We don’t always hear the numbers when cases are settled, so the news release that a $15 million settlement was okayed in Cook County, Illinois seemed to be a noteworthy news byte.
The ruling was in favor of the Chicago restaurant executive Michael Waugh who was killed in a 2006 crash.
Waugh, general manager of Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab Restaurant, was en route from Olathe, Kansas, when the Cessna 421B he was in crashed.
A major point in the case was that the plane was piloted by a Morgan Stanley senior financial advisor, who was not a professional pilot.
2009/04/05
Vibrating Boeing in Russia
What: A Skyexpress Boeing 737-500 en route from Moscow Vnukovo to Sochi (Russia)
Where: Moscow's Vnukovo Airport
When: Apr 4th 2009
Who: 69 passengers and 6 crew
Why: When instrumentation revealed unacceptable (dangerous) vibration of the left hand engine, the pilot shut down the left engine down, and burn off fuel before landing back at the airport of origin an hour after takeoff. There were no injuries.
Where: Moscow's Vnukovo Airport
When: Apr 4th 2009
Who: 69 passengers and 6 crew
Why: When instrumentation revealed unacceptable (dangerous) vibration of the left hand engine, the pilot shut down the left engine down, and burn off fuel before landing back at the airport of origin an hour after takeoff. There were no injuries.
George’s Point of View
Maintenance.
Maintenance.
Maintenance.
---- nuff said.
Flat Tire Tornado Diverts Airbus to Spain
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Paul Markman
What: British Airways Airbus A319-100 en route from London Gatwick to Gibraltar.
Where: Malaga Spain
When: Apr 3rd 2009
Who:
Why: Airbus passengers got a little extra traveling in when the runway at their Gibraltar destination airport was blocked by a Tornado fighter with burst tires after its brakes overheated on landing.
The British Airways jet flew on to Malaga Spain where the runway was thankfully NOT blocked; and the plane was able to land safely, and allow passengers to take a bus ride back to Gibraltar, their actual destination.
And for those individuals left planeless at the Gibraltar gate, eventually the Tornado was moved off the runway; and the Airbus was able to land and pick up those passengers.
Continental Safely Lands Hot Plane
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mark Kryst
What: Continental Airlines Colgan Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Newark to Montreal .
Where: Burlington,VT
When: Apr 3rd 2009
Who: 33 passengers and 4 crew
Why: The pilot and crew reported high temperatures, requesting diversion to Albany, NY. They shut down the left engine but decided against Albany because of weather (severe precipitation), and landed instead at Burlington,VT.
George’s Point of View
Emergency landings are always a cause for concern. The pilot who responds with a cool head and skill in an emergency situation is to be commended.
What about the maintenance of the plane? Who chose to fly instead of maintain, or to maintain in half-measures? Someone needs to look into this--
Ill Infant Lands for Emergency Surgery in Russia
What: Russian plane en route to Moscow
Where: Volgograd, southern Russia
When: was forced to make an emergency landing
Why: A six-month old girl with Hydrocephalus was being flown from Nalchik to Moscow for surgery, but during the flight the baby lost consciousness. The plane made an emergency landing so the baby could receive immediate treatment.
Where: Volgograd, southern Russia
When: was forced to make an emergency landing
Why: A six-month old girl with Hydrocephalus was being flown from Nalchik to Moscow for surgery, but during the flight the baby lost consciousness. The plane made an emergency landing so the baby could receive immediate treatment.
George's Point of View
Prayers for the baby that her surgery was a success.
Eagle Lands for Rubber Strip
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Charin deSilva
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-135, registration N847AE en route from New York JFK,NY to Toronto,ON
Where: John F. Kennedy
When: Apr 1st 2009
Who: 26 on board
Why: Rubber window strip on the right side detached and the plane returned to JFK. Passengers debarked and boarded another plane to finish their flight.
Helicopter Update: 16 Passengers All Lost
The Bond website is temporarily suspended.
Helpline phone number for relatives is 01224 836479
Pilot Paul Burnham, 31, from Methlick, Aberdeenshire
Co-pilot Richard Menzies, 24, of Droitwich Spa, Worcs.
Oil workers from Aberdeen; Raymond
Brian Barkley, 30
James Costello, 24,
Vernon John Elrick, 41
Alex Dallas, 62,
Oil workers
Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld
James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool,
Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee,
Nolan Carl Goble, 34, of Norwich,
Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus,
Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire,
David Rae, 63, of Dumfries,
Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore,
Aberdeenshire
Stuart Wood, 27, of Newmacher, Aberdeen.
The name of one Latvian victim has not been released.
March 31-April 1 was a Busy Day
George's Point of View
Let me know if you want the details here, I barely know what to choose. No deaths were reported with any of these incidents. (Altogether, it does look like our aviation has been taken over by the keystone cops)
I think my favorite is the plane that stuck a deer, in Kill Devil Hills. Though I do have some regrets for the deer. Do you think he had his pilot's license or was officially a "Devil"? For the deer's sake, I am hoping this was an April Fools Day joke.
Seriously folks. Maintain the planes.
- AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED AND CRASHED, NEAR GRIFFIN, GA;
- AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, GEAR COLLAPSED, AND PROP STRUCK THE RUNWAY, LANCASTER, TX
- AIRCRAFT DURING HIGH SPEED TAXI RUN, BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE, AURORA AIRPORT, SUGAR GROVE, IL
- AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A WOODED AREA, LINCOLN PARK, NJ
- AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF, STRUCK A BIRD, RETURNED AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- AIRCRAFT ON LANDING ON A ROAD, GROUND LOOPED AND WING STRUCK A TREE, 40 MILES FROM BEAVER, UT
- N901DA, DELTA AIRLINES FLIGHT 1220 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD 90 AIRCRAFT, ON PUSHBACK FROM GATE, DOOR STRUCK THE JETWAY, NO INJURIES REPORTED, DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
April 1
- AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP AT A GRASS AIRSTRIP, BATAVIA, NY
- AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, STRUCK A DEER, KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC
- AIRCRAFT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, CRASHED INTO A FIELD, TAYLOR, TX
- AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD, NEAR FRANKLINVILLE, NJ
Boeing Emergency Landing in Bangor.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Dan Vincent - New England Airports
What: United Airlines Boeing 767 Flight 923 London to Washington, D.C.
Where: Bangor International Airport
When: 4/01/09, 10:00 am
Who: 178 passengers and 11 crew members
Why: Pilots said there was smoke in the cockpit and that one of the plane's two engines failed. They landed safely at Bangor International Airport, Maine.
Air Canada Airbus A333 Diverted for Illness and Bad Manners
George's Point of View
Sometimes you really have to wonder what air travel is coming to--especially when you hear about the Air Canada Airbus (you know I keep an eye on those Airbuses)--that stopped for a medical emergency. That's not the big thing--the big thing is after the medical emergency, we had yet ANOTHER person whose basic bad manners caused enough disruption for the authorities to be called. Apparently a Toronto TV and radio host decided to pitch a fit on the plane. Drunk, cussing and escorted off by police to sleep it off in the drunk tank. I prefer my flights without that kind of live entertainment, thank you very much. Maybe the airlines should start giving a little deportment test before every flight, and those who flunk have to go to a session of charm school NOT run by Larry King.
I started to put up a new category, "cracked passenger" right above "cracked windshield" but decided to settle for "disruptive passenger."
And below, for those who are here for the aircraft, please note the plane, when it is in operation and NOT boarded by publicity hounds.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer David Gopaul
What: Air Canada Airbus A330-300, registration C-GFUR en route from London to Toronto
Where: St. John's, Canada
When: Mar 31st 2009
Who: Shall remain nameless simply on general purposes
Why: see above.
src avherald.com
* This incident is NOT to be confused with Robert McDonald, of Glasgow, who opened an emergency exit hatch as his flight waited out two and a half hours of bad weather delay at JFK.
* OR Southwest Flight 1402 where a large woman started pummeling someone for touching her
* OR American Airlines Flight 1343 from Charlotte to Dallas/Fort Worth where a man ran and jumped into a plane to slide down the the inflatable exit slides
North Sea Helicopter Crash: 18 on board
Actual helicopter G-REDL NOT pictured
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: Bond Helicopters Eurocopter AF332 L2 Super Puma crashed
Where: In the sea off north-east Scotland
When: 2pm Wednesday April 1
Who: 16 people
Why: Returning from an oil platform, the helicopter crashed in the North Sea
Normand Aurora supply vessel was in the area and is looking for survivors and RNLI lifeboats from Peterhead and Fraserburgh are racing to the scene.
Relatives of victims have been asked to call 01224 836479.
You may remember Bond Helicopters Feb 18 crash in which 18 people on board survived. That was when individuals were allowed to wear transmitters. (Currently there are safety concerns over the use of personal distress beacons--they are NOT allowed because they interfere with the on board transmitter.)
George's Point of View
When I was 16, I took my hard earned bucks and purchased a used car, my first car. And my Dad said, "Son, you have to change the oil regularly. Check the water in the radiator, air in your tires and take it to a mechanic regularly for a checkup."
Aviation vessels need simple attention and lots of love and care by mechanics.
You have to wonder about maintenance. Some planes, helicopters, are busy all day long, taking off and landing. When are they on the ground enough to get checked?
At this time, eight dead have been found. Would they all have been found alive if they had been allowed PCBs (Personal Locator Beacons) like in Bond's February crash where they had PCBs and were rescued?
Smoke on Boeing...
Pictured: UA Boeing 767-322
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: United Airlines Boeing 767 en route from London to Washington D.C.
Where: Bangor International Airport
When: Wednesday April 1
Who: 178 passengers
Why: When the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit, the plane was granted permission to land at Bangor International, which it did, safely.
George's Point of View
I worry about all emergency landings, I’ve experienced just one.
When I see a United doing an emergency landing for any reason, my skin creeps because I fly United all the time. No pun intended.
Emergency On Board
When you read about an on board medical emergency such as the Continental Airlines medical emergency, it does make one think about the potential for on board emergency rooms. Not only is the technology (two-way air-to-ground RDT equipment) available, it is becoming cost effective, especially considering the expense of a 525-passenger Airbus A380 making an emergency landing can cost up to $200,000. Imagine if an online emergency room could care for a critically ill individual until the flight actually reached it's destination. Or even if the equipment were only used DURING an emergency landing--it would result in a greater survival rate when a medical emergency occurs. It bears thinking about.
Accidental death verdicts
The death of 4 individuals--pilot, Martin Rhodes, 48, of Stoke-on-Trent, Simon Marshall, 51, of Lichfield, Ryan Birch, 15, and his father, Tony Birch, 52, of Wolverhampton, have been recorded as accidental deaths. They were flying to France in a Piper Cherokee light aircraft when it crashed close to the Isle of Wight Airport, in Sandown, on August 5, 2007.
source http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail-news/displayarticle.asp?id=404453 author JONATHAN HORSFALL
source http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail-news/displayarticle.asp?id=404453 author JONATHAN HORSFALL
Airbus Emergency Landing in Toulouse
What: Air France Airbus A319-100 en route from Paris Orly to Toulouse
Where: Toulouse
When: Mar 30th 2009
Who: 115 passengers and 6 crew
Why: In flight, the left engine surged. The crew did not shut it down, but did reduce power; and the plane landed without injury with emergency crews on standby.
Where: Toulouse
When: Mar 30th 2009
Who: 115 passengers and 6 crew
Why: In flight, the left engine surged. The crew did not shut it down, but did reduce power; and the plane landed without injury with emergency crews on standby.
Air Canada Emergency Landing
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Patrick Hilverda
What: Air Canada Embraer ERJ-190, registration C-FNAW en route from Montreal Calgary
Where: Montreal
When: Mar 29th 2009
Who: 98 passengers people aboard
Why: The pilot reported slat problems and returned to the airport for a safe landing
Cessna Emergency Landing in Palm Springs
What: Cessna Citation business jet en route from Palm Springs International Airport to Winnipeg, Manitoba
Where: Palm Springs International Airport
When: 10:55 a.m Tuesday
Who: six people aboard
Why: When smoke was detected in the cabin, the pilot then burned off fuel before landing back in Palm Springs. The cause of the smoke is under investigation. No injuries.
Where: Palm Springs International Airport
When: 10:55 a.m Tuesday
Who: six people aboard
Why: When smoke was detected in the cabin, the pilot then burned off fuel before landing back in Palm Springs. The cause of the smoke is under investigation. No injuries.
Emergency Landing in Omaha
What: American Airlines en-route from Las Vegas to Chicago
Where: Eppley Airfield
When: ten o'clock on Monday night
Who: 140 passengers and five crew members
Why: Near Omaha, the plane lost cabin pressure. The pilot coped by dropping oxygen masks and dropping altitude from 25,000 feet to 14,000 feet. At Eppley, the passengers debarked, and took another flight to Chicago provided to them by American Airlines.
Where: Eppley Airfield
When: ten o'clock on Monday night
Who: 140 passengers and five crew members
Why: Near Omaha, the plane lost cabin pressure. The pilot coped by dropping oxygen masks and dropping altitude from 25,000 feet to 14,000 feet. At Eppley, the passengers debarked, and took another flight to Chicago provided to them by American Airlines.
Smoke on American Airlines MD-80
Pictured: McDonnell-Douglas-MD-82 similar to the one involved in the incident
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Durning
What: American Airlines MD-80 en route from Lindbergh Field San Diego,CA to Dallas Ft. Worth,
Where: San Diego's airport Lindbergh Field
When: 6:19 p.m. Sunday
Who: 146 passengers
Why: When smoke was discerned on board, the crew turned back to land at Lindbergh field
A Bad Day to Be A Vine
What: en route from Madera Municipal Airport
Where: crash landed just south of Avenue 17 just north of the airport at the north end of Madera
When: 1:30 p.m.
Who:
Why: When the engine lost power, the pilot, attemptedan "off-runway" emergency landing. The plane ripped through a barbed wire fence, skidded across the road and ended up in a vineyard after taking out a few rows of vines. The pilot was taken to Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno; the passenger was airlifted to the same hospital.
also:
What: 1006N EXP AEROCONVER Fixed Wing Single-Engine
Where: PASO ROBLES CA
When: 03/25/2009 at 18:40
Who: Pilot
Why: AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A VINEYARD, 3 MILES FROM PASO ROBLES AIRPORT, PASO ROBLES, CA
Are these separate incidents? Not enough information to tell.
Where: crash landed just south of Avenue 17 just north of the airport at the north end of Madera
When: 1:30 p.m.
Who:
Why: When the engine lost power, the pilot, attemptedan "off-runway" emergency landing. The plane ripped through a barbed wire fence, skidded across the road and ended up in a vineyard after taking out a few rows of vines. The pilot was taken to Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno; the passenger was airlifted to the same hospital.
also:
What: 1006N EXP AEROCONVER Fixed Wing Single-Engine
Where: PASO ROBLES CA
When: 03/25/2009 at 18:40
Who: Pilot
Why: AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A VINEYARD, 3 MILES FROM PASO ROBLES AIRPORT, PASO ROBLES, CA
Are these separate incidents? Not enough information to tell.
Watch out for Falling Bottles
What: easyJet London to Edinburgh
Where: priority landing in Edinburgh
When: Thursday
Who: unwary passenger
Why: unnamed passenger was rushed to hospital but was found to have no serious injuries
Where: priority landing in Edinburgh
When: Thursday
Who: unwary passenger
Why: unnamed passenger was rushed to hospital but was found to have no serious injuries
George's Point of View
So here you are on the plane, minding your own business, and some guy opens an overhead locker and a champagne bottle rolls out and pops you on the head and knocks you out cold. That would hurt. The guy should have yelled "Fore!" or something.
Can you say "Lawsuit"?
Another Airbus Emergency
pictured: Airbus similar to the one in the incident
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Simpsonmeng
What: China Southern Airlines Airbus A320-200
Where: en route from Dayong to Shenzhen
When: Mar 27th 2009
Who: 100 passengers
Why: The right engine failed. After circling the airport for forty minutes, the plain landed without further incident in Dayong.
Feds Debark Unruly Passenger
What: Southwest Airlines Flight 1402 en route from Phoenix to Detroit
Where: Denver International Airport
When: after 2 p.m Saturday
Who: undisclosed woman
Why: While on board, the woman "became unruly and combative" leading up to a physical confrontation. She was escorted from the plane into federal custody as it is a felony to disrupt a commercial flight
Where: Denver International Airport
When: after 2 p.m Saturday
Who: undisclosed woman
Why: While on board, the woman "became unruly and combative" leading up to a physical confrontation. She was escorted from the plane into federal custody as it is a felony to disrupt a commercial flight
George’s Point of View
We already put US Marshalls on plane to keep the bad guys in their seats and so they don’t try anything. With all the recent misbehavior on planes, maybe we're looking at the wrong profession. Do we need on board referees? A corner for time out? Nuns with rulers?
Turkish Helicopter Crash
What: Rented Helicopter leaving an election rally in southern Kahramanmaras province
Where: On a snow covered Turkishmountain top between the towns of Sisne and Elmali in the southeastern province of Kahramanmaras.
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Who: 6 victims including Muhsin Yazicioglu leader of nationalist Great Unity Party in Ankara, Turkey. injured passenger Ismail Gunes survived the crash, and called for help on his cell phone and a cameraman was injured; but by the time rescuers made it through the snow and fog, there were no survivors.
Why: Under Investigation but it is speculated that the cause of the crash was heavy fog. Recovery of the bodies was hampered by snow. Helicopter pieces were spread over an area of about 50-60 meters. One or more of the crash victims survived the crash but not the cold, nor the delay of the rescue teams, which were stalled by the weather.
Stillwater Crash Pilot Identified
Pictured: Cessna 337C Super Skymaster flying in Malta. The plane in the crash was in Oklahoma, and painted blue, according to photos at the scene of the crash.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Malcolm J.Bezzina
What: CESSNA 337C registered to George Waller en route from a private airstrip to Stillwater for fuel.
Where: STILLWATER, OK
When: 03/27/2009
Who: George Waller, fatality at the scene
Why: The plane made a series of turns and was westbound when it crashed in a grove of trees on a private residence near 92nd Avenue and Washington Road eight miles from Stillwater. Witnesses said the "plane didn't sound right."
Update: Japan Air Commuter Lands on One Engine
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer James Scott
What: Japan Air Commuter de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Tanegashima to Kagoshima
Where: Kagoshima
When: Mar 25th 2009 10:26 a.m
Who: 42 passengers
Why: When the left hand engine's oil pressure dropped, the pilot shut down the engine and continued on to Kagoshima. Maintenance crews discovered significant damage in the engine. There were no injuries reported.
This was also reported as a Bombardier Inc. DHC-8-Q400. The Bombardier Dash 8 was formerly known as the de Havilland Canada Dash 8; Bombardier acquired de Havilland Canada (DHC) .
Due to the engine damage found by maintenance crews, two investigators rated this as a serious incident. The gearbox of the engine had failed and several turbine blades were found to be damaged
Arrow Cargo Crumbles in Flight over Brazil
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Carlos A. Morillo Doria
What: Arrow Cargo McDonnell Douglas DC-10 freighter, en route from Manaus, AM Brazil to Bogota Colombia
Where: Manaus (rua Humaita, Terra Nova)
When: Mar 26th 2009
Who: 4 crew flew the plane that damaged 12 houses
Why: The crew heard an explosion but kept going, unaware the engine had disgorged parts of the engine nacelle, its combustion chamber, turbine and outlet. The company has already said they'll reimburse locals for the damage.
No doubt.
They continued on to Bogata...or they would have if weather hadn't diverted them to Medellin.
View Larger Map
Emergency: AeroLineas Argentinas Smoke in Cabin
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Baires Aviation Photography
What: Aerolineas Argentinas McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Buenos Aires to Trelew, Argentina
Where: Trelew
When: Mar 25th 2009
Who: 41 passengers
Why: On approach to Trelew, an electrical problem caused the cabin to fill with smoke. After the safe landing, passengers debarked via slides. One flight attendant was treated for smoke inhalation.
Arrow Cargo Crumbles in Flight over Brazil
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Carlos A. Morillo Doria
What: Arrow Cargo McDonnell Douglas DC-10 freighter, en route from Manaus, AM Brazil to Bogota Colombia
Where: Manaus (rua Humaita, Terra Nova)
When: Mar 26th 2009
Who: 4 crew flew the plane that damaged 12 houses
Why: The crew heard an explosion but kept going, unaware the engine had disgorged parts of the engine nacelle, its combustion chamber, turbine and outlet. The company has already said they'll reimburse locals for the damage.
No doubt.
They continued on to Bogata...or they would have if weather hadn't diverted them to Medellin.
View Larger Map
Emergency: AeroLineas Argentinas Smoke in Cabin
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Baires Aviation Photography
What: Aerolineas Argentinas McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Buenos Aires to Trelew, Argentina
Where: Trelew
When: Mar 25th 2009
Who: 41 passengers
Why: On approach to Trelew, an electrical problem caused the cabin to fill with smoke. After the safe landing, passengers debarked via slides. One flight attendant was treated for smoke inhalation.
Air Canada Emergency Landing
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Fast
What: Air Canada Embraer ERJ-175 en route from Toronto,ON (Canada) to Chicago O'Hare
Where: near Toronto
When: Mar 23rd 2009
Why: After take-off, the crew reported there was smoke in galley and returned to Toronto for a safe landing
Airbus Emergency Landing in Montreal
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mick Bajcar
What: Air Transat Airbus A310-300, registration C-GTSD en route from Panama City Panama to Montreal,QC Canada
Where: Montreal, QC Runway 06L
When: Mar 23rd 2009
Why: The crew reported an unsafe gear indication on approach, and initiated a go-around. They managed to lower and lock the gear but then nose gear steering was unavailable. They landed safely and had to be towed away, blocking the runway for fifteen minutes.
Unsafe Gear on MD-88 Lands Safely in Guadalajara
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Juan Carlos Guerra - APM
What: Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Guadalajara Mexico to Atlanta, GA
Where: Guadalajara
When: Mar 24th 2009
Who: 120 passengers and 5 crew,
Why: When the crew discovered an "unsafe gear indication" they burned off fuel, (Airport spokesman Miguel Aliaga said the pilot dumped fuel) and requested emergency services to stand by as they undertook an emergency landing on runway 28.
Japan Air Commuter Lands on One Engine
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer James Scott
What: Japan Air Commuter de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Tanegashima to Kagoshima
Where: Kagoshima
When: Mar 25th 2009 10:26 a.m
Who: 42 passengers
Why: When the left hand engine's oil pressure dropped, the pilot shut down the engine and continued on to Kagoshima. Maintenance crews discovered significant damage in the engine. There were no injuries reported.
This was also reported as a Bombardier Inc. DHC-8-Q400. The Bombardier Dash 8 was formerly known as the de Havilland Canada Dash 8; Bombardier acquired de Havilland Canada (DHC) .
Airbus Birdstrike In Bologna
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ruby Allesina
What: Eurofly Airbus A320-200, registration I-EEZI en route from Sharm El Sheikh Egypt to Bologna Italy
Where: Bologna Italy
When: Mar 21st 2009
Why: Bird strike on approach to Bologna. The plane suffered minor damage. No injuries were reported
Press Release: S-92TM Helicopter Operators Complying Worldwide With Sikorsky Bulletin on Gearbox Oil Bowl Studs
March 23, 2009
STRATFORD, Connecticut - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced today that the majority of the worldwide S-92TM helicopter fleet already has complied with the company notice to retrofit the aircraft's gearbox oil bowl with steel mounting studs. The company expects to have close to 100 percent compliance by the end of this week. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).
The company contacted all S-92 helicopter operators on March 20 after broken titanium studs were found during a helicopter crash investigation in Canada. The investigation is continuing, and no determination has been made that the broken studs contributed to the accident or if they resulted from it. Sikorsky immediately notified the operators as a safety precaution, and the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue an Airworthiness Directive instructing the retrofit.
As of this moment, more than 50 of the 91 S-92 helicopter retrofits were completed. Sikorsky has made available all the parts and tools necessary for all operators to swap out the studs.
"While the investigation remains ongoing, our priority has been to maintain safety and eliminate any potential risks," said Marc Poland, Vice President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters. "The operators are reacting quickly, and we are doing all we can to encourage full and rapid compliance."
Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is leading the investigation into the March 12 helicopter accident that occurred off the coast of Newfoundland and resulted in 17 deaths. Sikorsky is assisting with the investigation.
"Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to the families of all involved in this terrible tragedy," Poland said. "The investigation continues, and we are providing support and technical resources to assist the TSB while we continue to support the fleet."
The S-92 helicopter was designed with numerous structural and avionics safety features. The worldwide fleet has accumulated more than 140,000 flight hours since 2004. Approximately 66 percent of current S-92 operators are offshore oil customers. The remainder are performing search and rescue (SAR), Head of State, VIP, and airline missions.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
Contacts
Marianne Heffernan
Phone: +1 203-386-4373
Paul Jackson
Phone: +1 203-386-7143
2009/03/24
Boeing Engine Failure; Emergency Landing in Jakarta
A Sriwijaya Air Boeing on the runway in Indonesia
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Peter de Jong
What: Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-200 en route from Tanjungpinang airport on Bintan island to the capital, Jakarta.
Where: unscheduled landing at the nearest airstrip
When: Mar 23rd 2009
Who: 116 passengers and 6 crew
Why: Eight minutes after takeoff, the left hand engine failed with a loud bang. The whole flight took about 27 minutes.
Airbus Leak Instigates Emergency Landing in South Africa
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Steve Brimley
What: South African Airways Airbus A319-100 from Johannesburg en route to Port Elizabeth
Where: OR Tambo International airport.
When: Monday March 23
Why: The plane returned to the airport of origin to make an emergency landing due to an oil leak which was said to be non-threatening. Prior to this event, a gauge indicated a pressure problem. The crew shut down one engine when it lost oil pressure.
Passengers took another plane an hour and a half later.
Fed Ex Crash in High Wind in Tokyo
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Carter
What: FedEx McDonnell Douglas MD-11F en route from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China to Tokyo-Narita Airport, Japan
Where: Crash occurred on the runway Tokyo-Narita Airport, Japan
When: 23 MAR 2009 06:48
Who: 2 crew members aboard, both fatalities
Why: The plane landed in high winds, bounced on to the nosewheel, banked left and when the left wing, hit the runway, a fire ensued.
News Footage includes audio of Bob Francis, former NTSB VC
Ski Trip Ends in Tragedy
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jerry Search
What: single engine turboprop( Pilatus PC-12) owned by Eagle Cap Leasing en route from Oroville, Calif. (Brown Field Municipal airport in San Diego to Vacaville, Calif. to Oroville ) to Bozeman
Where: On approach to the Butte airport
When: Sunday March 22
Who: 17 Passengers included up to a dozen kids
Why: Prior to the crash, the pilot diverted from Butte to Bozeman but 500 feet from the airport, a witness said the plane made a number of sharp turns and nosedived into the ground. Seventeen bodies have been recovered, (12 is the upper limit) several more than should be boarded on the type of plane. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Japanese Video
Emirates Airbus Tailstrike in Melbourne
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Kris Mogford
What: An Emirates Airlines Airbus A340-500, registration A6-ERG en route from Melbourne,VI Australia to Dubai United Arab Emirates
Where: Melbourne Australia
When: Mar 20th 2009 at 11:30
Who: 225 on board
Why: The plane suffered a tail strike on takeoff from Melbourne's runway 16, climbed and dumped fuel, and when smoke filled the cabin, landed on Melbourne's runway 34. Damage included some runway lights, damage to the tail skin and access panels.
2009/03/21
Ecuador Crash Kills 7, Maybe More
What: twin-engine Beechcraft 200 propeller plane en route from Manta to Quito's airport
Where: 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from the airport near Hotel Quito
When: 5:20 pm (2220 GMT)
Who: seven people were killed: 5 aboard; 2 on the ground
Why: small military plane on a training flight clipped some tree tops and crashed into an apartment building. The reports list two buildings.
Initial reports said the deaths included the wife and son of the pilot, Major Julio Zaldumbide but we have not verified that information.
Airbus Generator Fails
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Frank Robitaille
What: Air Canada Airbus A319-100, registration C-FYNS en route from Liberia Costa Rica to Toronto,ON
Where: Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica's capital city San Jose
When: Mar 19th 2009
Why: During takeoff from Liberia, the plane experienced generator failure in its left hand engine. The plane landed safely.
Tonga: Don't Fly Here
AP Video - Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 10:28 EDT
Scientists sailed on Thursday to inspect an undersea volcano that has been erupting for days near Tonga, shooting smoke, steam and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean.
Don't fly over Tonga.
This video of scientists reminds me of watching a guy walk out on a plank and then sawing off the end he's sitting on. "Run away, better start it up, turn us around already, turn us around, turn us around, get the nose"
At least they weren't in a plane...
Boeing Incident in Brussels
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mick Bajcar
What: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 en route from Prestwick in Scotland to Brussels Charleroi in Belgium
Where: Charleroi Airport in Belgium
When: Monday March 16 2009
Who: 157 passengers and crew
Why: On approach to Charleroi Airport, the crew reported a problem with the braking system. The plane landed safely.
2009/03/18
Cargolux Incident in Maastricht
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Simpsonmeng
What: Cargolux Boeing 747-400 freighter, registration LX-GCV en route from Nairobi (Kenya) to Maastricht (Netherlands)
Where: runway 21 Maastricht (Netherlands)
When: Mar 17th 2009
Why: After landing, the plane turned, the nose gear went off the pavement and got stuck in the grass. Not the most dignified incident we recorded but hey, it's a joy to write about something where nobody died
Airbus Hydraulics Failure
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mark Kopczak
What: United Airlines Airbus A319-100 registration N836UA en route from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Vancouver,BC
Where: runway 08R Vancouver
When: Mar 14th 2009
Why: After the failure of the hydraulics system on approach to Vancouver, the airbus managed a safe landing.
Delta McDonnell Douglas Blows Tires on Landing
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Joey Collura
What: Delta Airlines MD88 registration N993DL en route from Rochester to Atlanta
Where: Atlanta
When: Mar 14th 2009
Who: 138 passengers and 5 crew
Why: On landing, the plane blew two tires and required towing to the gate.
Pomona Crash
PICTURED: Piper PA-28
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Andrew McMenamin
What: PA-28 CHEROKEE #129AB en route from Brackett Airfield in La Verne
Where: NEAR POMONA, CA 2600 block of Pomona Boulevard
When: 03/14/2009 about 11:15 a.m. Saturday
Who: two on board, Chuck and Renee Shaffer
Why: Witnesses report hearing loud bangs just before the plane fell.
2009/03/17
JAL Emergency Landing
PICTURED: JAL Boeing 747-446
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Simpsonmeng
What: Japan Airlines Flight JL8878 en route from Shanghai's Hongqiao airport for Tokyo
Where: emergency landing at Shanghai
When: Takeoff 2 p.m. and arrived at 3:14 p.m on March 14
Who: 208 passengers and 14 crew
Why: It is reported that the aircraft had hit birds after takeoff. The plane experienced engine problems and began to shake necessitating the emergency landing.
Airbus: the New Edsel
George's Point of View
Commerce and business growth is the sign of a healthy economy. However, news that ..."groundwork has started on a wing assembly facility for Airbus 320 aircraft in the northern municipality of Tianjin" brings up the question:
Do we really NEED more Airbuses in the world?
Whether it is A380 design flaws, rudder problems, Airbus wiring flaws, , faulty Airbus latching system, with all of these hidden flaws coming to light, do we really need another Airbus Factory?
OF course it is insulting to the Edsel to make this comparison, because the Edsel was a well designed vehicle of its time. It was marketed badly, but it was not a lemon. But the Airbus...
2009/03/14
Airbus Tailstrike
See the live enactment of a textbook definition of "tailstrike" performed by this Airbus A380:
Tailstrike is an aviation term that describes an event wherein the rear end of the aircraft "strikes" the runway.
George's Point of View
Dear Airbus,
You've had all sorts of design problems with other designs.I believe you have a design problem on this one, too.
Signed,
GH
Stolen Brazilian Plane Crashes Killing Feuding Husband and 5 yr old Daughter
audio in Portuguese
What: stolen plane
Where: Shopping mall parking lot in Goiania, near the centre of Brazil
When: 18:30 local time
Who: Kleber Barbosa da Silva and his 5 year old daughter Penelope Barbosa Correia were killed in the crash.
Why: The crash occurred after the husband and wife had an altercation, and da Silva threw his wife out of the car. She was hospitalized in Brasilia; da Silva went on to take his 5 yr old and steal the plane, which crashed in a parking lot.
18 Dead or Missing in Newfoundland Helicopter Crash
Pictured: Couger-owned Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Phil Earle
What: Cougar Helicopter' Sikorsky Helibus (twin-turboshaft) en route to offshore Hibernia oil field to bring down two passengers and 14 were going to the Sea Rose oil platform
Where: off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, in the Atlantic.
When: Thursday morning March 12
Who: 18 people aboard
Why: At 9:15 a.m., the Sikorsky pilot sent an SOS to Gander Newfoundland air traffic controllers. After the mayday, the helicopter ditched in the Atlantic. Two people were sighted but only one was recovered. Robert Decker, has been transported to St. John's hospital. Searchers received signals from survival suits equipped with water-activiated locator beacons and integrated life vests.
The search has been hampered by a gale force warning. Visibility is 10 nautical miles.
Couger, Husky Energy and ExxonMobile have made statements to the press. The Hibernia oil platform is owned by ExxonMobil Canada, Chevron Canada Resources, Petro-Canada, Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation, Murphy Oil and StatoilHydro Canada Ltd.
The SeaRose oil platform in the White Rose oil and gas field is operated by Husky Energy and Petro-Canada.
Flight Aware
Delta Bird Strike
What: ASA Delta flight 50-seat CRJ-100 en route from Atlanta to Mobile, Ala.
Where: Landing in Atlanta
When: Fri Mar 13
Why: After a bird strike, the plane circled in northwest Georgia to burn off fuel; the pilot returned to Atlanta and landed safely. Debarking passengers saw damage incurred by the bird strike
Where: Landing in Atlanta
When: Fri Mar 13
Why: After a bird strike, the plane circled in northwest Georgia to burn off fuel; the pilot returned to Atlanta and landed safely. Debarking passengers saw damage incurred by the bird strike
2009/03/13
Smokey Bathroom Lands Boeing in Connecticut
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Daniel J. Evans
What: Continental Airlines Flight 145, Boeing 757-200 en route from Madrid to Newark, N.J
Where: landed at Bradley International Airport north of Hartford .
When: just before 3 p.m March 11, 2009
Who: not available
Why: A smoke alarm sounded in the jet's lavatory, instigating the emergency landing.
2009/03/12
Boeing 777 Air Emergency: Engine thrust rollback events
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Zach Lautzenheiser
George's Point of View
come on Boeing/Rolls Royce, FIX-IT, waiting can be life-costly!
As you can see by the NTSB Press Release, It is time for Rolls-Royce and Boeing to move forward on a corrective redesign of Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 800 Series engines.
Take a look at these two incidents:
The solution is to amend the safety vulnerability. Redesign the FOHE and eliminate the potential of ice build-up.
NTSB agents believe there's a good chance this will happen again; we would hazard a guess that it has already happened more than the twice we've mentioned here, and will continue to happen until the solution suggestion is implemented, built, and installed asap before we have to write here about 777 incidents or fatalities.
Boeing 777 Air Emergency: Engine thrust rollback events
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Zach Lautzenheiser
George's Point of View
come on Boeing/Rolls Royce, FIX-IT, waiting can be life-costly!
As you can see by the NTSB Press Release, It is time for Rolls-Royce and Boeing to move forward on a corrective redesign of Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 800 Series engines.
Take a look at these two incidents:
The solution is to amend the safety vulnerability. Redesign the FOHE and eliminate the potential of ice build-up.
NTSB agents believe there's a good chance this will happen again; we would hazard a guess that it has already happened more than the twice we've mentioned here, and will continue to happen until the solution suggestion is implemented, built, and installed asap before we have to write here about 777 incidents or fatalities.
NTSB FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2009 SB-09-11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2009 SB-09-11
NTSB ISSUES URGENT SAFETY RECOMMENDATION TO ADDRESS ENGINE THRUST ROLLBACK EVENTS ON B-777 AIRCRAFT
Washington, DC - Following two engine thrust rollback events on Boeing 777 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines, the National Transportation Safety Board issued an urgent safety recommendation today calling for the redesign of a Rolls- Royce engine component. The Safety Board also recommended that, after the redesign is completed, the new system be installed on all affected B-777 airplanes at the next maintenance check or within six months.
These recommendations are being issued in response to the findings in two investigations - an accident and an incident - involving engine thrust rollbacks on Boeing 777-200ER airplanes powered by Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 800 Series engines. In both cases a build-up of ice (from water normally present in all jet fuel) on the fuel/oil heat exchanger (FOHE) restricted the flow of fuel to the engine, resulting in an uncommanded engine rollback.
The first event, which is still being investigated by the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), occurred on January 17, 2008, when a Boeing 777 experienced a dual engine rollback on final approach and crashed short of the runway at London's Heathrow International Airport. One passenger was seriously injured, eight passengers and four of the flight crew sustained minor injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged.
The second event occurred on November 26, 2008, when a Delta Air Lines Boeing 777 experienced a single engine rollback during cruise flight over Montana while en route from Shanghai to Atlanta. Normal operations resumed after the flight crew followed Boeing's published procedure to recover engine performance; the airplane landed safely in Atlanta.
Testing in support of the UK accident investigation led Boeing to develop procedures to help prevent ice accumulation, and to recover thrust in cases of ice blockage. As more information from the Delta rollback event was developed, Boeing modified the procedures, which became the basis of an airworthiness directive issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
While the procedures may reduce the risk of a rollback in one or both engines due to FOHE ice blockage, they add complexity to flight crew operations, and the level of risk reduction is not well established. And because the recovery procedure requires a descent, the aircraft may be exposed to other risks such as rising terrain or hazardous weather, or the inability to achieve maximum thrust during a critical phase of flight, such as during a missed approach.
Because of these hazards, the Safety Board has determined that the only acceptable solution to this safety vulnerability is a redesigned FOHE that would eliminate the potential of ice build-up. On February 23, 2009, Rolls-Royce indicated that a redesign of the FOHE was underway, and that they anticipated the redesign to be tested, certified and ready for installation within 12 months.
"With two of these rollback events occurring within a year, we believe that there is a high probability of something similar happening again," said NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "We are encouraged to see that Rolls-Royce is already working on a redesign, and we are confident that with the FAA and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) overseeing the process, this flight safety issue - even one as complex as this - will be successfully and expeditiously resolved."
The NTSB has made the following two recommendations to both the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency:
Require that Rolls-Royce redesign the RB211 Trent 800 series engine fuel/oil heat exchanger (FOHE) such that ice accumulation on the face of the FOHE will not restrict fuel flow to the extent that the ability to achieve commanded thrust is reduced.
Once the fuel/oil heat exchanger (FOHE) is redesigned and approved by certification authorities, require that operators of Boeing 777-200 airplanes powered by Rolls Royce RB211 Trent 800 series engines install the redesigned FOHE at the next scheduled maintenance opportunity or within 6 months after the revised FOHE design has been certificated, whichever comes first.
The NTSB and AAIB will continue to work together closely on both of the rollback events as each of the investigations move forward.
src: http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2009/090311.html
American Airlines Emergency Landing in NY
Pictured: MD-82 at rest at New York-La Guardia Airport
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Matthew I. Smith
Examining debris on Flushing roof; includes a closing shot of a blade of metal embedded in the concrete roof
What: American Airlines MD-80 Flight 309 en route from LaGuardia Airport to O'Hare International Airport
Where: Pilot chose to make his emergency landing at JFK, where the runways are longer
When: March 11, 2009
Who: 88 passengers and five crew members
Why: Fifteen minutes after takeoff, the pilot reported a problem in the right engine, and made an emergency landing at LaGuardia. Debris found in Queens may have been from the plane. Birds were not the problem.
On March 26-27, and April 8-12 a FAA safety audit grounded AA MD-80s, canceling 5700 flights.
Ultra Light Crash in Suwannee
What: Experimental Light Sport (ultra light) flying from Flying Little River Airport in McAlpin.
Where: Suwannee County off Highway 90 and 89th Road just past Live Oak
When: Mar 10, 2009
Who: An early report said that pilot Walter Richard of Louisiana has been flown to Shand's Hospital in Gainesville. The name now released is Jimmy Burkholder, 68, of McAlpin, who is in the burn unit at Shands UF. A woman passenger was dead on the scene; her name has been released: Linda Sturtevant, 58, of Rhode Island
Why: The pilot dropped below power lines as the plane lost altitude, and struck the tree line.
Where: Suwannee County off Highway 90 and 89th Road just past Live Oak
When: Mar 10, 2009
Who: An early report said that pilot Walter Richard of Louisiana has been flown to Shand's Hospital in Gainesville. The name now released is Jimmy Burkholder, 68, of McAlpin, who is in the burn unit at Shands UF. A woman passenger was dead on the scene; her name has been released: Linda Sturtevant, 58, of Rhode Island
Why: The pilot dropped below power lines as the plane lost altitude, and struck the tree line.
Helicopter Fatality in McPherson
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ted Quackenbush
What: Bell 206 registered to Hillcrest Aircraft Company en route from Ogallala, Nebraska to Wichita. to Virginia for the U.S. Forest Service.
Where: Buckskin Road between 19th and 20th Avenues in McPherson County, 40 miles north of Wichita.
When: 2:45 p.m. Sunday March 8, 2009
Who: Pilot Roger Hershner was the only one aboard.
Why: The helicopter crashed after being in route for 2 hours; the crash is under investigation.
Helicopter Fatality in McPherson
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ted Quackenbush
What: Bell 206 registered to Hillcrest Aircraft Company en route from Ogallala, Nebraska to Wichita. to Virginia for the U.S. Forest Service.
Where: Buckskin Road between 19th and 20th Avenues in McPherson County, 40 miles north of Wichita.
When: 2:45 p.m. Sunday March 8, 2009
Who: Pilot Roger Hershner was the only one aboard.
Why: The helicopter crashed after being in route for 2 hours; the crash is under investigation.
Nascar Spectators in Fatal Cessna Crash in Georgia
What: 1975 single-engine Cessna 182P registration number of N1913M en route from Cobb County Airport-McCollum Field to Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR race in Henry County.
Where: Crash occurred in Shadinger Lake. Carrollton, Georgia
When: Sunday morning 08-MAR-2009
Who: Pilot Kearney, and his wife Christa Kearney, and Timothy Dean Miller
Why: All the bodies were recovered from the lake. The crash is under investigation
Where: Crash occurred in Shadinger Lake. Carrollton, Georgia
When: Sunday morning 08-MAR-2009
Who: Pilot Kearney, and his wife Christa Kearney, and Timothy Dean Miller
Why: All the bodies were recovered from the lake. The crash is under investigation
Dust Storm Diverts Turkish Plane
What: Turkish Airlines flight TK-260 en route from Istanbul to Kayseri.
Where: Nevsehir
When: Sunday
Who: 194 passengers
Why: The plane could not land at it's scheduled Erkilet Airport destination, because of the wind and limited visibility due to dust. The flight was rerouted to Kapadokya Airport in Nevsehir where it made an emergency landing. Passengers were bused to Kayseri.
Where: Nevsehir
When: Sunday
Who: 194 passengers
Why: The plane could not land at it's scheduled Erkilet Airport destination, because of the wind and limited visibility due to dust. The flight was rerouted to Kapadokya Airport in Nevsehir where it made an emergency landing. Passengers were bused to Kayseri.
Storm Blows Indonesian Lionair Flight of the Runway
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Snorre - VAP
What: Lionair McDonnell Douglas MD-90 flight JT-793 from Makassar to Jakarta. Lionair is on the List of air carriers banned in the European Union.
Where: Jakarta
When: Mar 9th 2009
Who: 166 passengers and 6 crew (Detikcom reported 168)
Why: While landing in heavy rain, the airplane caught a gust from the left which ran the plane off the runway. Damage was incurred to the front gear, wings, and the main gear struts collapsed.
The subsequent airport closure forced a Citilink Garuda Boeing 737 in a fuel emergency to reroute.
View Larger Map
Airbus Bird Strike in Greece
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Martin Stephen
What: Easyjet Airbus A319-100 en route from Thessaloniki Greece to London's Gatwick
Where: Thessaloniki Greece
When: Monday, Mar 9th 2009
Who: 139 passengers and 6 crew
Why: After take-off, the Airbus flew through a flock of birds, damaging its engine (s) and was forced to return to the airport, where the crew safely landed the plane.
AA Emergency Landing in Austin Texas
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Dan Brownlee
What: American Airlines MD-80 Flight 311 en route from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Los Angeles
Where: Austin-Bergstrom International
When: Monday, March 9, 2009
Who: 123 passengers, 5 crew
Why: After take-off, one engine made a "boom." The pilot powered down to idle, and returned to the airport so that the plane could be examined and repaired.
AUA Emergency Landing in Vienna
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Gerhard Vysocan
What: Austrian Airllines Boeing-737-800 en route from Vienna to Sofia Bulgaria
Where: emergency landing at Vienna airport
When: 06. 03. 09.
Who: 72 passengers
Why: After the crew of AUA flight OS 797 found smoke filling the cabin, the plane made an emergency landing--shortly after take-off. It was a really short flight. THey took off at 1:47 pm and landed at 1:52pm. Economy Minister Nina Radeva was among those on board.
2009/03/07
Continental Emergency Landing in San Antonio when Landing Gear Failed
What: Continental flight 179, a 737-300 en route from Houston
Where: San Antonio International Airport
When: Thursday
Who: 90 passengers
Why: The flight landed at 12:10 p.m., about 40 minutes after its scheduled arrival after its landing gear failed; the crew spent that time trying to get the landing gear operable, and managed a safe landing
Where: San Antonio International Airport
When: Thursday
Who: 90 passengers
Why: The flight landed at 12:10 p.m., about 40 minutes after its scheduled arrival after its landing gear failed; the crew spent that time trying to get the landing gear operable, and managed a safe landing
Plane crash between Oceanside and San Clemente Island.
What: An airplane likely en route from San Diego's Montgomery Field
Where: about 25 miles off the Southern California coast
When: crashed Friday
Who: unknown
Why: unknown. Aluminum debris and an oil slick were located, but no bodies.
Where: about 25 miles off the Southern California coast
When: crashed Friday
Who: unknown
Why: unknown. Aluminum debris and an oil slick were located, but no bodies.
Turbulence Rocks Air France Boeing over Narita Japan
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Walter Pietsch
George says...
There is wisdom in keeping your seats belts fastened even when the seat belt sign is off ---
What: Air France passenger plane Boeing 777-200 flight 276 en route from Paris to Narita airport
Where: Narita airport
Who: 261 passengers and 16 crewmembers. Passsengers had no injuries, but 2 crew members suffered hip and thoracic fractures.
Why: The plane was hit by turbulence while circling above waters off Chiba Prefecture while waiting to land at Narita airport. The plane landed safely and was sent back to France after examination.
See Air France's Corporate statement
Hainan Airlines Emergency Landing
Pictured: A Hainan Airlines Boeing
Click to view full size photo
Contact photographer Hans-Werner Klein
What: Hainan Airlines Boeing 737-300, HU7871 en route from Xi'an, Shaanxi Province to Shenzhen in Guangdong Province
Where: landing at an airport in the island province of Hainan (extreme south of China)
When: 2009-03-05 19:21:09
Who: 112 passengers and a crew of six
Why: The crew reported a mechanical problem and requested an emergency landing. They turned off one engine, and landed. Reportedly, there were "problems with the throttle that might have led to an excessively fast landing."
No injuries were reported.
Thoughts on the Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800
According to the Preliminary Dutch Safety Board Report, "The Board is of the opinion that extra attention is needed for the role of the radio altimeter when using the automatic pilot and the automatic throttle system. The Board has issued a warning for Boeing today requesting extra attention to a part of a manual for the Boeing 737, in which is stated that in case of malfunction of the radio altimeter(s), the automatic pilot and throttle system that are connected to this may not be used for approach and landing. The Board would like Boeing to consider an investigation into whether this procedure is also applicable during flight. With the exception of the malfunction of the left radio altimeter the investigators of the Dutch Safety Board have not yet found any irregularities.
One question that remains now is how Boeing is going to follow up with the reminder for pilots to pay attention. Is this going to be handled with additional training or aircraft or procedure modifications? However--Boeing has said that the autopilot system is designed so that if it senses faulty data from the captain's altimeter on the left side, the auto-throttle is supposed to switch to the altimeter on the right. In fact, AVweb summarizes it this way: " The autopilot initiated a power-down of the engines in preparation for landing and the airplane slowed to near stall speed. The pilots responded to the situation too late."
It seems to us like this is more of a problem of maintenance and pilot training at Turkish Airlines. How could the pilots not have noticed flying for more than a minute with no thrust?
We are eager to see what is going to be done to prevent a repetition of catastrophe. On Wednesday Boeing listed six warning signs that can alert a pilot that something is wrong with the altimeter. Maybe they should have included a Starbucks gift certificate for that extra jolt of caffeine-fueled pilot attentiveness.
The Dutch report indicates that the faulty radio altimeter initiated a sequence of events to which the pilots responded too slowly. The thing is that being a pilot means being aware. There is no margin for error.
Plus, any time I see that an automatic system did the thinking, it makes me pause: "the automatic system – with its engines at reduced power – assumed it was in the final stages of the flight." If the autothrust/pilot starts to do something unusual, it is the pilot's responsibility to disconnect it and fly the aircraft manually.
Another thing that seems crucial is the black box data:
"The black box – which can register 25 hours of flying time and which, in this case, covered 8 flights- showed that this problem had occurred twice previously in a similar situation, before landing." It is crucial in conflicting ways. When it happened before, why was there no "crash" situation? How was it averted? (Probably the pilots flew in manually.)
And...if it happened before, doesn't it make the faulty radio altimeter a "known problem" and therefore one which the carrier should have corrected before this plane ever went out again?
For those who survived, it really doesn't matter why it happened.
The passengers--those who perished and those who were injured and those who lucked out and got away without a scrape (if there are any)--are innocents who purchased a ticket.
There's no one on that plane who will ever board a plane again without thinking twice; some will suffer sleepless nights and develop phobias; and some have paid the ultimate price, losing their health, or their life.
Now they are owed a lot more than a refund.
One question that remains now is how Boeing is going to follow up with the reminder for pilots to pay attention. Is this going to be handled with additional training or aircraft or procedure modifications? However--Boeing has said that the autopilot system is designed so that if it senses faulty data from the captain's altimeter on the left side, the auto-throttle is supposed to switch to the altimeter on the right. In fact, AVweb summarizes it this way: " The autopilot initiated a power-down of the engines in preparation for landing and the airplane slowed to near stall speed. The pilots responded to the situation too late."
It seems to us like this is more of a problem of maintenance and pilot training at Turkish Airlines. How could the pilots not have noticed flying for more than a minute with no thrust?
We are eager to see what is going to be done to prevent a repetition of catastrophe. On Wednesday Boeing listed six warning signs that can alert a pilot that something is wrong with the altimeter. Maybe they should have included a Starbucks gift certificate for that extra jolt of caffeine-fueled pilot attentiveness.
The Dutch report indicates that the faulty radio altimeter initiated a sequence of events to which the pilots responded too slowly. The thing is that being a pilot means being aware. There is no margin for error.
Plus, any time I see that an automatic system did the thinking, it makes me pause: "the automatic system – with its engines at reduced power – assumed it was in the final stages of the flight." If the autothrust/pilot starts to do something unusual, it is the pilot's responsibility to disconnect it and fly the aircraft manually.
Another thing that seems crucial is the black box data:
"The black box – which can register 25 hours of flying time and which, in this case, covered 8 flights- showed that this problem had occurred twice previously in a similar situation, before landing." It is crucial in conflicting ways. When it happened before, why was there no "crash" situation? How was it averted? (Probably the pilots flew in manually.)
And...if it happened before, doesn't it make the faulty radio altimeter a "known problem" and therefore one which the carrier should have corrected before this plane ever went out again?
For those who survived, it really doesn't matter why it happened.
The passengers--those who perished and those who were injured and those who lucked out and got away without a scrape (if there are any)--are innocents who purchased a ticket.
There's no one on that plane who will ever board a plane again without thinking twice; some will suffer sleepless nights and develop phobias; and some have paid the ultimate price, losing their health, or their life.
Now they are owed a lot more than a refund.
Preliminary report by Dutch Safety Board
The English version of the report may be found here in .pdf form
DUTCH SAFETY BOARD-04.03.2009--Today <4 March 2009>, the Dutch Safety Board has issued a warning for airline manufacturer Boeing and presents its initial findings regarding the terrible accident involving the Boeing 737/800, Turkish Airlines flight.
This accident claimed the lives on nine people (5 passengers and 4 crew) and 80 passengers were injured. Twenty eight of those injured are still hospitalised.
The Boeing was en route from Istanbul to Schiphol (on Wednesday 25 February 2009) and was due to land at Schiphol at 10.40.
The Boeing had had a regular flight and no problems had been experienced until just before the approach.
There were three people in the cockpit, the captain was located on the front, left hand side. On the right hand side there was the first officer, for whom this was a training flight. (The first officer had all appropriate qualifications). There was also an extra first officer in the centre of the cockpit.
The crew made contact with air traffic control (Amsterdam Radar) at 10.04 and was transferred to the tower at Schiphol - for the landing – at 10.14. The tower then gave the Boeing permission to land on the Polderbaan 18R.
The Polderbaan was approached according to fixed procedures, without any delay, and the Boeing was then given permission to decrease its altitude to 2000 feet (about 700 meters) and begin its descent to the Polderbaan.
This descent takes place with the help of the automatic pilot, as is normal with Turkish Airlines (this method can be utilised by everybody, as can a manual landing).
The voice recorder and the black box, both of which are in the hands of the Safety Board, show that an irregularity occurred during the descent, at 1950 feet. At a height of 1950 feet the left radio altimeter suddenly indicated a change in altitude – from 1950 feet to - 8 feet - and passed this onto the automatic pilot. This change had a particular impact upon the automatic throttle system which provides more or less engine power.
The radio altimeter normally measures the altitude of the plane above the ground very accurately and can start registering this from 2500 feet. As already mentioned, this radio altimeter is very significant for providing the appropriate power for an automatic landing. A Boeing is fitted with two radio altimeters, a left one and a right one. The black box has shown that this deviation only occurred in the left radio altimeter. The voice recorder has shown that the crew were notified that the left radio altimeter was not working correctly (via the warning signal “landing gear must go down”). Provisional data indicates that this signal was not regarded to be a problem.
In practice, the plane responded to this sudden change as though it was at an altitude of just a few meters above the Polderbaan and engine power was reduced. It seems that the automatic system – with its engines at reduced power – assumed it was in the final stages of the flight. As a result, the aircraft lost speed.
Initially the crew did not react to the issues at hand.
As a result of the deceleration, the aircraft's speed was reduced to minimum flying speed (stalling situation) and warning signals (the steering column buzzes at an altitude of 150 metres) were given.
The black box shows that full power was then applied immediately. However, this was too late to recover the flight, the aircraft was too low and, consequently, the Boeing crashed 1 kilometre short of the runway.
The black box – which can register 25 hours of flying time and which, in this case, covered 8 flights - showed that this problem had occurred twice previously in a similar situation, before landing.
The aircraft initially hit the ground with its tail and then the undercarriage followed. The forward speed was about 175 km per hour upon impact. An aircraft of this weight should normally have a speed of 260 km per hour for landing.
The aircraft came to a rapid halt (after about 150 m) as a result of the arable land being made up of boggy clay. The braking caused by the ground meant that the aircraft broke into two pieces; the tail broke off and the aircraft’s hull ruptured at business class.
The landing gear broke off, in accordance with its design. This also applied to the two engines. The full power and the sudden braking resulted in both engines continuing forwards for a further 250 meters.
Most of the fatally wounded victims were located near the rupture, in business class, and the three crew members in the cockpit died as a result of the enormous braking forces, partially caused by the embedded nose-wheel and the forward movement of the aircraft. The section that remained most intact was situated around the wings. On board the plane there were 127 passengers and 7 crew, of whom 28 are still hospitalised.
The Board’s investigation will now focus fully on the workings of the radio altimeters and the connection to the automatic throttle (automatic steering system). Weather conditions, particularly visibility through the low cloud base and the mist, probably meant that the Polderbaan was not yet visible at the height at which the descent was commenced. The Safety Board board will be assisted in its investigation and its attempts to ensure lessons are learnt by the following organisations:
• the National Transportation Safety Board • Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyse (BEA) • Aviation Accident Investigation Branche (AAIB)
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Turkse Rijksluchtvaartdienst, DGCA) • Boeing • Turkish Airlines
• The engine manufacturer, CFM
• Inspectie Verkeer en Waterstaat (IVW) [Traffic and Waterways Inspectorate]
• Federal Aviation Agency (FAA, American Civil Aviation Authority)
• Vereniging van Nederlandse verkeersvliegers [Association of Dutch Commercial Pilots]
• Nederlandse vereniging voor cabinepersoneel [Dutch Association for Cabin Personnel]
Internationally, both the ICAO and the EU stipulate that involved parties may take part in the Board’s investigation (party system).
The investigation itself, however, is supervised by and remains the Board’s responsibility. The Board has also received a great deal of data from the Public Prosecutor for its investigation. Furthermore, there have been content-based contributions from a great many police organisations. The National Police Force, particularly all staff from the National Team of Forensic Investigation who are responsible for the forensic work at the location itself, the Aviation Police, who took all the aviation photographs, and the National Traffic Assistance team who helped the Board to measure the location of the accident.
The Public Prosecutor took possession of the aircraft and, as a result, responsibility for guarding it lay entirely with them. Police officers from all over the country were drafted in for this purpose. We are extremely grateful for their outstanding and meticulous work and for guarding the aircraft.
There was a misunderstanding regarding the use of the data from the cockpit voice recorder and the flight recorder (black box). It is established, in Dutch law, that the Public Prosecutor may only have access to this data if there is a question of abduction, terrorism, murder or manslaughter. In such a situation, the Safety Board is also legally obliged to hand over this data to the Public Prosecutor. In principle, there are two investigations being carried out into the accident.
• The judicial investigation. The search for punishable facts and the use of these to hold those responsible to account.
• The independent investigation. This investigation focuses fully on finding out what happened so that lessons can be learnt.
There is always some tension between the two investigations. Within criminal law you may be silent. Nobody needs to contribute to his or her sentence. With the independent investigation, however, you want to ensure that everything is said. For this reason, the reports from the Board may not be used as evidence in lawsuits.
From today onwards, the investigation by the Board will concentrate on two subjects: The technical investigation will focus on the role of the automatic pilot, the automatic throttle system and the connection to the radio altimeter..
Alongside the aforementioned technical investigation, the focus will also be on the management of the crisis. How was the disaster dealt with and what can be learnt from this. This investigation will also focus on the passenger list.
The recovery of the wreckage will probably take place at the end of this week. The aircraft will be taken to another location for – possible – further investigation. The Board is of the opinion that extra attention is needed for the role of the radio altimeter when using the automatic pilot and the automatic throttle system. The Board has issued a warning for Boeing today requesting extra attention to a part of a manual for the Boeing 737, in which is stated that in case of malfunction of the radio altimeter(s), the automatic pilot and throttle system that are connected to this may not be used for approach and landing. The Board would like Boeing to consider an investigation into whether this procedure is also applicable during flight. With the exception of the malfunction of the left radio altimeter the investigators of the Dutch Safety Board have not yet found any irregularities.
DUTCH SAFETY BOARD-04.03.2009--Today <4 March 2009>, the Dutch Safety Board has issued a warning for airline manufacturer Boeing and presents its initial findings regarding the terrible accident involving the Boeing 737/800, Turkish Airlines flight.
This accident claimed the lives on nine people (5 passengers and 4 crew) and 80 passengers were injured. Twenty eight of those injured are still hospitalised.
The Boeing was en route from Istanbul to Schiphol (on Wednesday 25 February 2009) and was due to land at Schiphol at 10.40.
The Boeing had had a regular flight and no problems had been experienced until just before the approach.
There were three people in the cockpit, the captain was located on the front, left hand side. On the right hand side there was the first officer, for whom this was a training flight. (The first officer had all appropriate qualifications). There was also an extra first officer in the centre of the cockpit.
The crew made contact with air traffic control (Amsterdam Radar) at 10.04 and was transferred to the tower at Schiphol - for the landing – at 10.14. The tower then gave the Boeing permission to land on the Polderbaan 18R.
The Polderbaan was approached according to fixed procedures, without any delay, and the Boeing was then given permission to decrease its altitude to 2000 feet (about 700 meters) and begin its descent to the Polderbaan.
This descent takes place with the help of the automatic pilot, as is normal with Turkish Airlines (this method can be utilised by everybody, as can a manual landing).
The voice recorder and the black box, both of which are in the hands of the Safety Board, show that an irregularity occurred during the descent, at 1950 feet. At a height of 1950 feet the left radio altimeter suddenly indicated a change in altitude – from 1950 feet to - 8 feet - and passed this onto the automatic pilot. This change had a particular impact upon the automatic throttle system which provides more or less engine power.
The radio altimeter normally measures the altitude of the plane above the ground very accurately and can start registering this from 2500 feet. As already mentioned, this radio altimeter is very significant for providing the appropriate power for an automatic landing. A Boeing is fitted with two radio altimeters, a left one and a right one. The black box has shown that this deviation only occurred in the left radio altimeter. The voice recorder has shown that the crew were notified that the left radio altimeter was not working correctly (via the warning signal “landing gear must go down”). Provisional data indicates that this signal was not regarded to be a problem.
In practice, the plane responded to this sudden change as though it was at an altitude of just a few meters above the Polderbaan and engine power was reduced. It seems that the automatic system – with its engines at reduced power – assumed it was in the final stages of the flight. As a result, the aircraft lost speed.
Initially the crew did not react to the issues at hand.
As a result of the deceleration, the aircraft's speed was reduced to minimum flying speed (stalling situation) and warning signals (the steering column buzzes at an altitude of 150 metres) were given.
The black box shows that full power was then applied immediately. However, this was too late to recover the flight, the aircraft was too low and, consequently, the Boeing crashed 1 kilometre short of the runway.
The black box – which can register 25 hours of flying time and which, in this case, covered 8 flights - showed that this problem had occurred twice previously in a similar situation, before landing.
The aircraft initially hit the ground with its tail and then the undercarriage followed. The forward speed was about 175 km per hour upon impact. An aircraft of this weight should normally have a speed of 260 km per hour for landing.
The aircraft came to a rapid halt (after about 150 m) as a result of the arable land being made up of boggy clay. The braking caused by the ground meant that the aircraft broke into two pieces; the tail broke off and the aircraft’s hull ruptured at business class.
The landing gear broke off, in accordance with its design. This also applied to the two engines. The full power and the sudden braking resulted in both engines continuing forwards for a further 250 meters.
Most of the fatally wounded victims were located near the rupture, in business class, and the three crew members in the cockpit died as a result of the enormous braking forces, partially caused by the embedded nose-wheel and the forward movement of the aircraft. The section that remained most intact was situated around the wings. On board the plane there were 127 passengers and 7 crew, of whom 28 are still hospitalised.
The Board’s investigation will now focus fully on the workings of the radio altimeters and the connection to the automatic throttle (automatic steering system). Weather conditions, particularly visibility through the low cloud base and the mist, probably meant that the Polderbaan was not yet visible at the height at which the descent was commenced. The Safety Board board will be assisted in its investigation and its attempts to ensure lessons are learnt by the following organisations:
• the National Transportation Safety Board • Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyse (BEA) • Aviation Accident Investigation Branche (AAIB)
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Turkse Rijksluchtvaartdienst, DGCA) • Boeing • Turkish Airlines
• The engine manufacturer, CFM
• Inspectie Verkeer en Waterstaat (IVW) [Traffic and Waterways Inspectorate]
• Federal Aviation Agency (FAA, American Civil Aviation Authority)
• Vereniging van Nederlandse verkeersvliegers [Association of Dutch Commercial Pilots]
• Nederlandse vereniging voor cabinepersoneel [Dutch Association for Cabin Personnel]
Internationally, both the ICAO and the EU stipulate that involved parties may take part in the Board’s investigation (party system).
The investigation itself, however, is supervised by and remains the Board’s responsibility. The Board has also received a great deal of data from the Public Prosecutor for its investigation. Furthermore, there have been content-based contributions from a great many police organisations. The National Police Force, particularly all staff from the National Team of Forensic Investigation who are responsible for the forensic work at the location itself, the Aviation Police, who took all the aviation photographs, and the National Traffic Assistance team who helped the Board to measure the location of the accident.
The Public Prosecutor took possession of the aircraft and, as a result, responsibility for guarding it lay entirely with them. Police officers from all over the country were drafted in for this purpose. We are extremely grateful for their outstanding and meticulous work and for guarding the aircraft.
There was a misunderstanding regarding the use of the data from the cockpit voice recorder and the flight recorder (black box). It is established, in Dutch law, that the Public Prosecutor may only have access to this data if there is a question of abduction, terrorism, murder or manslaughter. In such a situation, the Safety Board is also legally obliged to hand over this data to the Public Prosecutor. In principle, there are two investigations being carried out into the accident.
• The judicial investigation. The search for punishable facts and the use of these to hold those responsible to account.
• The independent investigation. This investigation focuses fully on finding out what happened so that lessons can be learnt.
There is always some tension between the two investigations. Within criminal law you may be silent. Nobody needs to contribute to his or her sentence. With the independent investigation, however, you want to ensure that everything is said. For this reason, the reports from the Board may not be used as evidence in lawsuits.
From today onwards, the investigation by the Board will concentrate on two subjects: The technical investigation will focus on the role of the automatic pilot, the automatic throttle system and the connection to the radio altimeter.
Alongside the aforementioned technical investigation, the focus will also be on the management of the crisis. How was the disaster dealt with and what can be learnt from this. This investigation will also focus on the passenger list.
The recovery of the wreckage will probably take place at the end of this week. The aircraft will be taken to another location for – possible – further investigation. The Board is of the opinion that extra attention is needed for the role of the radio altimeter when using the automatic pilot and the automatic throttle system. The Board has issued a warning for Boeing today requesting extra attention to a part of a manual for the Boeing 737, in which is stated that in case of malfunction of the radio altimeter(s), the automatic pilot and throttle system that are connected to this may not be used for approach and landing. The Board would like Boeing to consider an investigation into whether this procedure is also applicable during flight. With the exception of the malfunction of the left radio altimeter the investigators of the Dutch Safety Board have not yet found any irregularities.
Helicopter Crash Lawsuit Filed
A wrongful death suit has been filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court seeking $8 million on behalf of Shawn Blazer, one of nine men killed in a helicopter crash on Aug. 5. The helicopter crashed right after take-off as it was transporting crews battling Northern California wildfires at Trinity Alps Wilderness. Two other suits, each seeking $10 million were filed on behalf of Matthew Hammer and Bryan Rich. Negligence and design flaws are among the allegations.
Additional negligence and liability suits are anticipated.
Read more here and here
Additional negligence and liability suits are anticipated.
Read more here and here
4 Fatalities in Colombian Helicopter Crash
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Javier Franco TOPPER
What: Huey II police helicopter
Where: crashed in South Colombia
When: March 4
Who: four people on board; 4 fatalities: Lts. Juan Valero and Hernan Leal – the pilot and co-pilot, respectively – and agents Yesid Vidal and Gustavo Ibañez.
Why: The helicopter was missing since early Tuesday. It was located by search and rescue teams in the southern Colombian province of Putumayo. The wreckage was found 10 km from the town of Villa Garzon, Republic of Colombia. The helicopter's last known operation was returning from transporting workers with the government to manually eradicate local illegal coca crops; the last known communication was with air traffic controllers at 1.25 a.m. Tuesday.
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