The article describes numerous crashes associated with Kapton, beginning with a story about a passenger plane where hundreds perished. It also mentioned a short circuit on the launch of the Columbia Space Shuttle, and military planes.
When used as an insulator where it can rub or be exposed to moisture: you’re going to have a failure at some point. What’s alarming then, was the conclusion:
> Still, hundreds of planes take off and land every day with Kapton insulated wires routed through every nook and cranny, some almost impossible to reach for inspection. And even when wire bundles are accessible, inspection comes down to a flashlight and a Mark I eyeball, looking for that cracks that might be lurking.
When used as an insulator where it can rub or be exposed to moisture: you’re going to have a failure at some point. What’s alarming then, was the conclusion:
> Still, hundreds of planes take off and land every day with Kapton insulated wires routed through every nook and cranny, some almost impossible to reach for inspection. And even when wire bundles are accessible, inspection comes down to a flashlight and a Mark I eyeball, looking for that cracks that might be lurking.