels, four blades, ne dents, good to go! Secure in the knowledge that at lease two other people have inspected the aircraft before him.
Now there is an inflight emergency that could have been picked up before the commencement of the flight. Tistitnot’s Widow has a couple of people to sue.
Who is at fault?
The previous Pilot for certifying for an inspection he has not carried out?
The maintainer for certifying for an inspection he has not carried out?
The Captain for certifying for an inspection he has not carried out? ( A “walk around” is not a pre flight inspection in accordance with the flight manual).