Flight Safety Information September 15, 2010 - No. 193 In This Issue Tighter Curbs Expected on Lithium Batteries Southwest Airlines jet diverted to RSW by cabin pressure problem Pilot errors, distracted controller contributed to 2009 New York air collision Dutch police pull U.S. pilot after alcohol test. Neglect led to Israel's FAA downgrade: state comptroller Ill-fated UPS crew offered Doha alternate after fire alarm... FAA investigates Allegiant Air close call ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tighter Curbs Expected on Lithium Batteries Regulators to Ramp Up Restrictions on the Ubiquitous Objects in Cargo Planes After Fire on UPS Jet Stokes By ANDY PASZTOR and MELANIE TROTTMAN (WSJ) Federal officials are poised to substantially tighten restrictions on transporting lithium batteries in U.S. cargo planes, according to people familiar with the details, after an apparent cargo fire resulted in the crash of a United Parcel Service Inc. jet in Dubai. The move, which would affect nearly all U.S. cargo carriers, could also force manufacturers and distributors of consumer electronics to alter their packaging and documentation procedures. Lithium batteries are used in a wide array of electronic devices, such as cell phones and laptop computers. The urgency of the new restrictions, which people familiar with the matter expect to be announced shortly, appear to be a response to signs that lithium batteries may have stoked the intense fire and dense smoke that filled the cockpit of the UPS Boeing 747 jumbo jet before it went down on Sept. 3, while trying to return to Dubai International Airport. Both pilots died in the accident, which has revived debate over the fire hazards of lithium batteries. They can burn intensely, and once on fire can be particularly difficult to extinguish. By requiring special packaging and other safeguards for lithium batteries and products containing them, the new restrictions would resolve long-running disputes between some airline-industry officials and pilot groups over the dangers posed by such cargo. It will likely be increasingly difficult to ship large volumes of batteries, by themselves, on a single plane, according to the people familiar with the details. Investigators haven't yet revealed details of the Boeing 747's cargo or the official cause of the crash. But people familiar with the details said the flight, which originated in Hong Kong and then stopped in Dubai on the way to Cologne, Germany, had large amounts of consumer electronics aboard. The extent of the fire may make it impossible for investigators to conclusively determine where and how it broke out. A Department of Transportation spokeswoman declined to comment, as did a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman. UPS officials have declined to comment on the status of the investigation. But industry safety experts said they expected government action in the next few days. Transportation-department and FAA officials, they said, were discussing safety initiatives to require special protective packaging on lithium batteries, to limit the number allowed on one plane and to mandate warnings to pilots about the type of cargo loaded before takeoff. Earlier this year, transportation officials proposed restrictions on such batteries in cargo carriers, essentially classifying them as hazardous or dangerous goods, requiring packaging to prevent short circuits and limiting where they may be loaded inside cargo planes. But those proposals were not made final. In October, 2009, the transportation department issued a lithium-battery safety advisory aimed at shippers and carriers responsible for complying with hazardous-materials regulations for passenger and cargo aircraft. The agency said it was especially concerned about undeclared shipments of lithium batteries, and tallied more than 40 air-transport-related incidents involving such batteries and electronic devices since 1991. Passenger planes over the years have complied with strict restrictions, and often outright bans, on lithium batteries carried as cargo. Since January, 2008, transportation-agency rules have barred airline passengers from packing spare lithium batteries in checked baggage. But if passengers put a portable electronic device in their checked baggage, the batteries are allowed to remain. In carry-on baggage, passengers can still pack a number of batteries of different types, including those commonly used in cell phones and most laptop computers. The UPS jet's flight-data recorders have been downloaded by U.S. crash investigators, and early analysis is consistent with the theory that the blaze started in a cargo area, spread quickly and then pushed smoke into the cockpit, preventing pilots from seeing their instruments. On Tuesday, investigators from the United Arab Emirates gave the strongest public signal yet that the blaze originated in the cargo hold. They disclosed that prior to smoke in the cockpit, there was a fire warning received by the crew. Such warnings normally come from sensors in or around the cargo compartments, not inside the cockpit The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which is participating in the investigation, years ago urged regulators to require installation of fire-suppression systems in the main holds of cargo planes. The recommendations came after a 2006 fire damaged a UPS McDonnell Douglas DC-8 cargo jet that managed to land safely in Philadelphia, with the crew barely escaping the flames. At the time, the safety board also called for enhanced training, improved pilot exits and upgraded smoke detection systems. More recently, board officials stepped up ther campaign to champion such improvements. They have declined to comment on the current crash, as have UPS. officials. Many lithium batteries have internal safeguards designed to prevent fires in case batteries overheat or malfunction. Investigators looking into the Dubai crash are trying to determine if the batteries aboard the plane had such systems, and whether they were working properly.The debate over preventing fires stemming from lithium batteries is complicated by the fact that FAA critics contend parts of the agency's proposal from earlier this year aren't consistent with international safety standards covering battery shipments. Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Southwest Airlines jet diverted to RSW by cabin pressure problem FORT MYERS - A Southwest Airlines flight initially traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Austin, TX was diverted to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers when a cabin pressure problem led to 10 passengers seeking medical treatment on Tuesday afternoon, airport officials reported. "Upon climbing, a pressurization indication alert came on in the cockpit," said Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Ashley Dillon. "It wasn't a severe enough drop in pressure to cause the oxygen masks to come down," Dillon said. However, due to the drop in cabin pressure, the pilot chose to divert the plane, she said. Southwest Airlines flight 778 landed safely at Southwest Regional Airport at 2:24 p.m., said airport spokeswoman Vicki Moreland. Initially, all passengers reported to airline attendants that they were OK, said Dillon. However, upon landing, Lee County Emergency Medical Services was called to check everyone as a precaution. Several passengers reported having earaches, Dillon said. There were 10 people who had some medical issues and three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, Moreland said. The airline did not have an update on those passengers' conditions or why they were transported, Dillon said. Earaches, however, were likely the cause for seeking treatment, she said. It was not immediately known what led to the pressure problem, but the plane is being checked by maintenance personnel, said Dillon, who was also not immediately aware of the age of the Boeing 737 jet. "It's not a common occurrence, but it's not something that's unheard of," Dillon said of the pressure drop. The airline is to make accommodations for all 87 passengers who were flying on the plane, Dillon said. Another plane is being sent to Fort Myers, she reported about 5 p.m. Travelers will likely make their way to their intended destination tonight, but be several hours late, she said. No new flight number was immediately available. http://www.naplesnews.com/ [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=gqvqzbdab&et=1103689136142&s=6053&e=001IX4YQzkBPfvyY2WmhIxjzax7wQoPGWTVhig2pZJrciFfzwlg-rg1pKaMpAINU_wYu282NxQCj_7WRGCFZQO58J4Bjc1H8NHJ_Vi-lph4u6fVv9P1Yumr6g==] Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pilot errors, distracted controller contributed to 2009 New York air collision Those factors were the likely causes of the collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter that killed nine people, the NTSB says. The FAA reportedly takes action against the controller. Reporting from Washington - Errors by two pilots and a distracted air traffic controller were the likely causes of the midair collision between a small private plane and a tourist helicopter that killed nine people in August 2009, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday. The board cited inherent limitations on both pilots' ability to see and avoid each other until seconds before colliding. It also determined that an air traffic controller at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey failed to provide a timely transfer of information and air traffic advisories for pilots in the cramped Hudson River airspace. While directing traffic, the controller also was conducting a personal telephone conversation about a dead cat at the airport. "A lot of people made a lot of little errors, and at the end of the day that's what culminated in this accident," NTSB Chairwoman Deborah A.P. Hersman said at the meeting. The plane, with two passengers plus the pilot aboard, collided with the helicopter carrying a pilot and five Italian tourists. All were killed. Both pilots failed to use onboard equipment to help stay aware of other aircraft, the NTSB said. Other factors contributing to the crash, the NTSB said, were inadequate Federal Aviation Administration rules on the vertical distance that aircraft are required to maintain between each other and inadequate procedures for flying in the busy New York-New Jersey corridor. In the last 25 years, midair collisions have killed 700 people and, Hersman said, distraction is one of the most dangerous contributors. "There are a number of protocols and procedures created to prevent aircraft from being in the same airspace," Hersman said. "What our concern is about is on occasion when people slip." The board recommended altering boundaries of the busy corridor, requiring operational altitudes for local aircraft and others leaving the area, and declaring airspace used for scenic tours as high traffic. The NTSB also strongly recommended more electronic advisory systems in helicopter cockpits. The FAA will review the recommendations. The agency took action against the controller and two other employees Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. Mary Schiavo, the attorney representing families of the five Italian tourists, said they were pleased with Tuesday's outcome. Schiavo said she still hoped to see more recommendations and regulations for improving advisory technology in cockpits. Without the technology, she said, "general aviation aircraft will be flying blind." http://articles.latimes.com/ Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dutch police pull U.S. pilot after alcohol test (CNN) -- Dutch police said they pulled a U.S. pilot from a commercial airplane Tuesday shortly before takeoff and arrested him after he took a breath test that showed he had consumed alcohol over the permitted limit. The 52-year-old captain, from Woodbury, New Jersey, blew a blood alcohol content of 0.023 percent, a spokesman for the Netherlands Police Agency told CNN. Under Federal Aviation Administration rules, pilots are not permitted to to operate or attempt to operate aircraft within eight hours of having consumed alcohol. The flight was canceled, and the captain was fined 700 euros ($911), said the spokesman, who declined to discuss any further flight details. Delta Air Lines, however, said Tuesday that one of its flights scheduled between Amsterdam, Netherlands and Newark, New Jersey, was canceled out of concern that a crew member appeared unfit for duty. The company said it is cooperating with local authorities as well as launching its own internal investigation. The crew member has been suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry, Delta said in a statement. Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Neglect led to Israel's FAA downgrade: state comptroller Years of Israeli failure to deal with civil aviation safety issues led directly to the US FAA's January 2009 downgrading of the country from Category 1 to Category 2, signalling non-compliance with ICAO standards. In a special report, Israeli state comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss found that relevant ministries and the civil aviation authority did not act in accordance with Israel's commitment to international standards as a signatory to the Chicago Convention and in light of international warnings in recent years. "It is clear that despite the deficiencies mentioned in many reports issued by Israeli and foreign experts, the relevant government ministries did not act to improve the situation," says Lindenstrauss. "This is grave in my view as lives of passengers can be in danger." He concludes that, until recently, the civil aviation authority did not have the proper tools to deal with the increased traffic and that it could not function properly due to poor organisational structure. However, that situation began to change in 2008 when the civil aviation authority, the airport authority, the transport ministry and finance ministry began to correct the deficiencies raised in reports by the FAA and ICAO. Israel's Government is preparing legislation to change its safety oversight system structure in a bid to regain Category 1 next year. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=gqvqzbdab&et=1103689136142&s=6053&e=001IX4YQzkBPfsaCd3BZ5MxGOcntvYAWSGk3kwI-Nhn2NzvH9gQ_Oh2M8SIeEGYhMw5OC1zfXX8Q45x6n5zHllP-7LRnBbkTMSQ] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ill-fated UPS crew offered Doha alternate after fire alarm Pilots of the UPS Boeing 747-400 which crashed in Dubai earlier this month had been offered the chance to land at Doha after receiving a fire warning on the freighter. The fire warning came about 28min after take-off from Dubai while the crew, bound for Cologne, were in contact with Bahrain air traffic control. Investigators from the United Arab Emirates' General Civil Aviation Authority state that the crew was offered Doha, the capital of Qatar, as a diversion point. But the pilots opted instead to return to Dubai. Initial analysis of the aircraft's flight recorders, says the GCAA, show that the situation deteriorated, with cockpit visibility becoming increasingly poor. The crew declared a 'Mayday' but the inquiry has already determined that the 747 was too high as it attempted to land at Dubai, and overflew the airport before descending and crashing just west of the Dubai Silicon Oasis complex and north of the Minhad air base. Neither of the crew members survived the 3 September accident. The GCAA says the cockpit-voice recorder and flight-data recorder were transported to the facilities of the US National Transportation Safety Board on 10 September, where their data was downloaded. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAA investigates Allegiant Air close call An Allegiant Air Boeing MD-82 carrying a college football team to a game in Missouri struck runway end lights and appears to have overran the runway before taking off from the Lake Charles Regional airport in Louisiana in a cloud of dust and debris the afternoon of 10 September. According to airport officials who witnessed the event, Allegiant 4105 broke down one runway end light, markers that extend 20-25cm (8-10in) above the ground, and knocked the lens out of another light before leaving what appears to be a rut in the grass approximately 7.6m (25ft) long. "When it got toward the end of the runway, we heard a loud pop and saw a debris field of grass and dirt about 60m in the air," says one witness. "Sight of the aircraft was lost in the dust cloud; shortly after the aircraft reappeared and continued on its departure." Fire and rescue teams, which are required to monitor all charter flights at the airport involving larger aircraft such as Allegiant's MD-82, drove to the runway end to investigate, finding the broken lights and debris from a tire approximately 61m past the runway 15 end. Debris was also kicked back on the runway for approximately 180m. Fire officials called the air traffic control tower to report finding the debris, which in turn alerted the Allegiant crew en route to Columbia, Missouri for a McNeece State University football game. Pilots decided to make a precautionary landing in Tunica, Mississippi, where the aircraft's left outboard tire was found to be shredded after landing. According to an FAA spokesman, an inspection of the aircraft in Tunica revealed damage to the flaps, accessories in the main landing gear well and engine cowling, though it is unclear at what point the equipment was damaged. Allegiant could not be immediately reached for comment or to verify the number of passengers and crew on board the charter flight. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC