19 February 2008

Fuel contamination ruled out by investigators into BA crash-landing

Air accident investigators have so far failed to identify the cause of the British Airways crash-landing at London Heathrow last month.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have issued a report saying its investigations so far have found no evidence of mechanical defects in the major aircraft systems of the Boeing 777.

However, there was some damage to the fuel pumps and small items of debris were found in the fuel tanks.

Investigators have ruled out contamination of fuel tanks or ice, water and bird ingestion into the engines.

The AAIB will now carry out a full examination and analysis of the entire aircraft and engine fuel system.

'Investigations are now underway in an attempt to replicate the damage seen to the engine high pressure fuel pumps, and to match this to the data recorded on the accident flight,' said the report.

'In addition, comprehensive examination and analysis is to be conducted on the entire aircraft and engine fuel system; including the modelling of fuel flows taking account of the environmental and aerodynamic effects.'

All 136 passengers and 16 crew on the BA flight from Beijing were safely evacuated from the crash, which happened on January 17.

One passenger suffered a broken leg and four crew and eight other passengers received minor injuries.

The AAIB's report contained one safety recommendation concerning the evacuation drill.

It said: 'Boeing should notify all Boeing 777 operators of the necessity to operate the fuel control switch to cut-off prior to operation of the fire handle, for both the fire drill and the evacuation drill, and ensure that all versions of its checklists, including electronic and placarded versions of the drill, are consistent with this procedure.'

The report added: 'This was not causal to the accident but could
have had serious consequences in the event of a fire during the evacuation.'

Boeing has accepted the recommendation.

By Bev Fearis

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Your Comments (1)

It was contaminated by FOD

Part of this document says, some small items of debris in the fuel system. FOD in four area’s of this system does not sound too good! The article states ‘The relevance of this debris is still being considered’. I bet it is!!!

By Paul Schaltegger, Thursday, February 21, 2008