AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS

[cycloneye]

Wed May 20,2009


Three members of a U.S. Navy helicopter crew were killed after their helicopter went down in the waters off San Diego, California, a Navy spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Rescuers are still searching for the two remaining crew members from the helicopter, which went down late Tuesday night, U.S. Navy spokeswoman Karin Burzynski said.

No further details concerning the deaths were immediately available.

Burzynski said the helicopter was operating from the USS Nimitz. The Navy received word that the helicopter went down around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, she said.

It crashed about 20 miles off the Mexican coast, the Navy said.

[tropicana]

Sat May 23 2009

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N905WN performing flight WN-2819 from Chicago Midway,IL to Orlando,FL (USA) with 123 passengers, struck a bird on short final to Orlando's runway 17L. The airplane continued for a safe landing.
The FAA reported, that the airplane suffered minor damage in the bird strike.



Sun May 24 2009
A Qantas Boeing 767-300, registration VH-OGD performing flight QF-552 from Sydney,NS to Brisbane,QL (Australia), was at cruise altitude near top of descent of the 80 minute flight, when the right hand engine exceeded the vibration limit and the flight crew received an indication, that the cabin pressure was being lost, and started an emergency descent. At the same time the oxygen masks deployed automatically. The flight crew continued for a safe landing in Brisbane 30 minutes later.
The airplane had departed with a delay of 20 minutes due to technical problems, which Qantas confirmed were with one the air conditioning systems.
Qantas said, that the crew performed a faster than normal descent. However, it is not yet clear, whether there was a loss of cabin pressure or an indication problem.


Sun May 24 2009
An Air Canada Airbus A320-200, registration C-FKPT performing flight AC-109 from Toronto,ON to Vancouver,BC (Canada), was enroute at FL340 about 30 minutes into the flight, when the airplane experienced a jolt. Shortly thereafter a burning electrical smell spread throughout the cabin. The crew declared emergency, considered to divert to Green Bay,WI (USA) but then diverted to Milwaukee,WI (USA), where the airplane landed safely about 15 minutes later.
A replacement Airbus A320-200 registration C-FTJP was dispatched to Milwaukee (AC-7058) and reached Vancouver with a delay of 5:15 hours. The incident airplane was ferried back to Toronto the following day (AC-7056

Mon May 25 2009
A TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A330-200, registration PT-MVN performing flight JJ-8095 from Miami,FL (USA) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP (Brazil) with 154 passengers, was on approach to Sao Paulo with fasten seat belt signs illuminated about 20 minutes before landing, when the airplane encountered severe turbulence throwing a number of passengers against the ceiling. The airplane continued for a safe landing.
13 passengers were treated at the airport, 8 other passengers had to be delivered to hospitals. Another passenger reported to hospital with fractures the following day. Three passengers are still in hospital care (May 27th).
The captain reported, that the airplane had lost between 2000 and 3000 feet in altitude during the upset caused by clear air turbulence. The crew had no indications on their weather radar.
CENIPA, Brazil's accident investigation board, have launched an investigation into the accident.

Tue May 26 2009
An Airtran Boeing 737-700, registration N166AT performing flight FL-770 (dep. May 25th) from Las Vegas,NV to Atlanta,GA (USA), struck a bird while on the landing roll out at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. The airplane came to a safe stop.
A post flight inspection revealed unknown damage to a wheel well panel, the FAA reported.


Wed May 27 2009
A South African Airways Boeing 737-800, flight SA-575 from Johannesburg to Durban (South Africa), had already climbed to 9000 feet on departure from Johannesburg, when the crew heard a loug bang followed by air rushing noise as the cabin depressurized. The crew declared emergency and decided to return to Johannesburg, where the aircraft landed safely.
Maintenance determined, that one of the door seals had failed and repaired the door. The airplane was able to resume the flight and reached Durban with a delay of about 3 hours.


Thu may 28 2009
A ConocoPhillips Aviation Alaska (also known as Continental Oil Co) Boeing 737-700, flight PDD-271 from Fairbanks,AK to Deadhorse,AK (USA) with 135 passengers (oilworkers), struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff about 1-2nm from the airport causing the outer pane of one windshield window to crack and one engine cowling to be dented. The airplane returned to Fairbanks and landed safely.
A replacement Boeing 737-200 was ferried in from Anchorage and resumed the flight with a delay of 4 hours.
The airline said, that the aircraft flew into a flock of about 50 ducks and was hit by about 3-4 birds, the damage is minor

Sat May 30 2009
A Lufthansa Airbus A340-600, registration D-AIHY performing flight LH-458 from Munich (Germany) to San Francisco,CA (USA), performed a seemingly normal landing on San Francisco's runway 28L even though the aircraft had to go around on its first approach to runway 28R due to being too high for the approach.
A post flight inspection however revealed damage to the fan blades of engine #2 (inner left) obviously due to a bird strike.
The return flight LH-459 was cancelled, the passengers rebooked onto other flights.

-justin-

[tropicana]

AIR FRANCE AIRCRAFT MISSING
Mon June 1 2009

An Air France Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP performing flight AF-447 (dep May 31st) from Rio de Janeiro,RJ (Brazil) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) with 216 passengers and 12 crew, is overdue at Paris Charles de Gaulle for more than two hours following a scheduled 11:15 hours flight time. The airplane had departed Brazil's radar coverage normally.
A crisis and intervention center has been setup at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Brazil has launched a search and rescue operation off their coast along the last known radar positions near the Island of Fernando de Noronha after which the airplane had failed to establish required radio communication.
There have been no reports of an unscheduled landing anywhere on Atlantic Islands or airports surrounding the Atlantic. French Authorities report, that the airplane would have run out of fuel by now.

Last radio contact with the crew was about 4 hours into the flight at around 02:20Z. The crew reported flying through severe turbulence.
Air France reported, that they had received an automatic message from the airplane reporting an electrical short circuit at 02:14Z.
Brasilian government sources report, that the airplane also disappeared from military radars (primary radars), that do not depend on transponder signals.

[Gustywind]

AIR FRANCE AIRCRAFT MISSING
Mon June 1 2009

An Air France Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP performing flight AF-447 (dep May 31st) from Rio de Janeiro,RJ (Brazil) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) with 216 passengers and 12 crew, is overdue at Paris Charles de Gaulle for more than two hours following a scheduled 11:15 hours flight time. The airplane had departed Brazil's radar coverage normally.
A crisis and intervention center has been setup at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Brazil has launched a search and rescue operation off their coast along the last known radar positions near the Island of Fernando de Noronha after which the airplane had failed to establish required radio communication.
There have been no reports of an unscheduled landing anywhere on Atlantic Islands or airports surrounding the Atlantic. French Authorities report, that the airplane would have run out of fuel by now.

Last radio contact with the crew was about 4 hours into the flight at around 02:20Z. The crew reported flying through severe turbulence.
Air France reported, that they had received an automatic message from the airplane reporting an electrical short circuit at 02:14Z.
Brasilian government sources report, that the airplane also disappeared from military radars (primary radars), that do not depend on transponder signals.

Scary moment... let's hope a bit !

[Brent]

AIR FRANCE AIRCRAFT MISSING
Mon June 1 2009

An Air France Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP performing flight AF-447 (dep May 31st) from Rio de Janeiro,RJ (Brazil) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) with 216 passengers and 12 crew, is overdue at Paris Charles de Gaulle for more than two hours following a scheduled 11:15 hours flight time. The airplane had departed Brazil's radar coverage normally.
A crisis and intervention center has been setup at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Brazil has launched a search and rescue operation off their coast along the last known radar positions near the Island of Fernando de Noronha after which the airplane had failed to establish required radio communication.
There have been no reports of an unscheduled landing anywhere on Atlantic Islands or airports surrounding the Atlantic. French Authorities report, that the airplane would have run out of fuel by now.

Last radio contact with the crew was about 4 hours into the flight at around 02:20Z. The crew reported flying through severe turbulence.
Air France reported, that they had received an automatic message from the airplane reporting an electrical short circuit at 02:14Z.
Brasilian government sources report, that the airplane also disappeared from military radars (primary radars), that do not depend on transponder signals.

Yikes. This is very bad. Not gonna be any survivors most likely and haven't even found the plane.

The plane is only three years old, and severe turbulence and lightning as is being reported wouldn't bring down a modern plane.

[CajunMama]

A couple originally from lafayette was on that flight

[Brent]

A couple originally from lafayette was on that flight

Something is very fishy about this story, just odd to me that a modern large jetliner disappears suddenly and no idea where it's at.

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/to ... azil_plane

BTW: Worst air disaster since November 12, 2001(AA Flight 587, 265 killed near JFK)

[Stephanie]

This is so sad. Whatever happened, happened suddenly.

[WeatherLovingDoc]

Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.

Here is a satellite link of the flight area demonstrating how volatile the weather can be over the Atlantic in the inter tropical covergence zone:

http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/geo/index ... mgoranim=8

WLD

[Sanibel]

Popped in to say ITCZ was active with thunderstorms where the Air France A330 went down. I think they have an automatic plane status reporter that reported equipment failures 15 minutes after passing through a strong thunderstorm. No more information.

[Gustywind]

It could be the worst for Air France since 2000 (Gonesse, 113 deads) in terms of deads if no passengers are alive. Maybe 228 deads in this tragedy we lost "apparently" 68 frenchies . Incredible mystery on this story, we should wait to have more on this, but it's awfull for our country i'm sad for the families.

[Dionne]

AIR FRANCE AIRCRAFT MISSING
Mon June 1 2009

An Air France Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP performing flight AF-447 (dep May 31st) from Rio de Janeiro,RJ (Brazil) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) with 216 passengers and 12 crew, is overdue at Paris Charles de Gaulle for more than two hours following a scheduled 11:15 hours flight time. The airplane had departed Brazil's radar coverage normally.
A crisis and intervention center has been setup at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Brazil has launched a search and rescue operation off their coast along the last known radar positions near the Island of Fernando de Noronha after which the airplane had failed to establish required radio communication.
There have been no reports of an unscheduled landing anywhere on Atlantic Islands or airports surrounding the Atlantic. French Authorities report, that the airplane would have run out of fuel by now.

Last radio contact with the crew was about 4 hours into the flight at around 02:20Z. The crew reported flying through severe turbulence.
Air France reported, that they had received an automatic message from the airplane reporting an electrical short circuit at 02:14Z.
Brasilian government sources report, that the airplane also disappeared from military radars (primary radars), that do not depend on transponder signals.

Yikes. This is very bad. Not gonna be any survivors most likely and haven't even found the plane.

The plane is only three years old, and severe turbulence and lightning as is being reported wouldn't bring down a modern plane.

The A330 is a fly by wire aircraft. An intense voltage strike could indeed disable the aircraft. Losing cabin pressure at 35K on such a young aircraft is the big question.

[cycloneye]

Brazilian pilots found debris

BRASILIA, Brazil – An airplane seat, a life jacket, metallic debris and signs of fuel were found in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday by Brazilian military pilots searching for a missing Air France airliner.

The debris was spotted from the air about 410 miles (650 kilometers) north of the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha, roughly along the path that the jet was taking before it disappeared with 228 people on board, said Air Force spokesman Jorge Amaral.

There were no signs of life in two sightings of separate debris areas about 60 kilometers (35 miles) apart.

"The locations where the objects were found are towards the right of the point where the last signal of the plane was emitted," Amaral said. "That suggests that it might have tried to make a turn, maybe to return to Fernando de Noronha, but that is just a hypothesis."

Amaral said authorities would not be able to confirm that the debris is from the plane until they can retrieve some of it from the ocean for identification. Brazilian military ships are not expected to arrive at the area until Wednesday.

The discovery came more than 24 hours after the jet bound from Rio de Janeiro to Paris went missing, with all feared dead.

Rescuers were still scanning a vast sweep of ocean extending from far off northeastern Brazil to waters off West Africa. The 4-year-old Airbus A330 was last heard from at 0214 GMT Monday (10:14 p.m. EDT Sunday).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/brazil_plane

[Sanibel]

There was a computer problem with some Quantas airbuses last year where erroneous computer inputs caused a sudden nose-dive. They are considering if this plane suffered a similar event in rough thunderstorm turbulence where they couldn't recover.

[HURAKAN]

Plane searchers spot ocean debris

Brazilian aircraft searching for an Air France jet which went missing with 228 people aboard in an Atlantic storm have spotted debris on the ocean.

Some oil, a plane seat and other items were sighted 650km (400 miles) north-east of Brazil's Fernando de Noronha island, the Brazilian air force said.

The find can only be confirmed once the items are retrieved and the first boat is not due to arrive until Wednesday.

The jet was heading from Brazil to Paris when it vanished early on Monday.

While it has yet to be confirmed that the debris is from the Airbus, it was spotted in a region of the ocean consistent with its flight path, the BBC's Adam Mynott reports from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

“ It [the plane] might have tried to make a turn, maybe to return to Fernando de Noronha ”
Col Jorge Amaral Brazilian air force spokesman

Accident investigators need to recover material from Flight AF 447 and, crucially, the flight and cockpit voice recorders if they are to establish how it fell into the sea, our correspondent says.

Two Lufthansa jets, which were in the same area as the Air France plane half an hour before it vanished, may provide clues as to what happened, the UN weather agency says.

'Race against time'

Plane crews from Brazil, France and other countries had narrowed their search to a zone half-way between Brazil and west Africa, hoping to pick up signals from the Airbus's beacons.

Brazilian air force spokesman Col Jorge Amaral said a Brazilian plane had picked up radar signals indicating "floating metallic and non-metallic materials" at 0100 Brazilian time (0400 GMT) on Tuesday.

At about 0530 Brazilian time, a plane spotted debris in two locations approximately 60km apart.

"In this area, they saw an orange buoy, an airplane seat, small white pieces, an airplane turbine as well as oil and kerosene," Col Amaral told reporters in Rio.

"The search is continuing because it's very little material in relation to the size [of the Airbus A330]."

Col Amaral was also quoted by the Associated Press as saying a life jacket had been spotted amid the debris.

"The locations where the objects were found are towards the right of the point where the last signal of the plane was emitted," he said.

TIMELINE
# Flight AF 447 left Rio at 1900 local time (2200 GMT) on Sunday
# Airbus A330-200 carrying 216 passengers and 12 crew
# Contact lost 0130 GMT
# Missed scheduled landing at 1110 local time (0910 GMT) in Paris

"That suggests that it might have tried to make a turn, maybe to return to Fernando de Noronha, but that is just a hypothesis."

Searchers now planned to focus their efforts on collecting the debris and trying to identify it, the spokesman said.

If the Brazilian reports were confirmed, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said in Paris, they would help narrow the search area.

"This is a race against time which has begun in extremely difficult meteorological conditions and in a zone where the sea bed is up to 7,000m deep," he told the French parliament.

He added that the cause of the plane's loss had still to be established.

"Our only certainty is that the plane did not send out any distress call but regular automatic alerts for three minutes indicating the failure of all systems," he said.

Experts remain puzzled that there were no radio reports from the Airbus and they say that such a modern aircraft would have had to suffer multiple traumas to plunge into the sea, our correspondent says.

Electrical failures

The two Lufthansa aircraft recorded data on prevailing temperatures and winds, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said.

Because the exact accident site was unknown, it was "extremely difficult to say how close they were", WMO official Herbert Puempel told Reuters news agency in Geneva.

"But the observations will certainly be used by the investigating group," he added.

Most of the missing people are Brazilian or French but they include a total of 32 nationalities. Five Britons and three Irish citizens are among them.

Crisis centres have been set up at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and Rio's Tom Jobim international airport.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will attend a religious service for the families and friends of the missing passengers and crew at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, on Wednesday.

One of the Brazilians on board was Pedro Luis de Orleans e Braganca, a direct descendent of the last Brazilian emperor, Dom Pedro II, a spokesman for the family said.

Three young Irish doctors were also aboard, returning from two-week holiday in Brazil. Aisling Butler's father John paid tribute to his 26-year-old daughter, from Roscrea, County Tipperary.

"She was a truly wonderful, exciting girl," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

"She never flunked an exam in her life - nailed every one of them - and took it all in her stride."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/w ... 079122.stm

[Sanibel]

Automatic computer transmission of sudden decompression is suspicious from turbulence in my mind. It should be on the black boxes.

[Stephanie]

That is really horrible.

[HURAKAN]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8080290.stm

[wyq614]

Just heard the news when I arrived in Beijing by 14-hour airplane...

[Dionne]

Automatic computer transmission of sudden decompression is suspicious from turbulence in my mind. It should be on the black boxes.

Deep seas. Unlikely the flight recorder will ever be recovered.