News
02 DEC - Boeing 777 loses part of thrust reverser during takeoff 02 DEC - Suit accuses GE of covering up defects at aircraft engine plant
05 DEC - Norway's CAA under scrutiny
12 DEC - Air China 737 strikes pole on approach to Guiyang Airport
15 DEC - NTSB issues safety recommendations on Cessna 208 icing issues
15 DEC - Cause of fatal 727 takeoff accident established
15 DEC - China to inspect all foreign aircraft from January 1
17 DEC - Wrong throttle setting cited in probe of 747 crash at Halifax
18 DEC - Reflective beads damage airplane engines
22 DEC - Collision avoided between two passenger jets over Pakistan
22 DEC - ATR-72 skids off runway at Frankfurt
24 DEC - Pinnacle flight attendant accused of sabotaging planes
28 DEC - Antonov 12 belly landing at Kabul
29 DEC - Alert to pilots: wing upper surface ice accumulation
02 DEC 2004 Boeing 777 loses part of thrust reverser during takeoff [to table of contents]
During takeoff from Bangkok Airport, Thailand, a Boeing 777-300 lost a part of the nr.1 engine thrust reverser. The debris fell onto the roof of a car. Cathay Pacific flight CX751 to Mumbai returned safely to the airport. The aircraft was carrying 345 passengers and 17 crew members. (AFX)
"A USD64.4 million whistleblower lawsuit accuses General Electric Co. of covering up defects during production of jet engine blades. The suit by a former quality-control engineer claims that the defects could cause catastrophic failures in commercial and military aircraft. She contends that GE knew of the problem but continued to ship defective blades because correcting the process would have slowed manufacturing. GE called the claims baseless." (AP) 05 DEC 2004 Norway's CAA under scrutiny [to table of contents]
Europe's certifying organization for aviation authorities is demanding a full inspection of Norway's CAA after the decision to relocate the authority to Bodø. The JAA has been interested in the relocation of Norway's CAA since last year, seeing the transfer as a change significant enough to warrant re-inspection. Finding engineers specialized in airworthiness willing to move to Bodø has been a critical problem. (Aftenposten) 12 DEC 2004 Air China 737 strikes pole on approach to Guiyang Airport [to table of contents]
An Air China Boeing 737-800 struck a 10-meter-high pole with its left wing while on approach to Guiyang Airport. The aircraft operated flight CA4350 from Guangzhou to Chongqing and diverted to Guiyang due to bad weather at the destination. The 132 passengers and crew members aboard were not injured. (Xinhua) 15 DEC 2004 NTSB issues safety recommendations on Cessna 208 icing issues [to table of contents]
As a result of 26 icing related accidents involving Cessna 208 planes between 1987 and 2003 the NTSB is concerned about the certification and design of the Caravan and its deicing and anti-icing systems. In the interim four safety recommendations are issued on several operational issues. (NTSB)
Safety recommendations A04-64/-67
15 DEC 2004 Cause of fatal 727 takeoff accident established [to table of contents] The cause of the December 2002 crash of a UTA Boeing 727 at Cotonou, Benin which killed 140 people has been established. Due to improper (over)loading of the airplane the centre of gravity was too far forward. Investigators also cited serious insufficiencies of competence, organization and lawful documentation of UTA and the insufficent safety oversight of the Guinean aviation authorities. (BEA)
press release
15 DEC 2004 China to inspect all foreign aircraft from January 1 [to table of contents] Chinese civil aviation authorities will inspect the safety of all inbound aircraft from foreign countries starting Jan. 1. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) will inspect the aircraft from 74 countries that now fly into China. (Japan Today) 17 DEC 2004 Wrong throttle setting cited in probe of 747 crash at Halifax [to table of contents]
The investigation into the accident of an MK Airlines Boeing 747 cargo plane at Halifax, Canada in October is focusing an improper throttle setting made by a member of the crew. (CP) 18 DEC 2004 Reflective beads damage airplane engines [to table of contents]
Runway paint is being removed at Seattle-Boeing Field Airport because of tiny abrasive, reflective beads in the paint. Since the taxiways were striped earlier this month, the beads from the paint are blamed for causing excessive wear on engines. The wear was found during inspections and several had to be replaced. (AP) 22 DEC 2004 Collision avoided between two passenger jets over Pakistan [to table of contents]
Two passengers and one crew member were slightly injured when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A.310 was forced to dive 600 feet to narrowly avoid a collision with an Air Blue A.320 plane over southern Pakistan. The PIA plane was carrying 179 passengers and crew on a flight from Islamabad to Karachi. The other aircraft, which was carrying 137 passengers and crew on a flight from Karachi to Lahore landed safely. (Reuters) 22 DEC 2004 ATR-72 skids off runway at Frankfurt [to table of contents]
A Eurowings ATR-72 (D-ANFF) slid off the side of runway 25R at Frankfurt, Germany. The aircraft landed after a flight from Münster-Osnabrück. The nose gear collapsed but none of the four crew and 28 passengers were injured. (BFU) 24 DEC 2004 Pinnacle flight attendant accused of sabotaging planes [to table of contents]
A flight attendant for Pinnacle Airlines was accused of damaging the safety and emergency equipment of 14 flights, causing them to be delayed or canceled. The complaint filed said he tampered with equipment, including fire extinguishers, oxygen tanks and breathing apparatus used by pilots in emergencies. (AP) 28 DEC 2004 Antonov 12 belly landing at Kabul [to table of contents]
An Antonov 12 cargo plane crash landed at Kabul Airport, Afghanistan after its landing gear failed to extend. None of the six crew members were injured. Flights were suspended for eight hours. (AP) 29 DEC 2004 Alert to pilots: wing upper surface ice accumulation [to table of contents]
As a result of a recent takeoff accident involving a Canadair Challenger at Montrose that has generated much discussion about the effects of wing upper surface ice accumulations, the NTSB is issuing the following an alert letter to pilots regarding wing upper surface ice accumulation. (NTSB)
NTSB Advisory
