In April, most of the Airbus jet was found, including the motors and some of the bodies. On April 27, we reported that the empty case was recovered after the Ile de Sein came in on the 26th from Senegal to assist in performing recovery operations in the current phase of Air France flight 447 project.

At that time, the Remora 6000 robot found the chassis of the CSMU but not the actual CSMU memory module, which (after the human remains) is the key prize wanted in this search, being the one thing that can shed light on what occurred on June 21 2009.

An hour ago (May 1, 2010) the news was released that the missing memory was located partially buried in the sand. The memory unit is now aboard the Ile de Sein.

BEA experts are cautiously optimistic about data recovery, and cite two years of water pressure as a disturbing factor.

In the search, the robot sends images up to the crew, who examines the transmissions for signs of the wreckage.

The official BEA statement is
“The investigation team localized and identified the memory unit from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) at 10 h UTC this morning. It was raised and lifted on board the ship Ile de Sein by the Remora 6000 ROV at 16h40 UTC.”

Now the question remains if the data will be recoverable.

* images and information are from Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses

Doncasters Inc. of London is a manufacturer of aviation components. They were recently held accountable for the death of five victims of the crash of a DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, the skydiving plane which exploded at the Sullivan airport.

Six people were killed: Melissa Berridge, 38, of St. Louis; Victoria Delacroix, 22, of London; Robert Cook, 22, of Rolla, Mo.; Rob Walsh, 44, of St. Louis; Scott Cowan, 42, of St. Louis were awarded four million each, and a portion of $28 million in punitive damages.

David Aternoster, 35, also died in the crash but his relatives were not part of the lawsuit. Jim and Scott Cowan, owners of Quantum Leap Skydiving were piloting.

Eight engine failures are believed to be due to a defective Doncasters part according to aviation experts, air crash investigators, metallurgists and aircraft design engineers.

NTSB Identification: DCA10FA076
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of DELTA AIRLINES INC
Accident occurred Thursday, July 15, 2010 in
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/29/2011
Aircraft: BOEING 767, registration: N184DN
Injuries: 1 Serious,201 Uninjured.

The NTSB full Narrative:
History of Flight:

On July 15, 2010, at about 0200 UTC, a Boeing 767-332ER, registered in the United States as N184DN and operated by Delta Airlines, encountered turbulence at flight level 360 near TOESS intersection north of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) Guam. One flight attendant suffered a broken ankle during the turbulence event. The flight had departed GUM at 1125 UTC and landed at Narita International Airport (NRT), its original destination, at 0344 UTC. None of the other 192 passengers or 9 crewmembers were injured. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121, and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan, and flying in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the event.

According to the captain of the flight, at the time of the turbulence encounter he was navigating around scattered cloud build-ups. Nothing was showing on radar, as he adjusted the antenna tilt between -1 and -5 degrees. At that time the seatbelt sign was not illuminated.
According to the injured flight attendant, she was walking down the aisle between the mid galley and the aft galley and fell to the floor at the time of the turbulence encounter.

Injuries:

None of the other 9 crewmembers or the 192 passengers were injured.

Damage to Airplane:

The airplane was not damaged.

Meteorological Information:

According to the operator, no turbulence was forecast for the area in which the airplane was flying at the time of the turbulence encounter. In addition, satellite imagery revealed that the airplane was in an area not conducive to turbulence when the event occurred.

Medical and Pathological Information:

The injured flight attendant was examined by a physician passenger who did not provide a diagnosis. She declined medical treatment upon arrival at Narita and proceeded to her home base of Minneapolis before seeking further medical advice. Upon arrival home, she saw a doctor who stated that her ankle was broken.

Flight Data Recorder:

According to the flight data recorder, the vertical acceleration during the turbulence encounter varied between +1.5 g and -0.3 g. The encounter lasted about 5 seconds.

See Flight Attendant Injured in Clear Air Turbulence

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Igor Bubin

What: Aerosvit/Dniproavia Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) to Moscow
Where: Moscow
When: Apr 28th 2011
Who: 30 passengers 4 crew
Why: After making a safe landing, the plane rolled off the runway and the gear struts collapsed.

Passengers exited on to the runway.

What: Hindustan Aeronautic Ltd HAL HJT-36 Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer
Where: Near Hosur, Krishnagiri about 50 miles SE of Bangalore
When: April 28 2011
Who: 2 pilots
Why: The Hindustan Aeronautic Ltd (HAL) trainer crashed Thursday near Hosur in Tamil Nadu. The pilots pilots Wg Cdr. Patra and Mathur ejected and survived, although they had several injuries.

Since 1968, the HAL jets have been used to replace the Kiran trainers. This particular jet had crashed before (at Aero India in February 2007) and had been repaired and returned to service.

This is the “prototype” which careened off the runway when its canopy opened just as the plane was getting airborne at the Aero India 2007 exposition.

It is no wonder that in India, aviation is having problems. Between a a questionable supply of pilots with legitimate licenses, problems with air traffic control, and now recycled planes which may not be providing top protection to those who have to ride in them. Fortunately for these two pilots, the ejector seat worked and they survived the crash, albeit somewhat the worse for wear. The incident is under investigation.

What: Cessna 180 en route from Vulcan, Alta., to Springfield, B.C.,
Where: Williams Lake, Rocky Mountains
When April 26 2011, between 8 and 9 am
Who: Fifty-nine year old pilot Ed Fedaj
Why: Friday, the dog Rusty was found by Parks staff Rusty survived a plane crash that killed his owner Ed Fedaj, but before the dog could be recovered, he disappeared into the park. After being looked over by a vet, Rusty, a 6 yr-old Border Collie will be returned to his family, to be adopted by Ted Fedaj.

The Cessna 180 was found where it slammed into a gorge at 1,500 metres on the side of Mount King. Ed’s body was retrieved in spite of an avalanche risk.

Ed had been visiting relatives in southern Alberta and was returning home to Williams Lake when he crashed.

The B.C. Coroners Service and the Federal Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

A Philippine SIAI-Marchetti
Aero Image.com
Contact photographer Rogier Westerhuis

What: Philippine Air Force Siai-Marchetti AS-211 Warrior
Where: Banawang village near the Stela Mariz Beach resort, Philippines
When: April 28 2011
Who: 2 pilots
Why: After taking off from Basa Air Base (Clark Field in Pampanga) on a routine flight, the Aermacchi S-211 trainer jet crashed near the beach.

Initially reports said there was one person aboard, but later reports say there were two who both died in the crash. One body has been retrieved, and divers are searching for one of the pilots who is missing. The condition of the plane is described as “vaporized” and “disintegrated.” Pieces of the plane, and what can be found of the bodies are being recovered for the examination, and local witnesses are being interviewed about what they saw.

The fatalities were Maj. Ephraim Gatus Suyom and Juan de Leon.

What: Flight Simulation Center Grob G115 # D-EOFS
Where: near Meggara Airport, Greece
When: 29-APR-2011
Who: 2 aboard, 2 fatalities
Why: The two aboard were on a training flight on the blue and white Grob G115 when the single engine plane crashed off the island of Spetses.

The instructor was a sixty year old Greek from Aigion, and the other was a non Greek man taking a flying lesson.

A marine taxi driver, Mr Lefteris Fostinis, was the first to discover the wreckage. A private diver found the two victims still in the cabin of the aircraft.

The bodies were retrieved and taken to Kranidi Medical Center.

The cause of the crash is unknown.

What: Kolavia Tupolev TU-154M en route from Mineralny Vody to Surgut Russia
Where: Mineralny Vody Russia
When: Apr 29th 2011
Who: 112 passengers
Why: While en route, the Tupolev developed a fire in the engine, or at least a fire indication. The pilot returned to Vody and made a safe landing half an hour after taking off.