News
01 FEB - Transport Canada suspends Skyward Aviation`s air operator certificate 06 FEB - Report on 1999 MD-11 Hong Kong crash released
06 FEB - Panamanian Twin Otter suffers nose gear collapse
11 FEB - Lion MD-82 overrun last year caused by aquaplaning
11 FEB - US Air Force grounds C-130E`s because of cracks
17 FEB - FAA issues emergency AD on Boeing 747 upper deck fuselage cracks
24 FEB - FAA proposes flight recorder upgrades
25 FEB - Saudi Hercules off runway at Paris-LeBourget
26 FEB - Probe: in-flight breakup of 747 caused by fatigue cracks
01 FEB 2005 Transport Canada suspends Skyward Aviation`s air operator certificate [to table of contents]
Transport Canada announced the suspension of Skyward Aviation Ltd.`s air operator certificate, effective immediately. This action is based on concerns with the company’s ability to exercise operational control, which includes proper record keeping, training and aircraft maintenance. The company will need to demonstrate that it meets all applicable rules and regulations before its air operator certificate will be re-instated. (Transport Canada)
The report of an investigation into the August 1999 crash of a China Airlines MD-11 at Hong Kong has been published, along with a report from an independent review board. China Airlines and the plane's co-pilot applied for a review of the findings and conclusions of the accident report. (news.gov.hk)
news release
06 FEB 2005 Panamanian Twin Otter suffers nose gear collapse [to table of contents] DHC-6 Twin Otter HP-1509PS operating on a flight from El Provenir to Río Sidra, Panama suffered a nose gear collapse after a heavy landing. The flight was operated by Turism Aéreo and carried 15 passengers and two crew members. (El Panamá América) 11 FEB 2005 Lion MD-82 overrun last year caused by aquaplaning [to table of contents]
Indonesian investigators concluded that the November 30, 2004 runway overrun at Solo City was caused by aquaplaning. The Lion Airlines MD-82 landed with a 13 knot tailwind on a runway with more than three millimeters of water. (The Jakarta Post) 11 FEB 2005 US Air Force grounds C-130E`s because of cracks [to table of contents]
Thirty U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-130E Hercules cargo aircraft have been grounded because of cracks in the center wing box structure. In addition to those grounded, another 60 C-130s, including more recent models, were put on "restricted flight status" to minimize wing stress and increase the safety margin (Reuters) 17 FEB 2005 FAA issues emergency AD on Boeing 747 upper deck fuselage cracks [to table of contents]
Reports of large cracks common to fuselage frames in the upper deck area of certain Boeing 747 models forced the FAA to issue an emergency airworthiness directive. The FAA will prepare a superseding AD, but until then the airlines have to carry out repetitive inspections and repairs if necessary. (FAA)
AD 2005-04-51
24 FEB 2005 FAA proposes flight recorder upgrades [to table of contents] The U.S. FAA proposed a series of significant upgrades to aircraft black boxes that will increase the quality, quantity, and survivability of recorded data. Under the proposed rules, all voice recorders must record the last two hours of cockpit audio instead of the currently required 15 to 30 minutes. Also, a 10-minute independent backup power source for the voice recorders would be required to allow recording even if all aircraft power sources were lost or interrupted. Voice recorders also would have to use technology other than magnetic tape, which is vulnerable to damage and decreased reliability. (FAA)
NPRM `Revisions to Cockpit Voice Recorder and Digital Flight Data Recorder Regulations`
25 FEB 2005 Saudi Hercules off runway at Paris-LeBourget [to table of contents] A Saudi Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules ran off the runway after landing at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, apparently collapsing it's left hand main landing gear. The airport was closed for one hour. The airplane was removed the next day. (Le Parisien) 26 FEB 2005 Probe: in-flight breakup of 747 caused by fatigue cracks [to table of contents]
The Taiwanese Aviation Safety Council has finished their probe into the May 2002 in-flight breakup of a China Airlines Boeing 747. It was concluded that damage from a 1980 tailstrike was not properly repaired and fatigue cracks had formed there, eventually leading to the structural failure. (ASC)
accident description
