JetBlog! Interactive

Failure to Follow Procedures, Improper Training Cited as Factors in El Paso Contract Mechanic Fatality

Today the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released the Probable Cause of the Continental Airlines ground accident which claimed the life of a contract mechanic. The mechanic, an employee of Julie's Flying Service at ELP, was killed whe he was ingested into the right engine of a Boeing 737-524 while performing a high-power engine run at the gate to troubleshoot a fluid leak.

The NTSB's Probable Cause Statement is below. The full narrative of the NTSB report is here.

BRIEF NARRATIVE
The flight crew of the Boeing 737-524 discovered a puddle of fluid on the tarmac under the number 2 (right) engine during the prefight inspection of a scheduled passenger airline flight. Airline station personnel had received authorization to call contract maintenance to investigate the oil leak from one of the airline's senior maintenance controllers. As a result, three mechanics from a fixed base operator (FBO) at the airport were called by the airline station personnel. The FBO had previously entered into an agreement with the airline to provide contract maintenance at the airport.

All of the airline's maintenance manuals were maintained at the airline's headquarters maintenance control base. According to the airline's procedures, extracts of those manuals with specific procedures were required to be transmitted prior to the contractor performing maintenance, and only after authorization by the airline's maintenance control.

Investigators in 777 Crash Looking at Fuel Systems

By Dominic Gates
Seattle Times aerospace reporter

Investigators studying last week's crash landing of a British Airways Boeing 777 said Wednesday they are looking closely at the possibility that the accident was caused by an interruption in the flow of jet fuel to the engines.

The cause of the Jan. 17 crash at London's Heathrow airport has not been established. Even if it is a fuel-flow interruption, that doesn't necessarily exonerate Boeing.

But this focus of the investigation seems to increase the possibility of an external cause such as contamination of jet fuel loaded before the 777 took off from Beijing.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004144384_777crash25.html

NTSB: British Issue Update ON B-777 Powerloss Accident at London Heathrow

National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

January 24, 2008

The United Kingdom's Air Accident Investigation Board (AAIB), which is leading the investigation into the January 17, 2008, accident in which a British Airways Boeing 777- 236ER landed short of Runway 27L at London Heathrow Airport, issued a report today on the progress of their investigation.

At their request, we are assisting in the dissemination of the AAIB report, which follows:

Accident to a Boeing 777-236, G-YMMM, on 17 January 2008 at 1243 hrs

Initial Report Update 23 January 2008

Since the issue of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) 1st Preliminary Report on Friday 18th January 2008 at 1700 hrs, work has continued on all fronts to identify why neither engine responded to throttle lever inputs during the final approach. The 150 tonne aircraft was moved from the threshold of Runway 27L to an airport apron on Sunday evening, allowing the airport to return to normal operations.

British AAIB Issues Initial Report on London 777 Power Loss

The British Air Accidents Investigation Branch, overseeing the powerloss accident of a Boeing 777 at Londin Heathrow airport on January 17, 2008, has issued its Initial Report with its preliminary findings. The flight originated in Beijing, China, and no probable case has jet been identified. We'll continue to monitor the investigation, especially for any official reports of maintenance issues that may be implicated in the accident. Download aaib_17jan08.pdf

Boeing 777 Loses Power in Both Engines, Lands Short in London

From the National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accidents website, here is the Preliminary Report:

NTSB Identification: DCA08RA028
Scheduled 14 CFR Non-U.S., Commercial operation of British Airways
Accident occurred Thursday, January 17, 2008 in London, United Kingdom
Aircraft: Boeing 777-236ER, registration: G-YMMM
Injuries: 2 Minor, 191 Uninjured.

"On January 17, 2008, at 12:42 UTC, a British Airways Boeing 777-236ER, registration G-YMMM, s/n 30314, landed short of runway 27 left at Heathrow International Airport, London, England. The 136 passengers deplaned by using the emergency slides and there are 2 minor injuries reported. The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB)is investigating and Bill English (AS-10) is launching as the US accredited representative with Steve Magladry (AS-40) assisting as the systems technical specialist. The FAA and Boeing will be technical advisors."

According to media reports, the pilots reported a loss of power while on a 2-mile final approach to land.

Anytime there is an aviation accident, the role maintenance might play in its probable cause, or as a contributing factor, is of keen interest to PAMA. The simultaneous loss of power in both engines while on final approach is of great concern to everyone. While we will not speculate on the causes of this accident, potential maintenance involvement is an issue that will be addressed by the investigative team. We'll keep you apprised here on the findings of the official investigation.

With PAMA's primary mission focused on continuous imporvements in safety , we welcome your comments and insights on this or other accidents.

Department of Labor Announces that Jobs Continue to Grow

In December, Secretary of Labor Elaine Cho announced that the United States has seen “51 consecutive months of job growth — the longest uninterrupted period of job growth since employment surveys have been taken.”

Secretary Cho explained that “Ninety-four thousand net new jobs were created in November, and the unemployment rate held steady at a low 4.7%, better than market forecasts.”

Despite these rosy announcements in the labor pool overall, the number of people employed in “transportation and material moving” occupations decreased by 5,000 jobs over the one year span from December 2006 to December 2007. The unemployment rate for the transportation sector increased during this time period from 5.9% to 6.0 %. The transportation industry remains more than a full point above the national average for unemployment rates.

Additional Inspections for Foreign Repair Stations

Prior to the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Bill, the White House condemned the bill for falling short of reforms proposed by the Administration. One of the issues that the White House has targeted is a provision that would require the FAA to perform two inspections a year on each FAA-certificated repair station outside the United States.

Presently, the FAA has agreements with France, Germany and Ireland to perform repair station inspections on its behalf. Those countries handle inspections of 152 of the 700 currently certificated foreign repair stations. The FAA oversees 1200 foreign-certificated repair stations in the U.S. on behalf of the foreign regulatory authorities.

Aircraft Parts Product Liability on the Hill

On December 6, 2007, Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R- MI) announced that he and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) are working on legislation to provide aircraft parts manufacturers with protections against lawsuits. Matt Reiffer, Legislative Director for Congressman Ehlers, explained that the proposed legislation is still in the planning stages and they are currently gathering data to support their position.

One option that would be available to them would be a reform of GARA, the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994. GARA provides an 18-year “statute of repose” on product liability lawsuits against general aviation manufacturers. The statute of repose offers manufacturers limited liability on aircraft and component parts manufactured and installed more than 18 years before an incident. GARA may provide manufacturers a defense against certain product liability lawsuits, but it does not prevent such lawsuits being filed.

It is possible under current law to sue an installer for the manufacturer’s liability, with the expectation that the installer would then be responsible for seeking indemnification from the manufacturer. The legislation that is being considered ought to provide PAMA members with some additional protection against this sort of pass-through liability. But the most important aspect of the limits would be that a decrease in frivolous lawsuits against aircraft parts manufacturers would likely lead to a decrease in product liability insurance rates – this in turn makes aircraft parts more affordable and more widely available.

Congress Considers Civil Aircraft Exports

Have you been frustrated by the complex and convoluted laws that apply to exports of aircraft parts? In recent years, several exporters have been surprised to learn that parts that they intended to export for civilian use were regulated as defense-related articles.

Congressman Manzullo () has been leading efforts to smooth out the process for obtaining export licenses for aircraft parts. The Congressman has introduced two separate bills in the current Congress that are designed to facilitate aircraft parts exports by making it clear that civilian aircraft parts are non-military.

Under the current law, the State Department controls exports of defense-related articles and the Commerce Department controls exports of civil aircraft parts. The distinction is important because many Commerce does not require export licenses on many items, and for those that are required to be licensed, the Commerce Department licensing process is easier to navigate than the State Department export licensing process.

US grounds 39 military aircraft for repairs

WASHINGTON (AFP) — About a quarter of the US military's P-3 Orion aircraft fleet have been grounded for inspections and repairs after the discovery of a structural fault, the US Marines said on Friday. The move affects 39 out of a fleet of 161 aircraft, spokesman Lieutenant Clay Doss said. The structural problem could cause cracks in the plane's wings, according to the Pentagon.

"The analysis and corrective measures are going to take between 18 and 24 months per aircraft to complete," Doss said. "The intention is to bring them back to the fleet."

Defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin's Orion maritime patrol aircraft first went into service for the US Navy in 1962 and have been modified over the years, with the latest model built in 1990. The land-based, turboprop aircraft is designed for long-range maritime patrols and anti-submarine operations.