Aircraft

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    Dallas: American Eagle ERJ Lands Safely with Hydraulic Failure


    Pictured: an American Eagle Jet
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Jonathan Morgan

    What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Dallas to Dayton Ohio
    Where: Dallas
    When: Jul 11th 2009
    Who: 43 passengers
    Why: Just after takeoff, the flight experienced issues with hydraulics. The landing gear failed to extend. Nearly an hour after leaving, the flight landed safely at the airport of origin, although “alternate gear extension” implementation was required.

    American Eagle is affiliated with American Airlines.

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    Fighter Escorts Primera Air to Rome


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Sergio Domingos

    What: Primera Air Boeing 737-700 en route from Zakinthos Greece to Dublin
    Where: Rome Italy
    When: Jul 10th 2009
    Who: 153 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: While en route, the Primera flight requested an emergency landing. It lowered altitude without declaring an emergency, which upset air traffic control. Fighter jets (Eurofighter) were deployed as an escort. The flight landed safely in Rome (after refusing Naples and burning off fuel.)

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    Airbus Unreliable Air Speed…again


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Gordon Gebert JR

    What: Cyprus Airways Airbus A330-200 en route from London to Larnaca Cyprus
    Where: London
    When: Jul 7th 2009
    Why: The Airbus rejected take-off from Heathrow because of an issue with the air speed indicator.

    George’s Point of View

    What? What is this?

    An issue with the air speed indicator? Where have we heard this before on an airbus?

    Was this the NEW pitot tubes or the old ones not replaced yet?

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    Airbus Nosegear Issue in Malta


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Darren Wilson

    What: Air Malta Airbus A320-200 en route from Malta to Amsterdam
    Where: Malta
    When: Jul 6th 2009
    Who: 167 passengers
    Why: The Air Malta Airbus A320-200 was en route when it experienced a problem with the nosegear and had to return to Malta where it did a flyby for air traffic control to get a look at the nosegear.

    George’s Point of View

    Not another Airbus…

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    Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus Grounded for Engine Vibration


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Karl Nixon

    What: Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A330-200 en route from Belfast to Orlando
    Where: Norfolk
    When: Jul 10th 2009
    Who: 265
    Why: En route, an engine started vibrating and had to be shut down. The crew decided to divert to Norfolk,VA

    George’s Point of View

    Another Airbus.

    Shutting down the engine is standard operating procedure, and at the same time, it is a near fatality because the pilot had to shut down that vibrating engine while the plane was still over the Atlantic Ocean, 60 miles from land. Can you imagine what was going through this Airbus pilot’s head as he made the decision to shut down that engine? No doubt he was thinking about last month’s two latest Airbus tragedies: Air France flight 447, or perhaps the Yemenia Airlines Airbus.

    I know how overdramatic this sounds. Pilots shut down engines all of the time. it’s the very reason they fly with more than one. Just in case. Pilot training covers how to fly on the remaining engines. But this is just July 2009. Even the most well -trained Airbus pilot has last month’s story of Air France flight 447 in his mind, especially when he’s flying something that fails over the ocean.

    This Thomas Cook Flight wasn’t experiencing a subtle problem. It wasn’t some subtle, quiet control panel error that could be handled as passengers flew along blissfully unaware and uninformed. In interviews of passengers, they are quoted as describing the engine as “vibrating” or “clackity.” No doubt there were 530 sweaty palms on that plane.

    This was one of at least 5 airbus events we heard about today–and it is not in fact, even a complete listing. Hopefully at least the pilot gets serious credit for getting these people safely on the ground.

    Who in the world is going to intercede and demand that Airbuses (every model) get checked from A-Z BEFORE they take off ‘in every part of the globe’? Vero?

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    Airbus Abandons Yemenia Air


    Splitting the blanket?

    Because Airbus has circulated the statement that the crash was due to “technical problems” (when no official statement should be made prior to an investigation), 49% Saudi-owned Yemenia Airlines is rumored likely to pull it’s order for 10 Airbus A350s. The order has been standing since a 2007 airshow, and involves millions. The Yemenia Airlines crash that occurred during a stormy weather landing on the Comoros Islands involved an Airbus.

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    Airbus in trouble Lands at San Fran Airport

    What: Northwest Flight Airbus 330 en route from San Francisco to Tokyo
    Where: SFO
    When: Thursday, 09 July 2009
    Who: 194 passengers
    Why: The flight took off without issues but developed a problem in one of its engines When the engine compressor failed, the flow of air to the engine was disrupted, and the flight had to return to the airport for a safe landing.

    George’s Point of View

    What a surprise, it’s another Airbus. An A330.

    Thank God, the ending is a happy one.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Yemenia Air Under Scrutiny by Investigative Team

    Yemenia Air Airbus 310 flight 626 en route from Yemen’s capital Sanaa to the Comoros Islands crashed on the second pass to land at the ill-equipped airport during heavy weather.

    Westlake Village, California (Press Release) July 8, 2009 — A lawyer has contacted George Hatcher to dispatch a team of his consultant staff to work on the Yemenia Air crash. The latest development in this recent aviation disaster is that the thirteen bodies found by fishermen 500 miles away from the Comoros Islands may be victims who have drifted from the Yemenia Airbus crash. On its second pass at attempting a landing at the airport during a fearsome storm off the Comoros, the Yemenia Airlines Airbus flew into the ocean, killing 141 passengers and 11 crew members. This is the second Airbus lost at sea in a single month, and the crash points to an ominous trend toward a lessening of safety in aviation. Bahia’s survival and thirteen hour ordeal clutching at floating debris while suffering a broken collarbone, and too weak to climb into the rescue boat is one that clutches at our heartstrings, especially when we find out that her mother died in the crash. Bahia was flown back to her family in Marseilles. But that is not the end of the story.

    Almost half of the dead were French citizens; and French citizens are up in arms over Yemenia Air. Having failed required criteria, the Airbus involved in the incident was under scrutiny, and not allowed to fly in French airspace; but the plane was allowed to regularly fly to Comoros, a poor island society with an ill-equipped airport. There is culpability to be assigned here, though it is all speculation until the black boxes are found. A 40 year veteran of litigation investigation and evaluation (including aviation,) George Hatcher explains that he was contacted by a lawyer working, “on behalf of some families, and we have dispatched a team there to assist.”

    The thirteen bodies that were just found washed ashore on “Mafia Island,” some 500 miles from the site of the crash. A wing with “Airbus” scribed on it, and a plane seat were found in close proximity to the bodies. However, the black boxes have NOT been found yet; and the vast distance that the wreckage traveled bodes ill for the prospects of finding them.

    There is already a group organized to protest the substandard plane accommodations. Spokesperson Farid Solihi of the protest group “SOS voyage aux Comores” has been an outspoken detractor of intolerable conditions aboard flights to and from Comoros. Hopefully the Hatcher team will be able to make contact with Solihi or some other “SOS voyage aux Comores” member.

    About George Hatcher
    George Hatcher is an independent generalist, a consultant dedicated to the support of the victims of aviation incidents or accidents. Known internationally, Hatcher works with well known lawyers, and develops crack teams to help support litigation, communication, and safety initiatives. To read further about the company, visit http://aircrashconsultants.com

    Contact: george@georgehatcher.com
    Aviation Consultants

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    Tailstrike on Landing Disables Russian Airbus

    What: Rossiya Airbus A320-200 en route from Hurghada Egypt to Saint Petersburg Russia
    Where: Saint Petersburg
    When: Jul 7th 2009
    Who: 176 passengers 6 crew
    Why: On landing, the airbus had a tail strike, which disabled the plane. Substantial damage occurred to the tail. Russian press released that there were no injuries. The plane was taken out of service for repairs.

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    Birdstrike in Baltimore

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Baltimore to Providence
    Where: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport
    When: Jul 7th 2009
    Who: 135 on board
    Why: On takeoff, the plane flew into a flock of birds. About 40 small birds were found on the runway after the incident. The plane landed shortly after the bird strike. The plane was sent to be examined; and another plane was provided about 5 hours later to resume the flight.

    George’s Point of View

    The birds are at it again.

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    Indonesian Boeing Lands Safely Without Left Main Wheel


    Pictured: Merpati Nusantara Airlines Boeing 737-400 registered as PK-MDM. (PK-MDO was the plane in the incident.)
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Biel Gomila

    What: Merpati Nusantara Airlines Boeing 737-400 en route from Biak to Ujung Pandang, Indonesia
    Where: Biak
    When: Jul 6th 2009
    Who: 110 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: On take off, the left main wheel (rolled or fell? entire wheel or tire?) was lost. After takeoff, the plane burned off fuel and landed safely (even without the wheel), apparently without substantial damage, as the plane reportedly resumed the flight 24 hours later.

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    Qantas Airbus Nosegear Fails at Heathrow


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Alasdair Mulhern

    What: Qantas Airbus A380-800 en route from Singapore to London
    Where: London Heathrow
    When: Jul 4th 2009
    Why: The first approach was aborted due to a nose gear issue. After landing, nose gear steering failed, and the plane was towed. However, repairs were made so that on the return flight, the delay was only about two hours.

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    Airbus with Smoke in Cabin Lands in India


    Pictured: A Kingfisher Airlines Airbus
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Steve Brimley

    What: Guwahati- Kolkata Kingfisher Airbus A320-200 en route from Guwahati to Kolkata
    Where: NSC Bose International Airport (Kolkata Airport is also known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport)
    When: Jul 7th 2009
    Who: 117 passengers (alternately reported as 170)
    Why: 125 km from landing at Kolkata, smoke was reported in the cabin coming from a galley. The plane landed safely and passengers debarked normally.

    A newspaper report claims there was a false alarm from a cockpit indicator reporting a fire in the cargo belly. No plane registration number was given for either report, though, so it conceivably could have been sloppy reportage of two separate KingFisher Airbuses at the same airport.

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    American Airlines Emergency Landing in Lafayette


    Pictured: American Airlines MD-80
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Andy P. Jung

    What: American Airlines MD-80 Flight 1243 en route from Ft. Lauderdale to Dallas
    Where: Lafayette’s Regional Airport
    When: 11:35 a.m. Monday
    Who: 151 on board
    Why: In the cabin, passengers experienced smoke and fumes en route; the pilot diverted to Lafayette because of a suspected electrical problem.

    Passengers were provided three options: ticket-exchange, rent a car for the rest of their trip or wait for the replacement MD-80.

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    Comoran Crash Update:

    Now that the beacons have been heard, French Navy Divers at Comoros have begun following up the search. On the 12th, their search will be assisted by underwater robotic technology.

    Only one survivor was found, 12 year old Bahia Bakari; and she has gone back to France to her father. Her mother was killed in the crash, and Bahia sustained a broken collarbone.

    The entire island is in mourning; plus there is some local disquiet because the plane that crash had been considered unfit to fly in French and European airspace, but was still allowed to fly to Comoros. (Even though the average income is $300 a year, they are not second class citizens.)

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    Indonesian Crash Update


    View Geplak in a larger map

    Earlier post


    Pictured: Indonesian C-130 Hercules licensed as A-1326. The plane in the crash was registered as A-1325.
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Peter de Jong

    What: Indonesian Air Force civilian Lockheed L-100-30(P) Hercules, en route from Jakarta to Madiun’s Iswahyudi Airport [WIAR] (Indonesia) (The Lockheed L-100 is the civilian version of a C-130 Hercules)
    Where: Magetan, East Java. Geplak 325 miles east of Jakarta.
    When: May 19 6:20am local time
    Who: 98 passengers (troops and their families) and 11 crew. On May 22nd, aviation authorities reported recovering 101 bodies. 15 survivors were taken to local hospitals. The exact number aboard is unclear. The flight manifest is reportedly inaccurate. (Some overlap with passengers and crew numbers. The reports range from 99 to 113 passengers and 13 or 14 crew members.) Ten children were on board the flight. Two were killed on the ground..
    Why: The plane was about to land at Iswahyudi military airbase. Witnesses claim the plane split apart in the air, (one of the wings fell off when the plane was still in the air) and exploded.

    The plane skidded through a rice paddy, a stand of trees and into four houses in Geplak. 9 people were in the houses, of whom two are reported dead.

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    Lufthansa Airbus Flight Cut Short


    Pictured: Lufthansa A330
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Gerhard F. Schmidt

    What: Lufthansa A 330 en route from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa
    Where: Frankfurt International Airport
    When: Friday July 3
    Who: not available
    Why: After some technical fault was experienced, the plane made an emergency landing at Frankfurt; however on landing, the plane’s nose gear tires burst and caught on fire.

    The incident was reported by News Yemen and since we only have one reference on this event, we are awaiting corroboration to verify that the incident is not being confused with the (July 3) Monarch Airlines Airbus A320-200 that was diverted to Munich after smoke was detected in the cabin, or the (July 2) Air One Airbus A320-200, flight AZ-2970 from Milan to Palermo that returned to Milan when smoke filled the cabin or the (July 2) Air Arabia Airbus A320-200 flight from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates that diverted to Kolkata with engine failure.

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    Yemenia Air Black Boxes heard

    George’s Point of View

    Twice now, within a month, Airbus equipment has failed in bad weather, for whatever reason.

    That is not supposed to happen. Planes aren’t supposed to fail. There is something wrong with the design of that plane, even my pool of expert pilots of Airbus quietly tell me this.

    And the fact-gathering news is still grim. The Air France flight 447 black boxes have not been found, and neither have the Yemenia Air black boxes. They have been “heard” — but the same thing was rumored about the Air France boxes, but that didn’t pan out.

    View Comoros in a larger map
    But Yemenia is suspending all flights from Marseille to Moroni. 61 of the victims were from Marseille.

    Yemenia Flight 626 crashed 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) south of Yemen, between Africa’s southeastern coast and the island of Madagascar. but the black boxes have been by a searching submarine.

    Some online opinions state that on the second pass attempting to land, the pilot simply flew into the sea while trying to negotiate the bad weather. There is apparently no radar at the airport where they were attempting to land.

    French and US ships are looking for debris and bodies; the BEA and Airbus are investigating.

    ILS Approach Runway 02 (Graphics: AIS ASECNA):

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    Pakistan Bird Strike


    Pictured: One of Shaheen Air’s 12 Boeing 737s
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Steve Brimley

    What: Shaheen Airlines Boeing 737-200 en route to Karachi
    Where: Benazir Bhutto Shaheed International Airport
    When: Saturday
    Who: not available
    Why: A bird strike right after take-off caused the pilots to request an emergency landing. No one was injured, and the flight took off after a delay of four hours.

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    Airbus Engine Fails during PreFlight


    Pictured: Airbus similar to the one in the incident
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Ruud Brinks

    What: Air France Airbus A320-200 en route from Paris Orly to Toulouse
    Where: Paris
    When: Jul 3rd 2009
    Who: not available
    Why: Prior to takeoff, during engine acceleration, the left engine failed. The flight was cancelled, and a replacement aircraft was required.
    No more details were available.

    George’s Point of View

    At least THIS one wasn’t the Pitot tubes.

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    Emergency Landing in Maracaibo


    Boeing owned by Venezolana similar to the one in the reported incident
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Art Brett

    What: Venezolana Rutas Aéreas de Venezuela RAV Boeing 737-200 en route from Maracaibo Venezuela to Aruba
    Where: Maracaibo
    When: Jul 2nd 2009
    Who: 54 passengers and 4 crew
    Why: After takeoff, the flight experienced the failure of the left hand engine, initiated by an “explosion” or backfire. The flight returned to Maracaibo, and landed safely.

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    Airbus 321-200 engine problem in India


    View from an airbus similar to the one in the incident
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Nitin Sarin

    What: Air India Airbus A321-200 en route from Kochi to New Delhi
    Where: Nagpur
    When: Jul 3rd 2009
    Who: 151 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: When the engine shut down amid-flight, the plane diverted to Nagpur where it made an emergency landing without any known injuries. Technical details regarding the engine problem have not been released.