Archive for Incidents

The FAA wants to limit access to bird strike data

From the April 4, 2009 posting at the respected AirSafe.com News titled Why the FAA Should Not Block Access to Bird Strike Data:

In March 2009, the FAA quietly made a stunning proposal to make it nearly impossible for the public to access a vital aviation safety resource. Since 1990, the FAA's National Wildlife Strike Database has been one of the most important tools for understanding bird and wildlife strike risks to aircraft. With over 100,0000 records, this database has the potential to benefit everyone who flies by giving the aviation safety community and the general public the opportunity to analyze that data in order to discover ways to reduce the threats to aircraft caused by birds and other wildlife. The FAA states several concerns about the database, but none of their arguments support their proposal to block public access to the data.

That post contains much more detail about the FAA's position and the opposing logic.  In the follow-on post of April 6, 2009 titled Send Your Comments to the FAA, AirSafe provides additional information, as well as instructions on how you can contact the FAA and submit your thoughts on this topic.

AirSafe is a great source for airline accident information, and is known to deal with facts, not early speculation.

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April 8, 2009 · Filed under Incidents, Regulation, Safety

Flight 1549 final conversation with ATC

ABC News reports FAA Releases Transcript From Hudson River Landing and provides links to the written transcript and the audio file of the conversation between Air Traffic Control and Flight 1549, just before it landed in the Hudson River.

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February 5, 2009 · Filed under Incidents

FAA issues AD for 777 ice in the fuel

The FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD 2008-19-04) for Boeing 777-200 and -300 models powered by Rolls Royce RB211 engines.  This is a response to the January 17, 2008 crash landing short of the runway at London Heathrow Airport.

The AD mandates Airplane Flight Manual revisions that call for ground and airborne action when fuel temperature goes below 0°C.

The investigation determined that over a long period of low power fuel flows and low fuel temperatures associated with cruise flight, ice can accumulate in the main tank fuel feed system and then release as a result of increased fuel flow when high thrust is commanded. When released, the ice could create a restriction within the engine fuel system. A restriction in the engine fuel system, if not corrected, could result in failure to achieve a commanded thrust, and consequent forced landing of the airplane. 

When certain conditions exist, the AD requires that the engines be cycled at maximum climb thrust.

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September 24, 2008 · Filed under Incidents

Ice is probable cause for 777 crash

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) Interim Report on the 17 January 2008 BA 777-200ER crash at London Heathrow Airport is out. You'll recall this is the incident where both aircraft engines failed to deliver commanded thrust.

Probable cause is found by the AAIB to be water ice in the fuel delivery system. Three recommendations are made (paraphrased):

2008-047: The FAA and the EASA, in conjunction with Boeing and Rolls-Royce, should introduce interim measures to reduce the risk of water ice causing a restriction in fuel feed systems.

2008-048: The FAA and EASA should consider the implication of the AAIB findings on other airframe/engine combinations.

2008-049: The FAA and the EASA should review the current certification requirements to ensure tolerance to a buildup and release of ice in the fuel feed system.

The AAIB Interim Report is available for download as a pdf. It makes interesting reading if you want more information about the findings or details about how 777 fuel systems work.

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September 7, 2008 · Filed under Incidents