News
01 AUG - NTSB: safety recommendations on systemic deficiencies in maintenance programs 01 AUG - Ukraine grounding of UMAir over safety concerns overruled Economic Court
02 AUG - Fatal Russian Tu-134 CFIT crash cause released
02 AUG - Taiwan airlines experience over 1,000 bird strikes in five years
08 AUG - New FAA rule on airplane performance and handling qualities in icing conditions
10 AUG - Runway incursion incident at Bologna being investigated
10 AUG - BFU Switzerland releases final report into Boeing 737 hailstorm encounter
11 AUG - Rome-Fiumicino: dog escapes from cargo hold of taxiing airplane
14 AUG - Iraq: Missile fired at Nordic Airways plane
15 AUG - Amended regulations on flight deck door monitoring and crew discreet alerting sy
19 AUG - Panel: Aviation safety in Israel is severely neglected
22 AUG - Indonesia: runway incident sparks warning for pilots
22 AUG - FAA investigates Memphis controller errors
22 AUG - NTSB investigating runway incursion in Los Angeles
26 AUG - FAA issues emergency AD in wake of China Airlines fire
28 AUG - Taiwan ASC invesigates MD-80 runway excursion event
28 AUG - Indonesian 737 blackboxes retrieved from ocean floor
29 AUG - FAA shortens compliancy time for 737 emergency AD
30 AUG - Congo suspends airlines, aviation officials after crash
01 AUG 2007 NTSB: safety recommendations on systemic deficiencies in maintenance programs [to table of contents]
In the wake of the Chalks Grumman G-73T Turbo Mallard accident investigation, the NTSB issued two safety recommendations. The NTSB recommends that the FAA:
Verify that the maintenance programs of commercial aircraft operators include stringent criteria to address recurring or systemic discrepancies, including, if necessary, further analysis of the discrepancies through a comprehensive engineering evaluation. (A-07-39)
Identify the systemic deficiencies in the maintenance program oversight procedures that led to this accident and modify those procedures to ensure that the maintenance program plans for commercial operators are adequate to ensure the continued airworthiness, both structural and otherwise, of the operator’s fleet. (A-07-40) (NTSB)
NTSB Safety Recommendations A07-39/40
The State Aviation Administration of Ukraine suspended the licenses of UMAir, Baltika and Aeromost Kharkiv on July 25, but said the problems with UMAir were the most serious. The regulator said a commission had found that UMAir crews worked up to 24-hour shifts for nine days straight with only eight hours to rest. In addition, according to the Aviation Administration, the service dates on some UMAir planes have expired and they are not flight worthy. On the same day that the State Aviation Administration suspended UMAir`s license, July 25, the Kyiv Economic Court overruled the suspension. (Kyiv Post) 02 AUG 2007 Fatal Russian Tu-134 CFIT crash cause released [to table of contents]
The MAK Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) finished the investigation into the fatal accident of a Tu-134 at Samara (KUF) in March 2007. They concluded that the weather conditions at Samara were below minima. The crew however were not informed about the worsening meteorological conditions. On final approach, at decision height, the crew had not established positive visual contact with the approach lights. The approach was continued until the airplane contacted the ground. (MAK)
ASN Accident description
02 AUG 2007 Taiwan airlines experience over 1,000 bird strikes in five years [to table of contents] Aircraft belonging to Taiwan-based airlines experienced a total of 1,009 bird strikes between 2002 and 2006, according to the Flight Safety Foundation-Taiwan. Of these incidents, 82 cases occurred at airports of foreign countries, and 125 cases involved damage to the aircraft, meaning one plane was damaged for every eight bird strike incidents on average. Bird strikes at Taiwan airports has been declining in recent years owing to the installation of various bird repellent devices. The number of bird strikes totaled 203 in 2002 and 237 in 2003, dropping to 198 in 2004 and further to 138 in 2005, although the figure increased slightly to 151 in 2006. During the 2002-2006 period, bird strikes resulted in a total of 26 abnormal situations in which the aircraft was either forced to return to the airport, give up a takeoff attempt or make an emergency landing. (CNA) 08 AUG 2007 New FAA rule on airplane performance and handling qualities in icing conditions [to table of contents]
The FAA published a final rule which introduces new airworthiness standards to evaluate the performance and handling characteristics of transport category airplanes in icing conditions. This action will improve the level of safety for new airplane designs when operating in icing conditions, and harmonizes the U.S. and European airworthiness standards for flight in icing conditions. This final rule becomes effective October 9, 2007. (FAA)
Document FAA-2005-22840
10 AUG 2007 Runway incursion incident at Bologna being investigated [to table of contents] The Italian ANSV is launching an investigation into a runway incursion that happened on July 28 at Bologna-Borgo Panigale Airport (BLQ). MD-83 SX-IFA had taxied onto the runway without clearance. At that moment CRJ 900 EI-DUM of MyAir was on finals and was forced to carry out a go-around. (ANSV) 10 AUG 2007 BFU Switzerland releases final report into Boeing 737 hailstorm encounter [to table of contents]
BFU Switzerland concluded the investigation into a hail storm encounter occurrence. After taking off from runway 23 at Geneva airport, the flight crew of the Boeing 737-33V on flight EZS 903 destination Luton turned right in accordance with standard instrument departure DIPIR 1A; they were cleared to climb to flight level FL 150, then FL 180. When passing flight level FL 85 in a climb, they requested clearance to maintain heading 310 in order to avoid thunderstorm cells. A few minutes later, the aircraft passed through a shower of hail which seriously damaged it. After declaring a distress situation - `MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY` - the flight crew were authorised to return to Geneva airport. The landing on runway 05 took place without any problems and the aircraft then reached its stand. None of the occupants was injured and passengers disembarked normally. The accident was caused by the aircraft flying into a shower of hail embedded in a thunderstorm cell, following inadequate utilisation of the information provided by the onboard weather radar. The following factors played a part in the accident: - shortcomings in crew resource management (CRM); - no specific meteorological information concerning this hazard was transmitted. (BFU)
BFU report u.1950
11 AUG 2007 Rome-Fiumicino: dog escapes from cargo hold of taxiing airplane [to table of contents] A Blue Air Boeing 737 was taxiing to the runway at Roma-Fiumicino (FCO) when a dog escaped from the cargo hold. The flight crew of another aircraft spotted the dog and warned the controllers. Blue Air flight 115 to Bucharest, Romania was delayed fro two hours because of the incident. An official from the handling agent assumed that the dog had escaped from its cage and managed to unlock the cargo door from the inside. (La Repubblica) 14 AUG 2007 Iraq: Missile fired at Nordic Airways plane [to table of contents]
The Swedish CAA is reviewing security conditions at airports in northern Iraq after a report of a possible missile attack on a Nordic Airways plane. On August 9, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 of Nordic Airways took off from Sulaimaniya on a flight to Stockholm when pilots saw a flash and light of a missile rise from the ground, arc near the plane and then drop away as they climbed between 3,000 and 6,000 feet. (NY Times) 15 AUG 2007 Amended regulations on flight deck door monitoring and crew discreet alerting sy [to table of contents]
The FAA published a final rule, amending regulations by requiring operators of passenger-carrying transport category airplanes used in domestic, flag, and supplemental operations to have a means for flightcrew to visually monitor the door area outside the flightdeck. This means will allow the flightcrew to identify persons requesting entry into the flightdeck and detect suspicious behavior or potential threats. This final rule also amends FAA regulations to require that, for operations requiring the presence of flight attendants, the flight attendants have a means to discreetly notify the flightcrew of suspicious activity or security breaches in the cabin. This final rule addresses standards adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and becomes effective October 15, 2007. (FAA)
FAA docket
19 AUG 2007 Panel: Aviation safety in Israel is severely neglected [to table of contents] The interim report of the Lapidot Committee examining the state of Civil Aviation in Israel revealed some serious safety issues. Among the main problems cited in Lapidot`s report were the poorly functioning Civil Aviation Authority and the anachronistic aviation laws in Israel. The committee advised that immediate action be taken to solve the problems at Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority must be made into a strong body with the power and budget to properly oversee aviation safety. Also the Lapidot committee needs to continue to oversee the enactment of the committee`s recommendations in order to ensure that - unlike the recommendations of previous committees concerning Israeli civil aviation - these points for improvement would be carried-out. (The Jerusalem Post) 22 AUG 2007 Indonesia: runway incident sparks warning for pilots [to table of contents]
Indonesian Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal issued a warning to stop pilots behaving dangerously, following an runway incident at the Surabaya-Juanda Airport (SUB) on Aug. 9. Authorities said an Adam Air airplane cut in front of a Batavia Air plane already on the runway and about to take off. (The Jakarta Post) 22 AUG 2007 FAA investigates Memphis controller errors [to table of contents]
The FAA is investigating a series of errors made by air traffic controllers in Memphis that caused planes on six occasions in one week to come too close together. Controllers blame the mistakes to being chronically short-staffed. (CommercialAppeal) 22 AUG 2007 NTSB investigating runway incursion in Los Angeles [to table of contents]
The NTSB is investigating a runway incursion in Los Angeles (LAX)in which two airliners may have missed each other by less than 40 feet. On August 16, 2007, about 13:00, West Jet (WJA) 900, a Boeing 737, and Northwest Airlines (NWA) flight 180, an Airbus A320, almost collided according to the FAA. The West Jet flight landed on runway 24R, exited the runway, and held between the parallel runways as directed by the tower. However, without authorization, the West Jet crew changed radio frequencies and contacted ground control. When contacted by the West Jet crew, the ground controller assumed that they had been cleared to cross runway 24L, and provided instructions for the West Jet flight to taxi to its gate. However, the tower controller expected the West Jet flight to hold and cleared the Northwest flight to takeoff from runway 24L. The ground controller then realized that West Jet had not been instructed to cross runway 24L and told the West Jet flight to stop. According to the FAA, the West Jet airplane crossed the hold short line for runway 24L and the two aircraft came within 37 feet as the Northwest flight crossed directly in front of the West Jet flight during its takeoff roll. The Board notes that the Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS) was operational but it is unknown whether or not it activated. (NTSB) 26 AUG 2007 FAA issues emergency AD in wake of China Airlines fire [to table of contents]
Initial investigation reveals that following retraction of the slats after landing, loose parts of the main slat track downstop assembly punctured the slat can of the China Airlines 737-800, which resulted in a fuel leak and a fire. A similar slat problem was reported by another operator. This prompted the FAA to issue an emergency AD. This AD requires a detailed inspection and test on of each main slat track downstop assembly on to all Boeing 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. (FAA)
FAA AD 2007-18-51
28 AUG 2007 Taiwan ASC invesigates MD-80 runway excursion event [to table of contents] At 13:40 August 22 2007, Far Eastern Airline flight FE-185 (MD-80 B-28021), with 7 crew members and 128 passengers on board, flew from Taipei to Magong. During landing, aircraft touched down outside of the runway and then veered onto runway. Three runway lights were broken. During approach and landing the flight encountered some rain. The aircraft was drifting to the right and the pilot crabbed the airplane before touch down. At 15:30, 3 broken runway lights were found in Magong Airport 1500 ft to 2000 ft away from the runway 20 threshold. In the same area, MD-80 tire marks were also found. (ASC) 28 AUG 2007 Indonesian 737 blackboxes retrieved from ocean floor [to table of contents]
Salvage crews have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder of an Indonesian Boeing 737-400 that crashed into the sea on January 1, killing all 102 people onboard, a senior government official said. (AP) 29 AUG 2007 FAA shortens compliancy time for 737 emergency AD [to table of contents]
Since the issuance of emergency AD 2007-18-51, the FAA received additional reports of parts coming off the main slat track downstop assemblies on B737NG aircraft. In these cases, the parts were found in the bottom of the slat track housing. Additionally, in one case, this slat can was damaged. Based on this new information, the FAA finds that the 24-day compliance time specified in AD 2007-18-51 for accomplishing the detailed inspection of each main slat track downstop assembly to verify proper installation of the slat track hardware is not adequate to address the unsafe condition. The appropriate compliance time for this inspection is 10 days after receipt of this new AD. In addition, an inspection using borescope techniques in lieu of a detailed inspection is acceptable. By performing the initial detailed or borescope inspection within the reduced compliance time of 10 days, the compliance time for torquing the nut and bolt remains at 24 days after receipt of AD 2007-18-51. (FAA)
FAA AD 2007-18-52
30 AUG 2007 Congo suspends airlines, aviation officials after crash [to table of contents] The Dem. Rep. Congo has grounded a number of airlines and suspended two aviation officials following a weekend crash that killed 14 people. The government has suspended the license of Great Lakes Business Co., the company that operated the plane, along with several other companies for negligence and overloading planes. The Transport Minister did not give the names of the other companies or say how many planes had been grounded. He said two civil aviation authority officials, including the national director, have also been suspended until inquiries have been completed. (AP)
