What is an Error Chain in the context of aviation?

An Error Chain refers to a series of errors or failures that can accumulate and ultimately contribute to a human factors-related accident in aviation. This concept highlights how multiple small mistakes or lapses in judgment can interact and lead to a significant incident, rather than a single large error causing a crash. Understanding the Error Chain is crucial in aviation safety because it emphasizes the need for effective training, communication, and safety protocols to break the chain before it leads to an accident. Addressing individual errors and their potential connections helps to improve overall safety and reduce risks associated with aviation operations.

The other options present unrelated concepts. A sequence of successful decisions made by a pilot is not what defines an Error Chain, as this concept focuses on failures rather than successes. A communication breakdown between crew members, while it may contribute to errors, is too narrow in scope to represent the full concept of an Error Chain. Lastly, a method for analyzing flight data does not pertain to how errors accumulate leading to accidents but is more about studying performance rather than understanding the interaction of mistakes leading to incidents.