United Airlines flight 328 from Denver to Honolulu made an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the afternoon of July 25.
The Boeing 777 with 269 passengers and 10 crew members aboard was forced to make emergency landing due to an “electrical odor,” according to airline spokeswoman Jennifer Dohm.
The plane landed safely and no one was hurt.
The aircraft was taken for inspection by the airline’s maintenance team.
Around noon on Oct 28, a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter carrying two Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife employees who were conducting fish counts (counting spawning nests, also called redds) crashed in the South Umpqua River near Days Creek. Both passengers and the pilot were conscious.
Power lines were damaged, and the plane was leaking fuel. Three hundred twenty people lost electricity. The FAA and the NTSB will be on hand to check out the accident. A hazmat team handled the fuel leak.
Two passengers, Holly Huchko, 34 and Eric Himmelreich, 35 were taken to Mercy Hospital in Roseburg, and the pilot to Sacred Heart at Riverbend. Huchko broke her back, Himmelreich broke a vertebra and the pilot, Fred Wittlake, broke an arm and some ribs.
The Umpqua Fish District office counts fish to help determine fishing regulation.
A Thomson Airways Boeing 787-800 en route from Manchester to Orlando on July 12 was enroute when technical problems–an electronic issue– developed.
Pilots diverted back to Manchester, circling Wales where they dumped fuel prior to securing a safe landing with emergency services on standby. Passengers were provided an alternative flight. A dedicated team of engineers inspected # G-TUIC.
The problem was reported to be a flushing issue.
photographer Andrea Tabanelli-Lugo Spotter
A Thomas Cook Airbus A330-200 OY-VKF en route from Cancun to Manchester had 338 people aboard when pilots made an emergency diversion to Bermuda due to what one source called a “reported fire in the cabin” at about 8.20pm. Another account recorded the problem as ‘smoke coming from the in-flight entertainment system’.
Pilots made a safe landing with emergency services on standby. Passengers disembarked without injury, and were provided hotel accommodations until their flight out.
Thomas Cook’s official statement is that ‘It was initially reported as a suspected fire in the cabin, but there was no fire.’There was a small amount of smoke detected by a member of the crew in the cabin, but it is thought that was something to do with the in-flight entertainment system.’
On Jan 31, 2013, a Cessna R172K was en route from Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (El Plumerillo International Airport, ) in Mendoza Argentina to San Carlos de Bariloche Airport in San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina when it suffered a loss of electrical power.
Pilot Rodolfo Smith made a safe emergency landing near Villa La Angostura.
Pilots made an emergency landing on Route 40 Rincon Chico Zone, The passengers had planned to visit Bariloche and fly on to Chile. Individuals from an Aeroclub and ANAC came to assist.
Repairs to the electrical system were made and the plane took off to complete its journey. The passengers were en route to a festival in Chile.
On Jan 28, 2013, American Airlines Boeing 767 Flight 233 with 198 passengers and a crew of 13 was en route from Miami to Brazil when it developed an electrical odor in the cockpit.
The pilots diverted to Puerto Rico and made a safe landing in San Juan at 5:08 p.m.
The plane is to remain there overnight for inspection, and on the 29th, take the crew and passengers on to Sao Paolo.
Hotel accommodations were provided for passengers.
Here’s what is bothering me:
It’s no secret how planes are tested before they are released, to the very extreme so how did this electrical problem issue by the testing? Is my favorite plane manufacturer taking short cuts in quality control?
The Japan Boeing 787 Dreamliner was delivered on Dec. 20 and had only flown 169 flight hours and 22 flights when one of its two lithium ion batteries caught fire.
Is the investigation going to turn from the battery to the problem referenced by the whistleblower?
But is GS Yuasa really off the hook?
Battery questions:
The entire 787 fleet is grounded. Replacing the battery system might be a “quick” fix but certification could last a year.
A large format battery can generate heat faster than it dissipates.
Is venting the battery and monitoring the vents a viable temporary solution that could keep the planes in the air until a system alternative has been certified within the year?
The current batteries are “prone to spontaneous combustion due to ‘organic electrolyte which makes it volatile and flammable.'”
On December 26, 2012, an Antonov 2 TP made a hard landing in Sörmland Swedon while on a ferry flight to Arizona.
THe plane suffered an electrical failure with all electrical instruments going down, forcing an emergency landing.
The pilot Cody Purdon secured a landing in a field with no damage to the plane or those aboard. Halfbrother Peter Purdon explained they had flown to Sweden to buy the plane and were flying it home to Arizona; and they will have to reassess their schedule, based on how repairs go.
Politicians aren’t aviation news, but…
Air Force One pilot aborted his first landing in Toledo, Ohio, due to hairy conditions on Wednesday. Plus we hear the flight had experienced turbulence.
And Ann Romney’s plane filled up with smoke after an electrical fire. Safe landing there too.
Good call on firing the TSA Agent who nabbed a passenger’s stolen ipad (including the 380 theft-related TSA firings that didn’t make the news.)
No jokes about the safety incidents. We’re glad the superlative pilots flying both planes brought everyone home safely.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Rainer Bexten
What: Southern Air Boeing 747-200F en route from Miami to Anchorage
Where: Anchorage International Airport
When: Sept 11, 2012
Who: crew
Why: Outside of Anchorage, all four main power generators on the Southern Air Boeing quit; the plane had a complete electrical failure. They made the rest of the flight on battery power, which was nearly depleted by the time they reached Anchorage.
The Southern Air cargo jet landed in Anchorage on backup power and without communication until 13 minutes before landing; the landing was hard and fast without reverse thrusters. No one was injured, although on landing, 14 of the Of the jet’s 18 tires blew out. Emergency services were on standby awaiting a fire.
The previous owner of the plane was Saudi Air.
What: Fly The Whale (Charter) twin-engine Piper Chieftain en route from Nantucket Memorial Airport to White Plains, New York airport
Where: Martha’s Vineyard
When: September 3, 2012 8:00 pm
Who: 9 passengers
Why: The flight was en route when a (possibly electrical) smell pervaded the cabin. The pilot made a precautionary landing at Martha’s vineyard. Passengers transferred to another Fly The Whale flight and continued on to New York.
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-135 en route from Denver CO to Los Angeles
Where: Hayden
When: July 19 2011
Who: 36 passengers and 3 crew
Why: While en route, the crew detected an electrical odor. They reported the issue to ATC.
The flight made a safe landing at Yampa Valley Airport. Maintenance is examining the plane.
Passengers were provided bus transportation to Denver where they were provided alternative flights.
What: Colombian Police Bell UH-1 Huey en route from La Salina to Yopal
Where: La Salina, Casanare Province Colombia
When: June 11, 2011
Who: 11 aboard, 8 fatalities
Why: In Bogata, a police Huey crashed on take-off when it became entangled with electrical cables (high voltage wires). Mechanical failure may have been involved. Seven died on the scene, and one en route.
The deceased included four helicopter crewmen (Pilot Captain Manuel Niño Nestor Acosta, co-pilot Lt. Fuentes Fabián Meneses and technical sub Leandro Mayor Sanchez) and four members of the police anti-narcotics service (Gutierrez Mendoza Eimer, John Contreras Lobo, John Jewel Delgado, Wilson Germain Medina Correa Delgado and Castillo). Four surviving narcotics officers (Miguel Ochoa Assistant Parrado, Domingo Gamarra Roso, Orlando Castillo and Jose Jaimes Torres Vesga) have been hospitalized.
The helicopter was completely destroyed.
The chopper’s registration number was PLC-0731
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jonathan Morgan
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Montreal to Chicago O’Hare
Where: Toronto
When: May 13 2011
Who: 49 passengers and 3 crew,
Why: When an electrical odor was detected aboard the plane, the pilots diverted to Toronto where they made a safe landing. Passengers did not have to disembark using slides. There were no injuries.
The source of the smell was an overheated fluorescent light
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ron Carter
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-500 en route from Houston to Phoenix
Where: El Paso Texas
When: May 4, 2011, 5 pm
Who: 138 aboard
Why: While en route, an electrical smell was detected. Oxygen masks were deployed.
The flight diverted to El Paso and made a safe landing. Passengers did not have to use emergency slides. They were provided an alternate flight to Phoenix while the plane was ferried for inspections.
Pictured: An American Eagle Embraer EMB-145LR
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Propfreak
What: American Eagle Embraer en route from Los Angeles to Reno
Where: near Fresno
When: May 6th 2011 1:40 pm
Who: 41 aboard
Why: The flight had taken off and was en route when an odor was detected on board.
The pilot diverted to Fresno made a safe landing, and taxied to the gate. Passengers were able to exit normally.
The odor was described as a “hot, electrical ozone smell.” Mechanics examined the plane to find the source of the smell.
On April 4, 2011, a United Airlines Airbus 320-232 with 109 passengers and crew aboard returned to the airport about 20 minutes after take-off due to electrical difficulties and smoke in the cockpit. On landing, the crew described a loss of anti-skid braking and nose-wheel steering and passengers had to exit via slide. (The right front slide failed.) Dan Bower is investigator-in-charge of the NTSB team including reps of Federal Aviation Administration,United Airlines, the Air Line Pilots Association, theAssociation of Flight Attendants, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and an Airbus rep appointed by the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) of the Government of France.
What: United Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from New Orleans,LA to San Francisco,CA
Where: Louis Armstrong Airport
When: April 4 2011 7:20 a.m. after a 13 minute flight
Who: 100 passengers 5 crew
Why: After takeoff, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit, and returned to the airport. The pilot reported losing all instruments, and landed on backup power, blowing out a tire and running off the runway. Passengers evacuated via slides.
After landing, passengers were taken to the Hilton.
TRANSCRIPT OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, PILOT CONVERSATION
UA 497: Clear for takeoff runway 19, thank for you very much.
UA 497: We need to vector back to the airport, we got a smoke issue with the airplane.
N.O. Approach: Turn right 030 (degrees) and maintain 4,000 (feet.)
UA 497: 030 4,000. And we’d like the longest runway please.
N.O. Approach: There are men and equipment on the runway – they’re going to try to get them off now. Descend at pilot’s discretion. Maintain 2,000.
UA 497: We are declaring an emergency and please roll equipment for our landing please.
N.O. Approach: We are unable for (runway) 10, can you take (runway) 19?
UA 497: ..no..
N.O. Approach: Roger, we are clearing the runway now.
Airport operations: How much time do we have?
New Orleans Tower: I’d say they are about 11 miles to the west.
Airport operations: Tower, we can start trying to pull them off, but I don’t think we will get them all off in time.
N.O. Approach: United 497, Say souls on board and fuel remaining.
UA 497: 106 souls on board, fuel remaining 32,400 pounds.
N.O. Approach: They are still trying to get all the vehicles off the runway and 19 is still available if you like….
New Orleans Tower: … working as fast as they can (unintelligible) There is a bunch of equipment on there they’re tying to get off now.
UA 497: You need to clear it for us.
New Orleans Tower: I understand, sir. We’re getting them off as fast as we can.
N.O. Approach: Turn right heading 140, main 2,000 ….cleared ILS runway 10 approach.
New Orleans Tower: Can you verify the vehicles are exiting?
Airport operations: We are attempting to get the vehicles off right now, I’m removing the cones also.
New Orleans Tower: OK, cause I haven’t seen any of the vehicles move and the aircraft is ten to the northwest and they have to have runway 100.
N.O. Approach: United 497, Turn right heading 180.
UA 497: um…. We only have one… um … (Alarms sounding in background.)
N.O. Approach: United 497 say again sir?
New Orleans Tower: We need three minutes to get the runway clear.
UA 497: (alarms blaring) We’ve lost all our instruments right now and we’re going to need (directions)
N.O. Approach: United turn left heading, 20 degrees left
N.O. Approach: Just continue left turn, I’ll tell you when to stop.
UA 497: (unintelligible) What vector are we from the airport?
N.O. Approach: Right now sir you are on the 330 degree heading from the airport. Northwest of the airport for runway 19er. If you continue on this present heading you’ll set up on the shoreline for 19.
UA 497: Shoreline for 19.
N.O. Approach: I can set u up there or I can vector you, what’d you need?
UA 497: That’s fine.
N.O. Approach: (unintelligible…)You got the water, right?
UA 497: Yeah, we got the water and we’re going to stop here about 600 feet.
N.O. Approach: Roger that. The airport’s currently at your 1 o’clock and five miles.
UA 497: 1 o’clock and five miles roger.
New Orleans Tower to fire crews: Fox-6, next arrival runway 19er is our aircraft. And the aircraft is approximately 3 miles northwest runway 19er.
N.O. Approach: If you start your right turn now I can set you up on final.
UA 497: Start turn on final.
New Orleans Tower to fire crews: The aircraft is over the shoreline around two miles out. You do have permission to proceed on to the runway after he lands.
N.O. Approach: Make a right turn. The airport is off to yoru right side,
N.O. Approach: 497, clear to land 19er. You’ll be able to make it sir? Winds 180 at 16, gusts to 20, Clear to land. Runway 19er.
New Orleans Tower to fire trucks: Fox-5, this is our aircraft touvh ing down bow.
New Orleans Tower: Follow the aircraft down the runway.
New Orleans Tower: We’re going to need runway 10 operational. Runway 19er is fouled at this time.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Paul Carlotti
What: Air Canada Airbus A319-100 en route from Toronto to Winnipeg
Where: Sault Ste Marie
When: Mar 8 2011
Who: 125 aboard
Why: While en route, the plane was over Canada when the displays quit. The loss of the displays is being attributed to an electronic power failure. (Wonder if there was a short or if it was something else?) The displays were only offline for less than a minute, and subsequently began flashing error messages. Pilots continued on to Winnipeg and managed to land safely. The plane was taken out of commission in order to have an Airbus inspection to determine what exactly was going on.
Flying an Airbus without electronic displays is, I think, tantamount to suicide. I am surprised they didn’t divert somewhere and land immediately. Is it not somewhat risky to continue flying an airbus when the display connections are flakey? This same sort of thing happened on a BMI Airbus A321. Apparently catastrophic failure in rough conditions is not unheard of. In fact, rough conditions are not required to cause the need for a reboot. The term for “rebooting” an airbus that has lost its electronics is called “recycling,” a common enough thing that there is recognizable pilot humor regarding it.
Pictured: Air Austral F-ONGA. F-ONGB is the plane that had the electrical problem.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mickael Payet
What: Air Austral Boeing 737-800 from Saint Denis to Johannesburg
Where: Saint Denis
When: Feb 27th 2011
Why: After take-off from Saint Denis, the plane developed an electrical problem and had to return to the airport. An alternative plane was flown in to make the replacement flight.
Air Austral Boeing was delivered in December 2010.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Daniel J. Evans
What: Piedmont/US Airways Havilland Dash 8-300 en route to Lynchburg
Where: Lynchburg Regional Airport.
When: Jan 26, 2010, 10:35 a.m.
Who: 13 passengers, 3 crew
Why: While en route during a heavy rainfall, the plane was struck by lighting.
The plane was 20 nautical miles from Lynchburg at the time of the lightning strike and made a safe landing under a magnitude “Alert Two” emergency. An electrical failure was reported but the plane landed and taxied under its own power.
The plane was then scheduled to be ferried off for repairs. Passengers were scheduled on alternative flights.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: US Airways Airbus A320-200 en route from Chicago O’Hare to Phoenix
Where: Eppley Airfield, Omaha
When: Jan 23rd 2011 9:30 am
Who: 107 aboard
Why: While en route, the plane developed electrical problems affecting cabin temperature. The pilot made a safe landing after diverting to Omaha, and landing without nose gear steering, without which, the plane had to be towed to the gate.
Pictured: An Estonia Air Boeing 737 at Tallinn – Lennart Meri (Ulemiste)
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: Estonia Air Boeing 737 en route from Tallinn to Copenhagen
Where: Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport
When: Jan 16, 2011
Why: A leak in a water pipe set off electrical problems. The pilots returned to the airport and made a safe landing.
Passengers were provided an later flight.
What: United Airlines/Skywest Canadair CRJ-700
Where: Tucson
When: Jan 1, 2011
Why: On takeoff, the cabin filled with electrical smoke. The odor prompted the crew to make a return to Tucson.
They made a safe landing with no reported injuries. The cause of the problem has not been reported.
Immediately following the crisis of the 27 year old Tupolev that blew up before taking off on January 1, 2011, is yet another problem for Russia’s suffering Aviation reputation.
The electricity to Domodedovo Airport failed twice this week, with the airport being without electricity for a half hour on January 2nd and avoiding a shut down thanks to the backup generator now being utilized.
In December Domodedovo was shut down for two days due to electrical problems from an ice storm, which is why the backup generator is now in place. 300,000 Moscow residents were reported to be out of power.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Cees de Krijger
What: AirExplore Boeing 737-400 en route from Verona to Kos
Where: Kos, Greece
When: September 4, 2010
Who: 7 crew, 169 passengers
Why: After the left engine caught on fire, the plane made an emergency landing on Kos. Passengers disembarked via emergency slides. No injuries were reported.
