AAIU Reports

 

The Pilot who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was engaged on a local circuit training detail at Lurgan More Airfield, Co. Galway. Following a full stop landing, the Pilot completed the take-off checks and took off again from Runway (RWY) 22. At approximately 350-400 feet after take-off the engine ‘spluttered for a couple of seconds’ and then ‘cut out’. The Pilot carried out a forced landing in a grass field with the aircraft incurring minor damage. There were no injuries. The Pilot contacted the AAIU by phone following the occurrence.

 

 

 

The aircraft had departed Ireland West Airport (EIKN) and was climbing through 17,000 ft when the Flight Crew were alerted by a strange odour/fumes on the flight deck followed by activation of the forward toilet smoke alarm. With smoke becoming visible in both the cabin and flight deck, the Flight Crew donned their oxygen masks. The flight diverted to Dublin Airport (EIDW) where it landed at 17.41 hrs, without further incident. There were no injuries.

 

Subsequent trouble-shooting by maintenance personnel revealed the presence of oil in the Handling Bleed-Off Valve (HBOV) caused by failure of carbon seals due to distress and rupture of the No. 4 Bearing Key washer in the No. 1 engine. Contamination of the secondary oil system due to the damaged seals caused fumes to enter the cabin and flight deck.

 

The AAIU was notified by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Station Manager at Dublin Airport at 16.34 hrs while the aircraft was still airborne. One Inspector of Air Accidents travelled to Dublin Airport and spoke with the aircraft crew.

 

 

The aircraft was on a scheduled passenger flight from Manchester Airport, United Kingdom, to Dublin Airport, Ireland. Following an uneventful flight, the aircraft arrived at Dublin Airport and taxied to parking stand 133L. Once parked, and with clearance from the Commander, the Senior Cabin Crew Member opened the passenger door, located at the rear of the aircraft, and prepared the integral aircraft steps for disembarkation. This included securing the collapsible handrail in the upright position.

 

During passenger disembarkation this handrail collapsed and a passenger fell from the aircraft steps. The passenger was taken to hospital where it was determined she had sustained a fracture to her right wrist.

 

 

While on a scheduled passenger service from Newark Airport (KEWR) USA, to Dublin Airport (EIDW) Ireland, the aircraft encountered conditions that became increasingly turbulent during the descent. As the turbulence eased, the Co-Pilot noticed that the indicated airspeed, as presented on his instruments, was reading low. Fearing that the turbulence had caused the aircraft to lose airspeed which could lead to a stall, the Co-Pilot applied forward force on the control column to pitch the aircraft down, and increased engine thrust.

 

Following this manoeuvre, the Co-Pilot reported that the airspeed as indicated on his instruments began to recover, before reducing again. Consequently, the Co-Pilot repeated the pitch down manoeuvre.

 

It was then determined that the Commander’s airspeed instruments were reading correctly, and the Commander took control of the aircraft. The aircraft was returned to normal flight and the Commander handed back control to the Co-Pilot. Subsequently, the Flight Crew were alerted to a system message indicating a loss of hydraulic pressure in the centre hydraulic system. Shortly thereafter, reports were received from the cabin that a number of passengers and Flight Attendants suffered minor injuries during the event.

 

The Commander reported to Dublin Air Traffic Control (ATC) that they had experienced some turbulence and that medical assistance would be required on landing. In addition, airport emergency services were requested to be in attendance due to the hydraulic problem. The aircraft landed at 05.22 hrs without further incident. The aircraft sustained damage to the centre hydraulic system service bay and ceiling panels in the cabin as a result of the occurrence.

 

Please see the below Preliminary Report.

 

NOTE: This Preliminary Report contains information, as known at this time, and does not contain analysis or conclusions. This information is therefore subject to change and may contain errors; any errors in this Report will be corrected in the Final Report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During a scheduled passenger flight from Krakow, Poland (EPKK) to Edinburgh, Scotland (EGPH) on 9 March 2014 a cabin crew member (CCM) reportedly fell in the galley area and injured his back. The CCM subsequently visited a doctor and following referral for an X-ray was diagnosed with a “fracture of the transverse process of the right vertebra L1”.

 

 

A Boeing 737-8AS, registration EI-DWE, was stationary on Taxiway LINK 2 at the entrance to Taxiway F1 awaiting sequenced departure off Runway 28 at Dublin Airport. A second Boeing 737-8AS, registration EI-DYA, which was following EI-DWE, commenced a right turn on LINK 2, towards Taxiway A to hold short of Runway 34, during which the tip of its port winglet struck the starboard elevator of EI-DWE. The winglet of EI-DYA and the elevator of EI-DWE were substantially damaged. There were no injuries.

 

 

 

On take-off from Weston Airport (EIWT), Co. Kildare the nose cone from the right hand mission equipment pod fell from the aircraft, which was carrying out a survey flight. The Flight Crew experienced a significant amount of yaw to the right which they felt through the flying controls. The aircraft diverted to Dublin Airport (EIDW) where it subsequently landed safely. There were no injuries.

 

One Safety Recommendation has been made as a result of this investigation.

 

 

The single-engined aircraft was on a private flight from the Isle of Wight (UK) to Galway Airport (EICM), with one Pilot, three passengers and a pet dog on board. While over the south midlands of Ireland, the aircraft developed engine vibration followed by a loss of engine power and smoke in the aircraft cabin. The Pilot, who was also an experienced glider pilot, shut down the engine and performed a forced landing into an agricultural field in County Tipperary.

 

There was no fire and except for minor damage to the engine cowling, the aircraft was undamaged. None of the occupants were injured. The cause of the engine power loss was due to the detachment of the number five cylinder, which the Investigation established was as a result of the fatigue failure of several of its retention studs.