Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

  • Congratulations MintJulep on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Air India 787 crashes on take off 7

LittleInch

Petroleum
Joined
Mar 27, 2013
Messages
23,004
Location
GB
A full 787-8 has crashed shortly after take off in ahmedabad.

Basically barely got off the ground then look like its trying to land in this video.


Specualtion that they pulled flaps up instead of gear up and basically didn't have enough lift so it looks like a gentle stall right into a built up area.

Looks to be flaps up, slats/ nose flaps down and gear down which is very odd.
 
Last edited:
I have a sick feeling. Don't know how to comment to be honest.
I'm with you. Just can't see how this was accidental. The CVR is not great by the look of things. "Why did you cut off? " "It wasn't me. " Well, there's only two of them in the cockpit....

It's why they need video as well. That simply must be the next recommendation, cockpit and ground video of every single take off and landing done on HD from the side and endof the runway.
 
Last edited:
First pull the switch out, then move it.


Not a motion that's likely to happen by accident.

The report noted that on 737's there was an AD where apparently some of the switches did NOT have the "pull switch out" locking feature. The report speculates that a similar model switch is used on the 787, so did these switches actually have the locking feature?

Specifically, this paragraph:
The FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) No. NM-18-33 on December 17, 2018, regarding the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature. This SAIB was issued based on reports from operators of Model 737 airplanes that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. The airworthiness concern was not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive(AD) by the FAA. The fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models including part number 4TL837-3D which is fitted in B787-8aircraft VT-ANB. As per the information from Air India, the suggested inspections were not carried out as the SAIB was advisory and not mandatory. The scrutiny of maintenance records revealed that the throttle control module was replaced on VT-ANB in 2019 and 2023.However, the reason for the replacement was not linked to the fuel control switch. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023 on VT-ANB.
 
Last edited:
The younger one. Pilots universally rejected the use of face masks early on during COVID any pilot that does sport them is an outlier. Face masks are a safety hazard.

That’s article also gives mitigations and clearly states,

use of face masks
in the cockpit while operating the aircraft should be according to an operator’s risk assessment


So, not what you said.
 
Not a motion that's likely to happen by accident.
Unless the locking mechanism was removed or defeated. The time delta of 1 sec for both to go to CUTOFF positions would suggest near simultaneous deactivations, requiring deliberate intent and practice to overcome the position lock, or the position locks weren't functional.

Interestingly, the switches were returned to RUN with 4 second separation
 
What is the update rate on the data? I think that a 1 second difference is not near simultaneous. A falling object would hit both within less time. A human manually actuating the switches would take about 1 second. If the data update is once a second we can't rule out simultaneous actuation.

As for masks, they were given the option because wearing a mask is risky and needs to be included in the risk assessment. Every pilot with half a brain opted to not add that risk.

We're always looking for ways to identify mental health issues in people. One very outward indication is a person that covers their face in public.
 
.

We're always looking for ways to identify mental health issues in people. One very outward indication is a person that covers their face in public.
They weren’t outdoors and clearly had it brought down for the situation. In any case the only people doing that these days is ICE. I do agree they’re all mentally ill.
 
What is the update rate on the data? I think that a 1 second difference is not near simultaneous. A falling object would hit both within less time. A human manually actuating the switches would take about 1 second. If the data update is once a second we can't rule out simultaneous actuation.

As for masks, they were given the option because wearing a mask is risky and needs to be included in the risk assessment. Every pilot with half a brain opted to not add that risk.

We're always looking for ways to identify mental health issues in people. One very outward indication is a person that covers their face in public.
I think the FDR Timestamps would be within a period of a few milliseconds or lesd
 
I'm sure that's true for the control systems but may not be true for data recording. I recently subscribed to remote engine telemetry for my fleet and the recording rate is 1hz.
 
India and asia it is not unusual to wear a face mask mainly due to air pollution. This occurred before covid and still does.

Depending on the destination i still have mask wearers on board in europe.

As for during covid it was normal for masks on when cockpit door open then off after locked.

There are multiple sampling rates for the flight data depending what it is.

.
 
India and asia it is not unusual to wear a face mask mainly due to air pollution. This occurred before covid and still does.

Depending on the destination i still have mask wearers on board in europe.

As for during covid it was normal for masks on when cockpit door open then off after locked.

There are multiple sampling rates for the flight data depending what it is.

.
Did you really expect someone like him to know that? 😂
 
I have found SAIBs to be an interesting source of information, they cover a much broader range of items that you see covered by AD (my favorite being one stating you can't prove compliance to FAR 23 by copying an existing type certified design). But a its not uncommon for items get elevated from SAIB to AD.

blancolirio covers the pilot operation here of the throttles in take off here
I definitely don't the cut off switch location reassuring in terms of pilot interface design.
It would be unfortunate if the investigation found that pilots had a habit of resting their hand on the cut off switches and with turbulence during take off had worn the switch protect out. I wonder what the inspect requirements are for these?
 

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top