Landing

  • | | | |

    Chopper Crash Kills 10

    What: PT Nyaman Air Bell 412 Chopper chartered by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals en route from Manado Sulawesi Island in Indonesia to the Gosowong Mine
    Where: Manado, Bitung, North Sulawesi
    When: August 2, 2011, 2:30
    Who: 10 aboard, (8 employees and 2 flight crew)
    Why: The helicopter PK-FUG flown by pilot Edi Purnomo crashed into Mount Dua Saudara while en route. Nine aboard died in the crash, including two Australians, two South Africans and four Indonesians were passengers on the flight. The crew were Indonesian.
    The flight was missing initially. Foggy weather hampered the search until it was finally found at 2 a m August 3, with one survivor, who died en route to the hospital. Work has been suspended at Newcrest’s Gosowong gold mine in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

    The chopper took off at 4:26 a.m. and lost contact with ATC shortly after takeoff.

    The chipper was a joint venture between Australia’s Newcrest Mining and Indonesian company Aneka Tambang.
    Contact information for the families:

    Callers from Australia – 1800 267 616 Callers from PNG – 0008 661 164 Callers from Indonesia
    o Landline – +62 21 7884 6956 ext 4005
    o Mobile – +62 816 237002 Callers from other countries
    o Landline – +61 3 9522 5562 o Mobile – +61 419 654 092

  • | | | |

    Airblue 202 A Year Later


    India’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a statement which they are calling an interim report. It is not what we would call an interim report, but appears to be a report that there is a report that restates the facts as they were known already, not containing actual investigation output. The media has already highlighted the findings of the interim report several times. The report notes that the investigation covered system issues, fire, bird strikes, etc but does not mention causes or place responsibility, and promises a release when component manufacturers have responded.

    So basically, the families have waited a year for the Air Blue Interim report, on the July 28 flight from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport to Benazir Bhutto International Airport and still have no satisfactory answers.

  • | | | | | |

    Antonov Overshoots Runway in Rough Weather

    What: IrAero Antonov An-24RV en route from Chita to Blagoveshchensk
    Where: Blagoveshchensk Airport, Russia
    When: August 08, 2011
    Who: 35 passengers, 5 crew, 10+ injuries
    Why: On approach to Blagoveshchensk airport, the plane encountered rough weather and overshot the runway.

    The plane encountered wind shear on approach, injuring ten passengers. The plane lost a wing in the landing, and the fuselage was damaged, coming to rest 200 meters from the runway. Three children were aboard.

    A passenger said (loosely quoted) “We were sitting closer to the wing. As soon as the plane touched the ground, it started to shake. Panic among the passengers, nobody knew what was happening. I heard children crying. When the plane finally stopped, I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God, still alive!”


    Link to photographer, Sergey Makarov
    Email Sergey Makarov

  • | | | | |

    American Airlines Jet Marooned in Abilene—for Eleven Hours


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Agustin Anaya

    What: American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Los Angeles to Dallas Texas
    Where: Abilene
    When: Aug 2 2011, 11:30 pm
    Who: 112 passengers
    Why: While en route, the engine developed problems. The pilot diverted the flight to Abilene, and made a safe landing. Mechanics inspected the engine. Some passengers waited in the airport, and others at local hotels. The replacement jet arrived 11 hours later.

  • | | | |

    Air India: False alarm?

    What: Air India Airbus en route from Delhi to Jammu
    Where: Delhi
    When: August 3, 2011
    Who: 122 passengers
    Why: After takeoff, the pilots noticed an emergency alert, and returned to Delhi where they made a safe landing. The plane was inspected, and the flight continued.

    In George’s Point of View


    This alert may be an indication of bad reportage, or bad aviation safety practices; I don’t know which, but it is one or the other. When there is an alert, reputable airlines usually go over the plane with a fine toothed comb until the problem is located.

    But according to reports, the alert was immediately determined to be false, and the plane went right back out to make the flight. Reputable airlines usually fly in a replacement plane to take over the flight so the plane with the problem is cleared.

    So. Either this plane was sent out too soon, without a thorough inspection. Remember, Air India has an acknowledged safety problem. Are they playing Russian roulette with their passengers’ safety?

    Or. The reportage does not make it clear that another plane was flown in.

  • | | | | | |

    American Airlines Engine Failure over Dallas Ft Worth (again)

    What: American Airlines MD 80 en route from Dallas Texas to Ontario, California
    Where: Dallas Fort Worth Airport
    When: July 26, 2011
    Who: 133 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: After eight minutes in the air, the plane indicated some kind of problem. Passengers reported hearing some kind of explosion. The crew confirmed this, declaring an emergency and reporting an engine failure.

  • | | | | | | | |

    American Airlines Emergency Landing in Dallas, Engine alert, Tire Pop

    What: American Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Dallas to Sao Paolo, Brazil
    Where: Dallas
    When: July 31, 2011
    Who: 264 passengers, 14 crew
    Why: Indicators convinced the pilots of Flight 963 that an engine caught on fire. The pilots returned to Dallas and landed the 777 safely. The brakes locked up and a tire blew out, but that kind of thing is not unusual for an overweight landing.

    Onlookers saw the flight dumping fuel, described as fuel streaming from its jets. If they were alarmed, just think how the passengers felt.

    In George’s Point of View


    At least they survived. For what they put the passengers through, what will the airline operator do? Will they hand out to the passengers a free drink voucher? A hundred dollar voucher for future use?
    I want to know.

  • | | | | |

    Spanair JK5022: Final Report

    Update
    What: Spanair Flight JK5022, a 15-year-old MD-82 jet en route to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.
    Where: Madrid airport Terminal Four
    When: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008 2:45pm
    Who: Carrying 166 passengers and nine crew, at the time of this writing, the number of fatalities had mounted to 154 people.
    Why: The jet swerved off the runway and caught fire during takeoff.

    The final report of Spanair Flight JK5022 was released, it claims that the pilots failed to deploy the flaps for takeoff. The report blames the crash on “pilot error.” The automated voice warning to alert the crew did not sound.

    Already more than one hour late, the flight experienced a technical issue with the plane (a sensor reporting excessive temperature in an air intake, and the temperature sensor was de-activated on the ground) that forced the first takeoff attempt to be aborted when there were failure signals taxiing away from the terminal. The aircraft was inspected and then tried to take-off for the second time, which ended in the crash.

    The National Transportation Safety Board said that “that the probable cause of the accident was the flightcrew’s failure to use the taxi checklist to ensure the flaps and slats were extended for takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the absence of electrical power to the airplane takeoff warning system which thus did not warn the flightcrew that the airplane was not configured properly for takeoff. The reason for the absence of electrical power could not be determined.”

    A similar disaster occurred in the Northwest Flight 255 in Detroit in 1987 when 154 people also died in an MD-82 due to incorrect flap settings.

    As a consequence, Spanair and McDonnell Douglas now require a TOWS* system check prior to every flight.

    The Interim Report is available here.

    Final report (Spanish).PDF

    *The Take Off Warning System is part of CAWS. TOWS provides alert warnings on the following components involved in the configuration of the aircraft for takeoff: Flaps, Slats, Brakes, Auto brake, Auto spoilers, Spoilers and Stabilizer Trim.

  • | | | | |

    Air Canada Returns to Sydney after Smoke Aboard

    What: Air Canada Boeing 777 en route from Sydney to Toronto
    Where: Sydney
    When: Jul 27 2011
    Who: 262 passengers
    Why: The plane was en route when crew members smelled smoke in the aft galley. The pilots turned around and returned to Sydney where they made a safe landing.

    Initial reports indicated fire but no fire was found. No injures were reported, and there was no need for Emergency services who were on standby as they were landing.

    Crews are examining the plane.

  • | | | | | | | |

    Asiana Cargo Jet Lost at Sea



    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Niki Kapsamunov

    What: Asiana Boeing 747-400 Cargo plane en route from South Korea’s Incheon International Airport and to Pudong China
    Where: southern resort island of Jeju, South Korea
    When: July 27, 2011 3:05am local time
    Who: two people
    Why: At 7600 feet, the crew reported control problems, and the aircraft’s transponder transmitted the emergency code. Sixty-seven minutes after takeoff, the crew reported fire in the cargo hold and lost contact with ATC. They were planning to divert to Jeju, but instead the plane crashed off of Jeju island. There were strong winds at the time of the plane’s disappearance. The captain was 51 and the first officer was 44; and pilot, Choi Sang-ki, and co-pilot, Lee Jung-woong are still missing.

    One wing of the plane has been recovered, then the rest of the wreckage was found by a coast guard patrol boat 67 miles west of Jeju city. The 58 tons of cargo included amino acid solution, synthetic resin, lithium batteries, paint and other potentially dangerous material. A search for the black boxes is ongoing.

  • | | |

    Russia: Mi-8 helicopter Crashes, Killing 3, Two Survivors

    What: Mi-8 helicopter
    Where: Billings, Chukotka region Russia
    When: July 25 2011
    Who: 5 passengers, 3 fatalities
    Why: On a standard operational flight on the Chukotka border, the Mi-8 helicopter developed engine problems and then one engine shut down. The pilot lost control of the helicopter and it crashed in Kamchatka, and caught on fire on impact.

    Doctors and paramedics were flown in to the site.

    One crew member and two passengers died on the scene. There were two survivors, the crew commander and the co-pilot.

    THe chopper is reported by news agencies as belonging to a local airline.

  • | | |

    Vegas Diversion

    What: United Airlines en route from New York to Los Angeles
    Where: McCarran International Airport
    When: July 23, 2011 1:30 pm
    Who: 111 passengers
    Why: While en route, a light indicated a mechanical emergency, leading the crew to divert to Los Angeles. They made a safe landing at McCarran International Airport.

    Firefighters said there was a problem with the cooling equipment.

    The plane’s departure was delayed.

  • | | | | | | |

    Sun Express Vibration and Hydraulic Failure in Antalya


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Richard Vandervord

    What: Sunexpress Boeing 737-800 en route from Antalya Turkey to Aarhus Denmark
    Where: Antalya
    When: July 14 2011
    Who: 180 passengers
    Why: While en route, the plane developed vibration.

    The crew returned to Anatalya and made a safe landing. The issue was reported by official spokesmen as being a hydraulic problem (hydraulic pump failure), although a hydraulic problems would not cause vibration.

    Passengers were provided an alternative flight.

  • | | | | | | | |

    Antwerp Cargo Flight Cancelled by Fire Indication


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Joop Stroes

    What: Air France/Cityjet Fokker 50 en route from Antwerp to Manchester
    Where: Antwerp
    When: July 20 2011
    Why: On takeoff out of Antwerp the flight developed complications.

    The crew made an emergency landing, due to a cargo fire alarm, and the flight
    was cancelled.

  • | | | | | |

    American Eagle Succumbs to Emergency Landing in Yampa.

    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.

  • | | | | | |

    Mesa Makes Emergency Landing in South Bend


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Bill Shull

    What: Mesa Airlines Canadair CRJ-700 en route from Portland to Chicago
    Where: South Bend
    When: July 22 2011
    Who: 57 passengers
    Why: Some time after taking off from Portland, the flight developed hydraulic issues. The pilots diverted to South bend, and made a safe landing.

    Passengers were provided transport to Chicago via bus.

  • | | | | |

    Kingfisher runs out of Gas

    What: Kingfisher en route from Colombo
    Where: Chennai
    When: July 19, 2011
    Who: 132 passengers, 6 crew
    Why: While en route, the plane ran out of gas. The pilot was supposed to circle the airport but that was not possible.

    The pilot explained his situation and ATC gave him permission to land although the runway was closed for maintenance work. Mintainers were informed of the landing and cleared the runway.

  • | | | | |

    Private Chopper Crashes Carrying Australian Concrete Entrepreneur

    What: DAVCRON PTY LTD Bell 206
    Where: South Turramurra, Sydney Australia
    When: July 22, 2011
    Who: 2 fatalities
    Why: While on a routine flight from Rosehill to the owner’s hanger in Wyee, the bell chopper crashed north of Sydney while flying in a heavy downpour. The wreckage was spread in a hundred meter area at the foot of a cliff in Lane Cove National Park. The pilot and passenger were confirmed dead. Emergency services could only reach by rappelling down. Recovery has been postponed till the weekend because of continued bad weather.

    Witnesses say they may have seen something fly off the back of the helicopter and one witness said the helicopter was upside down when it fell. Descriptions of the troubled helicopter included “clattering” and “explosion.”

    Initially the victims of the crash were not known, but their names have been released. The bodies of pilot Colin Greenwood, 35 and 85 year old Businessman Bruce Campbell were found in the wreckage.

    Officials say the pilot had filed a flight plan although it was not required.

    Campbell founded Davcron Engineering Pty Ltd and owned the chopper which regularly on Fridays flew him to his semi-rural home. Campbell has three sons and is a grandfather of five.

  • | | | | |

    Tam Airbus Diverts to Miami


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Paul Guinea

    What: TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A330-200 en route from Orlando,FL to Sao Paulo Brazil
    Where: Miami
    When: July 19th 2011
    Why: While en route, the odor of smoke was detected.

    The crew diverted the flight to Miami where they made a safe landing less than half an hour after smoke was detected.

    Seven hours later, hopefully after a good inspection, the flight continued to Sao Paulo.

  • | | | | |

    Waterford Pilot Crashes by Williams Lake

    What: 1946 Piper J3C-65 Cub
    Where: Waterford Township
    When: July 19, 2011 7:10 p.m.
    Who: pilot
    Why: The pilot was attempting to make a lake landing with the single engine seaplane when he hit trees near Ideal Terrace and crashed in a field near Williams Lake. The pilot managed to avoid houses in the area, but was injured in the crash with severe injuries to his neck and cuts on his legs.

  • | | | | |

    Ural Airlines Airbus loses Hydraulics


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

    What: Ural Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Bourgas to Ekaterinburg
    Where: Ekaterinburg
    When: Jul 19. 2011 0:20 Moscow time
    Who: 119 passengers
    Why: While en route from Bourgas to Ekaterinburg, the plane developed a hydraulic problem. (Specific details about the hydraulic problem have not been released.)

    The flight continued to Koltsovo Airport in the Urals where it made a safe landing.

  • | | | | |

    Airbus with Retread Throws Tread in Toronto


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Manuel Fernandez

    What: Air Transat Airbus A330-300 en route from Toronto to Dublin
    Where: Toronto
    When: Jul 15th 2011
    Who: 314 passengers
    Why: During takeoff, a tire was damaged. The tire caused damage to several parts of the plane, which initially had been attributed to a bird strike. Tire debris (tread) was found on the runway.

    The flight continued to Dublin, where the plane made a safe landing on a tire which had lost tread. On inspection, it was found that a wing panel and a landing gear door needed repair, having been damaged on takeoff by tread.

    A replacement flight was sent to Dublin to make the return flight.

  • | | | | | |

    ATR Bird Strike, Emergency Landing Budapest


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Tamas Martenyi

    What: Tarom Romanian Air Transport Avion de Transport Regional ATR-42-500 en route from Hungary to Romania
    Where: Budapest
    When: June 17, 2011
    Who: 34 passengers and 4 crew * corrected
    Why: After taking off from Budapest, the right engine made abrasive noises, and began smoking. The engines power turbine failed followed by the gearbox. The plane was stopped on taxiway. * corrected

    The pilot shut down the engine, and returned to the airport where they made a safe landing. The plane was shut down on the taxiway.

    Passengers were provided an alternative flight.