Now Reading: Fuel switches found in ‘RUN’ place: Aftermath of AI 171 crash in photos; what the wreckage shows | India News
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Fuel switches found in ‘RUN’ place: Aftermath of AI 171 crash in photos; what the wreckage shows | India News
Fuel switches found in ‘RUN’ place: Aftermath of AI 171 crash in photos; what the wreckage shows | India News
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NEW DELHI: The crash of Air India flight AI 171 on June 12 has been traced again to a sudden and unexplained gas cutoff to each engines simply three seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed in its preliminary report. The report, launched Saturday, features a detailed timeline of the remaining moments of the London-bound Dreamliner, supported by crucial photos exhibiting the impression path, wreckage, and harm to key plane elements.Images included in the report seize the dramatic descent of the Boeing 787 because it clipped treetops, an incineration chimney, after which collided with the BJ Medical College hostel constructing simply 1.6 km from the runway. The plane, weighing 213.4 tons—almost its most takeoff weight—by no means gained enough altitude after lift-off.“The aircraft achieved maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots… and immediately thereafter, the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of one second,” the report states. This induced each engine fan rotation speeds (N1 and N2) to fall beneath minimal idle, deploying the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), as captured in airport CCTV footage.
The pilots declared a “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” misery name 26 seconds after lift-off. Cockpit recordings revealed one pilot asking the different why the engines had been shut off, with the second responding, “he did not do so.”
Images from the crash website provide additional perception:
This picture shows the preliminary impression zone as the plane descended quickly after takeoff. The Dreamliner first made contact with a cluster of timber and an incineration chimney situated inside the Army Medical Corps compound, indicating its dangerously low altitude. (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
Aircraft angle at the time of impression with Building A.
From the level of first contact with the timber to the place the plane hit Building A’s northeast wall, the distance measured was 293 ft. This highlights the quick timeframe and minimal altitude the plane had earlier than impression. (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
Inboard components of the proper wing had been found in Buildings A & B and the areas surrounding the buildings.
Captured right here is the detachment of the proper engine. After skimming throughout the roof of Building A, the proper engine struck a concrete water tank construction, obtained separated from the essential physique of the plane, and ultimately got here to relaxation beneath the tank, going through roughly 226 levels close to the southwest wall of the constructing. Debris from the inboard sections of the proper wing was additionally found scattered throughout Buildings A and B and the adjoining environment, indicating the drive and fragmentation at impression.
The proper engine indifferent after hitting a concrete water tank on the roof, resting close to the constructing’s southwest wall. Parts of the proper wing had been scattered throughout Buildings A and B.
The left engine obtained separated from the airplane and struck the north nook of Building D at the floor degree the place it remained and was roughly perpendicular to the proper engine resting place, at heading of approx. 326 levels. (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
Image paperwork the flap deal with meeting, burned however mounted in regular takeoff setting, and the touchdown gear lever nonetheless in the “DOWN” place.
The nostril touchdown gear (NLG) (fig. 9) was found on the floor about 307 ft southwest from the preliminary level of contact with Building A. (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
Flap deal with locked in regular takeoff place; touchdown gear found in ‘DOWN’ setting
The touchdown gear lever was found in the “DOWN” place (Figure 12), suggesting it had not but been retracted by the time the emergency unfolded. These findings had been additionally corroborated by knowledge from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR). (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
The flap deal with meeting (fig.11) sustained important thermal harm. The deal with was found to be firmly seated in the 5-degree flap place, in line with a traditional takeoff flap setting.
This picture paperwork the situation of the flap deal with meeting (Figure 11), which suffered important thermal harm as a consequence of the post-crash fireplace. Despite the harm, the deal with was firmly set in the 5-degree place, which is in line with a traditional takeoff configuration. (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
RAT deployment seconds after lift-off, with no proof of hen exercise in the neighborhood.
This picture is from airport CCTV footage, capturing the second the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed throughout the preliminary climb—just a few seconds after liftoff. The RAT deployment signifies a extreme loss of engine energy, as it’s only activated when each engines drop beneath idle pace and the plane wants emergency hydraulic and electrical energy. The CCTV footage confirmed that no important hen exercise was current in the neighborhood, ruling out a hen strike. EAFR knowledge additionally verified that each engines’ N2 values fell beneath idle, triggering the RAT’s hydraulic pump to start out supplying energy at 08:08:47 UTC.
Flight knowledge preserved: Forward EAFR powered by backup system even after crash
The thrust lever quadrant sustained important thermal harm. Both thrust levers had been found close to the aft (idle) place. However, the EAFR knowledge revealed that the thrust levers remained ahead (takeoff thrust) till the impression. Both gas management swap had been found in the “RUN” place. (fig.13) The reverser levers had been bent however had been in the “stowed” place. The wiring from the TO/GA switches and autothrottle disconnect switches had been seen, however closely broken. (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
Despite makes an attempt to revive gas provide (engine 1 and a couple of gas switches flipped again to RUN inside 14 seconds), it was too late. The plane crashed at 1:39:11 pm (IST), simply 32 seconds after turning into airborne.While the exact trigger behind the gas cutoff stays beneath investigation, the report notes a 2018 FAA bulletin warning of potential disengagement of the gas management swap locking function on related plane. Air India, nonetheless, had not carried out inspections as the advisory was non-mandatory.Air India responded to the report, stating: “We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report… and continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities.”The remaining investigation is ongoing and will decide whether or not mechanical failure, human error, or design vulnerabilities led to the switches’ sudden transition from “RUN” to “CUTOFF.”
The APU air inlet door (fig. 10), which was intact, was found open. The fuselage fragmented and sustained thermal harm because it traveled alongside the northwest faces of Buildings C, D, E, and F with the furthest particles noticed at about 765 ft southwest from the preliminary level of contact with constructing A. (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
The vertical stabilizer (fig. 5) separated from the aft fuselage and got here to relaxation about 200 ft south of the preliminary level of contact with the Building A. The tail part and the RH Main Landing Gear (MLG) of the plane had been found embedded in the northeast wall of the Building Some time the relaxation of the airplane continued its ahead motion. (Image credit score: Preliminary Report AAIB)
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