Boeing

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    Smoking Engine in Turks and Caicos Islands

    On Oct 23, an American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) to Miami reported a fire in the cockpit, a smoking engine and a loss of fuel. With smoke in the cockpit, and a hot engine, pilots made a safe landing when they diverted to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

    None of the 169 passengers and 6 crew reported injury.

    Some sources reported “There was no fire anywhere” but other sources say there was an engine fire. American Airlines sent a replacement flight which made it to Miami Tuesday.

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    Delta Diversion to Pasco Washington

    A Delta Airlines Boeing 757 en route from Atlanta,GA to Seattle,WA (USA) with 185 people aboard apparently developed a cargo fire on Oct 21, 2013.

    Pilots diverted diverted to Pasco Washington where they made a safe landing.

    Emergency services responded to the scene which was apparently a heat sensor alarm. No fire was found.

    The 757 was grounded at the Pasco airport. Some of the passengers were provided a charter bus to Seattle, some rented cars, and others waited for a Tuesday flight.

    Video below

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    Pilot suspended

    A Kabo Airlines Boeing 747 which carried 512 passengers from Kano to make an emergency landing in Sokoto sustained tire damage, deflated tires, and damaged instrument landing systems on landing at Sokoto.

    The pilot who flew that plane and made the emergency landing has been suspended.

    The Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority made the suspension because the pilot failed to obey the air traffic controller’s directive to land on runway 08, but landed on a different runway.

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    Southwest Emergency Landing

    A Southwest Boeing 737-700 en route from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Fort Lauderdale made a safe landing at William P Hobby Airport in Houston after developing cabin pressure problems.

    None of the 140 passengers were injured. Flight 2896 made a safe landing the evening of October 9, 2013.

    Passengers were provided an alternate flight to Fort Lauderdale.

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    United Airlines Emergency Landing in Boise

    On Sept 26, a United Airlines Boeing 737-924ER (WL), flight 1603, was en route from Houston to Seattle with 161 passengers and six crew when the pilot suffered a heart attack.

    The first officer took over and diverted Flight 1603 to Boise, Idaho. A doctor and military personnel aboard the plane performed CPR on the Captain in First Class.

    A pilot/trainer who was a passenger took the copilot seat as the co-pilot took the captain’s seat and made the safe landing in Idaho.

    Capt. Henry Skillern, 63, was taken to Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Boise where he he died.

    United flew in a pilot from San Francisco and then Flight 1603 continued to Seattle.

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    Ethiopian Airlines Diverts to Malta

    On Sept 19, 2013, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 757-231 was en route from Rome to Addis Ababa when one engine developed problems.

    The flight was diverted to Malta, where they made a safe landing with one engine.

    None of the 135 aboard were injured.

    The flight took off again later, for Addis Ababa.

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    American Airlines Diversion to San Andres

    An American Airlines 757 from San Jose, Costa Rica to Miami, Florida diverted to San Andres at 9.45 a.m. when there was smoke in the cockpit. Pilots made a safe landing in rainy conditions.

    No injuries were reported to the 172 passengers or six crew members aboard. No cause for the smoke has been reported yet. Passengers exited the plane prior to it being examined.

    Caracol TV reported that there was a “mechanical issue” behind the diversion

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    Little Bird


    A development like the Boeing helicopter that can make autonomous takeoffs and landings is one that brings with it a whole set of questions.

    The “little bird” which is the first full-size helicopter to take off and land on its own was developed by Boeing, Carnegie Mellon University and Piasecki Aircraft.

    One wonders for example, if the software/hardware is transferable to other helicopters, and if this would increase or decrease the safety of those aboard.

    I am looking forward to hearing more about the progress of this helicopter.

    According to Boeing, the Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator is a modified MD 530F single-turbine helicopter designed for optionally manned flight, a platform capable of dual pilot, single pilot or no pilot flight operations. It can be remotely operated or programmed for autonomous operation in any mode. The unmanned variant is only being marketed internationally.

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    Engine Falls Off of Plane


    Here’s something we don’t hear too often:

    A plane’s propeller blade broke off, vibrated and the plane’s engine broke and fell off during flight. People survived this, so we can presume the flight didn’t get too high.

    On Sept 10, 2013, a Vintage Wings of Canada Boeing PT-27 Stearman took off and crashed with two aboard.

    The plane crashed right after takeoff from McGill Airfield. The two aboard the plane suffered minor injuries.

    Fire trucks and ambulances responded to the scene.

    Photo found on Twitter

    The incident is being investigated by Canadian Transportation Safety board.

    Canadian Aviation Daily Reporting System reported this as:

    A Vintage Wings of Canada Boeing B75N1 (C-GKUE) from Brandon, MB (CYBR) to St. Andrews, MB (CYAV) crashed on departure from runway 26 at CYBR. Emergency services and RCMP responded. RCC, TSB, NOC and CACO all advised.

    Update AOR 166176-V1: A Vintage Wings of Canada Boeing B75N1 (C-GKUE) from Brandon, MB (CYBR) to St. Andrews, MB (CYAV) departed runway 26 and shortly after take-off the engine was observed detached from the aircraft. Aircraft went vertical and then crashed onto the runway. ARFF responded in 2 minutes. Runway 08/26 closed at 1807Z. As a result, Westjet Encore (WJE3242) DH8D diverted to Winnipeg, MB and a private M20P returned to Portage La Prairie, MB. Runway was re-opened at 1950Z.

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    Southwest Airlines Boeing Bird Strike

    A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Raleigh Durham to Chicago suffered a bird strike after takeoff.

    The right engine lost power. Pilots shut down the engine.

    Pilots made a safe landing in Raleigh Durham with emargency services on standby.

    No injuries were reported. A alternative Southwest flight was provided for passengers.

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    Two Boeings Bump in Tanzania


    Oman Air Flight 717, a Boeing 737-800 bumped a stationary Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767-300. The winglet on the Oman Air plane made contact.

    The Oman Air flight to Dar-Es-Salaam and Muscat was only delayed four hours.

    Neither plane reported damage. There is no indication if passengers were aboard either plane at the time of the incident.

    The incident occurred at Zanzibar International Airport, now called Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.

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    Boeing Emergency Landing in Irkutsk


    On August 28, 2013, a British Airways Boeing 747-436 en route from Heathrow to Beijing was en route when it developed ‘overheated avionics’ and had to divert to Irkutsk, Russia where it made a safe landing with emergency services on standby.

    It was an emergency landing, but the Russian Ministry called the landing a crash-landing.

    There were 289 passengers and eight crew aboard.(According to British Mail, 16 crew.)

    There were 120 rescue personnel, 34 vehicles including the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.

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    Proximity Blamed on Tenerife South ATC

    On November 12, 2011, the Iberia Airbus A321 had been approaching Tenerife South airport at high speed just before it landed on the same runway that a Jet2 Boeing 757-200 was departing did so because of a premature take-off clearance to the 757.

    The 757 was airborne over the runway as the A321 touched down at an unexpectedly fast approach. Although the A321’s airspeed had decreased constantly through the descent, its ground speed was 210kt. Expected airspeed is in the 180-203kt range.

    The planes were separated by at least 4,100ft.

    The incident has been attributed to the tower controller’s “improper handling” of the take-off clearance to the 757.

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    Travel Service Flight Aquaplanes in Pardubice


    A Travel Service Boeing 737-8Q8 (WL) en route from Bourgas to Pardubice in the Czech Republic landed in Pardubice in heavy ran.

    Metars at 15:00 UTC / 17:00 LT:
    LKPD 251500Z 08003KT 040V110 9999 -RA FEW040 OVC060 15/14 Q1013 NOSIG RMK BLU BLU

    Translation: METAR LKPD 25th @ 1500Z, wind from 080 at 3 KT, winds varying from 040 to 110, visibility unlimited, Weather: light rain, Sky: few clouds at 4000, overcast at 6000, temperature 15, dewpoint 14, altimeter 1013 mb, nosig remarks: blu blu

    The business travel flight from Bulgaria land on Sunday around 5:00 p.m.. None of the 191 passengers sustained injury when the plane aquaplaned on the runway.

    Passengers exited via sstairs.

    The plane is undamaged, but an investigation is ongoing.

    Passengers scheduled on the plane’s next flight were provided bus transportation to Prague to a waiting plane.

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    Boeing Runway Overrun in Moscow, No Injuries


    A Nordstar Airlines Boeing 737086J en route from Rhodes to Moscow Domodedovo made it to Moscow but skidded off the runway on the landing.

    None of the 170 passengers aboard were hurt.

    The passengers descended on “soft” grass on portable stairs. There was no visible damage to the plane. After the passengers disembarked, the plane was towed.

    Emergency services responded to assist.

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    Asiana Crash Updated

    On July 6, 2013 a crash occurred involving Asiana Airlines Flight 214, a Boeing 777. The crash occurred while the aircraft was landing at San Francisco International Airport and appears to be due to pilot error. Many incidents are attributed to pilot error, but there is rarely a single cause.

    There are countless victims of general aviation and military accidents, many involving foreign claimants. These accidents range from air balloons, flight training, ground school, air ambulances, banner planes, aerobatics, helicopters, and propeller, turbo–prop and jet–powered aircraft.

    The aircraft involved have been Cessna, Cirrus, Beechcraft, Piper, Bellanca, Piper, Lear Jets, Citation Jets, Bell helicopters, Sikorsky helicopters, Robinson helicopters, Aerospatiale helicopters and countless other aviation manufacturers.

    Aviation operators are not immune; they are held accountable, as are maintenance facilities and private & public air traffic control centers. Below, please find News and NTSB updates on the Asiana Accident in San Francisco on July 6, 2013.

    See Video

    NTSB B Roll of Wreckage

    In George’s Point of View

    I’m not a pilot, mechanic, engineer or lawyer, but I have seen a lot of these accidents. I am reminded of the Amsterdam event -Turkish Air Feb 2008. In this crash, it was determined that a radio altimeter fault caused auto-throttles to prematurely respond. The crew failed to respond when the plane lost airspeed resulting in a stall and crash. If I were investigating, I’d look into the radio altimeter situation to make sure it was (or was not) part of the chain of events leading to this accident.

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    Nordwind Plane Fender Bender in Thailand


    On August 14, 2013, a Nordwind Airlines Boeing 767 300 en route from Bangkok to Irkutsk, with 284 passengers aboard was (standing) on the ground when it was struck by a vehicle.

    None of the passengers aboard were injured–expressed by Phuket news as “no human casualties” but the plane suffered damage.

    The plane was on the ground in Suvarnabhumi, Thailand. Passengers (we hope) were provided alternate transportation, but there’s no indication we could find of what those circumstances might be.

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    Virgin and Jetstar Collide in Australia


    A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 scheduled from Melbourne to Maroochydore had a ground accident on the tarmac.

    The plane collided with a Jetstar AirbusA320. None of the 175 passengers on the Virgin flight were injured but both planes sustained damage.

    The Boeing’s left winglet was damaged.

    The Virgin Australia plane was reversing.

    The Jetstar sustained damage to the tail. It had just returned from Sydney, and was stationary during the collision.

    An investigation is ongoing. Damages of about three million are estimated to each craft.

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    NTSB ISSUES SECOND INVESTIGATIVE UPDATE ON SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK

    August 6, 2013
    WASHINGTON – In its continuing investigation of the July 22 accident in which Southwest Airlines flight 345, a B-737-700, landed hard at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), the National Transportation Safety Board has developed the following factual information:

    • The captain has been with Southwest for almost 13 years and has been a captain for six of those years. The captain has over 12,000 total flight hours, over 7,000 of which are as pilot-in-command. In 737s, the captain has over 7,900 hours, with more than 2,600 as the pilot-in-command.

    • The first officer has been with Southwest for about 18 months. The pilot has about 5,200 total flight hours, with 4,000 of those as pilot-in-command. In 737s, the first officer has about 1,100 hours, none of which are as the pilot-in-command.

    • This was the first trip the flight crew had flown together and it was the second leg of the trip. The first officer had previous operational experience at LGA, including six flights in 2013. The captain reported having flown into LGA twice, including the accident flight, serving as the pilot monitoring for both flights.

    • The en route phase of the flight, which originated in Nashville, was characterized by the flight crew as routine. On approach into LGA, the first officer was the pilot flying and the captain was the pilot monitoring. SWA 345 was cleared for the ILS Runway 04 approach.

    • The weather in the New York area caused the accident flight to enter a holding pattern for about 15 minutes. The crew reported that they saw the airport from about 5-10 miles out and that the airplane was on speed, course and glideslope down to about 200-400 feet.

    • The crew reported that below 1,000 feet, the tailwind was about 11 knots. They also reported that the wind on the runway was a headwind of about 11 knots.

    • SWA 345 proceeded on the approach when at a point below 400 feet, there was an exchange of control of the airplane and the captain became the flying pilot and made the landing.

    • The jetliner touched down on the runway nose first followed by the collapse of the nose gear; the airplane was substantially damaged.

    At this point in the investigation, no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions have been found. A preliminary examination of the nose gear indicated that it failed due to stress overload.

    Investigators have collected five videos showing various aspects of the crash landing. The team will be analyzing these recordings in the coming months.

    Parties to the investigation are the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Southwest Airlines, and the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association.

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    Emergency Landing in SFO


    On August 3rd, a United Airlines Boeing 747-400 was en route to Sydney, Australia when it made an emergency landing in San Francisco International Airport Saturday night.

    An emergency was declared on 863 after taking off at 10:45 p.m.

    One of the engines was shut down.

    The plane turned around, dumped fuel and made a safe landing at San Francisco International Airport with emergency services standing by.

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    Emergency Landing in Shannon

    A Delta Boeing 767 diverted to Shannon and made an emergency landing on August 5, 2013 with emergency services on standby.

    220 passengers and crew were aboard when the right engine developed problems and was shut down.

    Pilots dumped fuel thirty minutes into the flight and made a safe landing in Shannon.

    The flight was en route from Italy to Atlanta.

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    Korean Airlines Runway Excursion


    A Korean Airlines Boeing 737-9B5 en route from Incheon Seoul S Korea to Niigata, Japan with 115 aboard (106 crew) suffered a runway excursion.
    The plane came to rest mired in soft grass.

    Passengers exited via mobile stairs on to the tarmac where a bus picked them up to take them to the gate.

    The plane’s outbound flight has been cancelled but Nigata Airport traffic was not substantially disrupted.

    The Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will conduct a special inspection of Korean Air because “runway overruns are classified as a “serious incident” by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)”

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    Fiji Airlines Emergency Diversion to Auckland

    A Fiji Airways Boeing 737-700 was en route from Auckland to Suva when an engine developed issues.

    Pilots returned to Auckland International Airport where they made a safe landing with emergency services including fourteen fire engines on standby.

    After landing, the plane was escorted by half a dozen fire engines. No fire was found on the plane.

    Passengers were provided alternative transportation. None of the 122 passengers or six crew were injured.