Flight Safety Information January 20, 2012 - No. 014 In This Issue European Air Safety Regulators Order Checks on A380s Pilot Dies of Heart Failure in Mid-Flight Pilot arrested at Bristol Airport after failing breath test NATO helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan kills 6 international troops US experts arriving to conduct review of Philippine aviation safety Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University -...Professional Programs FAA: 2 Dead In South La. Helicopter Crash Helicopter crashes among tabletop mountains in southern Venezuela HK airline Cathay Pacific buys 6 Airbus A350 jets European Air Safety Regulators Order Checks on A380s PARIS - European air safety regulators on Friday ordered inspections of nearly one-third of all Airbus A380 jets after hairline cracks were found in a component of the wings on a handful of the 555-seat superjumbos in recent months. The European Aviation Safety Agency said the order would affect about 20 of the 68 planes currently in service. The cracks have been found in a small number of L-shaped brackets that connect the wing's aluminum skin to its structural ribs. The inspection order follows the discovery of cracks in two different places on some wing brackets, which Airbus said it had traced to a bracket installation process that has since been modified. Airbus described both cracking problems as minor and said that while any damaged brackets needed to be replaced, they did not pose an imminent safety risk. The first cracks were found late last year on the wing of a Qantas A380 that was being refurbished after experiencing a spectacular midair engine explosion in 2010. Airbus and the E.A.S.A. deemed those cracks - which extend from a bolt hole in the bracket - to be "noncritical" and advised airlines in early January to inspect and replace the parts during routine scheduled four-year maintenance checks. The first A380s entered service four years ago. Only nine A380s have undergone the recommended inspections thus far. But in the course of those checks, two planes were found to have tiny fissures in a different section of the wing bracket. It is these cracks that the E.A.S.A. on Friday deemed were more significant. "This condition, if not detected and corrected, could potentially affect the structural integrity of the airplane" over time, the regulator said. The E.A.S.A. ordered airlines whose A380s have flown more than 1,800 take-off and landing cycles since entering service to make a detailed visual inspection of the wing rib brackets within the next four days. Less-heavily used planes, with 1,300 to 1,799 flight cycles, will have six weeks to complete them. A380s that have logged fewer than 1,300 flight cycles will be able to wait until the plane's next scheduled four-year maintenance check, the regulator said. Half of the A380s affected by the inspection order are operated by Singapore Airlines, which took delivery of the first superjumbo in late 2007. Seven others belong to the Dubai-based carrier Emirates and one is owned by Air France-KLM, according to the serial numbers listed by the E.A.S.A. The remaining two are Airbus test planes. Industry officials said the required inspections could be completed within as little as 24 hours but could take up to several days, depending on local maintenance work rules and the number of brackets, if any, that need replacement. Each wing of an A380 contains about 2,000 of the brackets, which are about 20 centimeters, or eight inches, long and are made of a metal alloy. Fatigue cracking is unusual in relatively young aircraft. The phenomenon, which is more common in older planes that have experienced heavy use, has begun to attract closer regulatory scrutiny in the wake of a recent series of incidents involving aging Boeing 737s and 757s in the United States. In one case last year, a tiny undetected crack in the metal skin of a Southwest Airlines jet widened into a five-foot hole in the fuselage during flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/business/global/european-air-safety-regulators- order-checks-on-a380s.html Back to Top Pilot Dies of Heart Failure in Mid-Flight The pilot of a UTair flight from Bangkok to the Siberian city of Novosibirsk died of sudden heart failure three hours after takeoff, and the plane was landed successfully by the co- pilot, Life News reported Friday. A doctor on board the Boing 757 attempted to revive the pilot, 44-year-old Sergei Golyev, but was unsuccessful. A spokesperson for Tolmachyovo airport in Novosibirsk told Life News that Golyev was flying as a passenger on the overnight flight, not as one of the plane's pilots. An investigator said the doctor's attempts to save Golyev's life took place in the pilot's cabin. The co-pilot decided to make an emergency landing in China to get medical assistance for Golyev, but the afflicted pilot died before the plane made its descent, the Life News report said. The plane then continued to its original destination, landing Friday morning. No one on board the flight was injured. Read more: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/pilot-dies-of-heart-failure-in- mid-flight/451381.html#ixzz1k0FutxY8 Back to Top Pilot arrested at Bristol Airport after failing breath test The pilot of a passenger plane was arrested last night on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit. The Aer Lingus Regional flight from Bristol Airport was delayed after the man failed a breath test. The airline had to find another pilot and crew to fly the ATR72 plane to Cork, Ireland. The 24 passengers were told the delay was due to a "technical problem". Worried airport staff called police when the pilot went through a passenger security gate rather than a crew entrance and was dressed in civilian clothing. One source claimed he had earlier gone to a hotel with a member of the cabin crew. An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "Officers attended and the man failed a breath test. He was taken to a nearby station and a second test was carried out, which he passed. "No offences were disclosed and the man has been released with no further action being taken." The legal limit for pilots is nine microgrammes of alcohol in breath, compared to 35 for motorists. A spokesman for Dublin-based Aer Arran, which runs the Aer Lingus Regional flight, said last night: "This is already the subject of a thorough investigation." Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/20/pilot-arrested-at- bristol-airport-after-failing-breath-test-115875-23708534/#ixzz1k0FLy8NB Back to Top NATO helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan kills 6 international troops KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) - A NATO helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing six members of the international military force, the U.S.-led coalition said. The coalition said in a release early Friday morning that there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash in southern Afghanistan. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. The coalition did not disclose the nationalities of those killed. The helicopter crash occurred on the same day seven civilians were killed outside a crowded gate at Kandahar Air Field, a sprawling base for U.S. and NATO operations, after a suicide attacker set off a vehicle laden with explosives. The Taliban claimed responsibility, claiming they were targeting a NATO convoy. *********** Date: 19-JAN-2012 Time: 23:58 local Type: Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion Operator: US Marine Corps Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Helmand Province - Afghanistan Phase: Combat Nature: Military Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: A helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan has killed six NATO troops, according to news reports. The crash involved a U.S. Marine CH-53 Sea Stallion. A spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force said six died in the crash. Neither the number nor the nationalities of those on board have been confirmed. Update at 8:13 p.m. ET: The six troops who died were U.S. Marines, NBC News reports. The helicopter crashed about midnight local time (2:30 p.m. Eastern) in Helmand province. The cause of the crash is not known. The spokesman said there was no enemy activity in the area at the time. NOTE: There are conflicting reports from FOX news that the helicopter involvd as a Boeing Vertol CH-46, not a CH-53 www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top US experts arriving to conduct review of Philippine aviation safety MANILA, Philippines - A team of experts from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to visit the country next week to conduct a Technical Review of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). The FAA Team, headed by Jacques Astre, is scheduled to conduct the review from January 23-27, 2012. According to CAAP Director General Ramon Gutierrez, the CAAP is regularly subjected to a series of audits and evaluation by the US-FAA, as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union, all of which determines the CAAP's compliance with the promulgated standards of the international civil aviation. It should be recalled that the FAA downgraded the CAAP to Category 2 back in July 2007, followed by the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) in 2009 and then by the EU banning Philippine operators. As a result of the negative ratings, a major legislative action was enacted in the form of Republic Act 9497, creating the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and abolition of the then-Air Transportation Office (ATO). Thus, the FAA Technical Review in Manila serves as a prelude and assessment on the preparedness of the CAAP for another round of audits and evaluations to regain Category 1 status and to remove the identified Significant Safety Concerns by the ICAO and lift the ban imposed by the EU. This Technical Review would evaluate whether the CAAP has addressed the eight critical elements of a safety oversight system which includes: The Primary Aviation Legislation; the Specific Operating Regulations; the CAA Structure and Safety Oversight Function; Technical Guidance; Qualified Personnel; Licensing & Certification Obligations; Continued Surveillance Obligations; and Resolution of Safety Issues. The CAAP needs to meet all eight critical elements to get out of Category 2, USOAP Significant Safety Concerns (SSC) and EU Banned List, Gutierrez explained. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/348712/us-experts-arriving-conduct-review-philippine- aviation-safety Back to Top Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Professional Programs is hosting the following five-day Center for Aerospace Safety/Security Education (CASE) short-courses which combine the latest in safety, security, human factors and aircraft accident investigation topics in a professional and dynamic classroom environment. Participants may elect to take course(s) independently or complete three courses (marked with *) to receive a Certificate of Management in Aviation Safety. Occupational Safety& Health/ Aviation Ground Safety for Managers* - C.A.S.E. Course This course is designed to provide the participant with the working knowledge of OSHA's General Industry Safety and Health standards. In addition participants will gain a fundamental working knowledge of an aviation ground safety program. Participants will also receive the OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Safety & Health Training Card. Course Dates: Apr. 16-20, 2012 (Daytona Beach Campus, Florida) Aviation Safety Program Management*- C.A.S.E. Course This course and respective topics are designed to provide the participant with the working knowledge of the development and management of an effective safety program. Course topics include: Safety Culture, Disaster-Emergency Planning, Internal Reporting Systems, Human Error and Human Performance, Introduction to Safety Management Systems (SMS). Course Dates: Apr. 23-27, 2012 (Daytona Beach Campus, Florida) Aircraft Accident Investigation and Management* - C.A.S.E. Course This course is designed to teach the participant the fundamentals required to conduct or manage an aircraft mishap/accident investigation. The participant will review the investigation sequence from the preplanning stage through the general survey and specific analysis of a mishap/accident, culminating with the determination of contributing factors and probable cause/s. Course Dates: Apr.30-May 4, 2012 (Daytona Beach Campus, Florida) ADVANCED Aircraft Accident Investigation and Management - C.A.S.E. Course This course is designed to introduce the participant to advanced accident investigation procedures involving design, materials and aircraft performance. Participants will analyze various mechanical and structural factors and loads on an airplane, as well as be introduced to advanced fire investigation and avionics. Extensive use will be made of crash laboratory simulated accident scenario exercises and case examples will help participants identify, collect and analyze data in the process of determining probable cause/s. Course Dates: May 7-11, 2012 (Prescott Campus, Arizona) *Courses required for the Certificate of Management in Aviation Safety Please contact ERAU Professional Programs/CASE Short Courses: Director: Sarah Ochs Website & Registration Information: www.erau.edu/case Phone: (386) 226-6928 Email: case@erau.edu Back to Top Back to Top FAA: 2 Dead In South La. Helicopter Crash MORGAN CITY, La. -- A small helicopter owned by a Houma towboat company crashed Thursday in coastal Louisiana, killing both people on board. Cenac Marine Services attorney Berwick Duval identified the passenger as Lanny Ledet, manager of the company's Golden Ranch Plantation in Gheens. He says the pilot was not a Cenac employee. Authorities have not released the pilot's name. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the Robinson R-44 helicopter crashed around 7:30 a.m. about 13 miles southwest of Morgan City. "A little after 9 a.m., we received a call of a chopper going down around Belle Island, south by the Atchafalya," said St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert. "We located the area and, at the time, we observed and recovered two of the bodies that were affiliated with the crash." FAA and National Transportation Safety Board investigators will go to the wreck site as soon as possible, Lunsford said. The Coast Guard also responded to reports of the crash. "We extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the two people who died in this tragic accident," Coast Guard officials said in a statement. "We will continue to work closely with the parish and the Federal Aviation Administration to assist in the recovery operations and support the investigation to continue to provide quick action and efficient response to maritime disasters, such as this one." Read more: http://www.wdsu.com/news/30250676/detail.html#ixzz1k0KHoqjq ************ Date: 19-JAN-2012 Time: 07:30 LT Type: Robinson R44 Raven II Operator: Private Registration: N369TL C/n / msn: 11055 Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Wax Lake, LA - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: Two people are reported dead after a helicopter crashed south of Morgan City Thursday morning 19 January 2012. The helicopter crashed into Wax Lake. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Helicopter crashes among tabletop mountains in southern Venezuela; pilot and 4 passengers dead CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)- A helicopter has crashed during a tour of the tabletop mountains of southern Venezuela, and an official says five people have been killed. Col. Julio Fuentes tells Venezuela's state news agency that the helicopter crashed Wednesday into Auyantepui mountain in the Canaima National Park. Auyantepui is a popular tourist destination. The world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls, cascades down its sheer rock faces. Fuentes says a pilot and four passengers were aboard the Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter. Their nationalities haven't been released. Fuentes says authorities believe the helicopter may have crashed because of rough weather. He says a team reached the crash site Thursday after it was initially spotted by a plane. Back to Top HK airline Cathay Pacific buys 6 Airbus A350 jets (AP) HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways says it's buying six Airbus A350-900 jets at a steep discount to the order's $1.63 billion list price. The airline said Friday that it has negotiated "significant price concessions," which it did not disclose. Hong Kong's dominant airline said the aircraft will be used to renew and expand the company's fleet for long-haul routes to Europe and will be delivered from 2016 to 2017. It will pay for the jets in eight installments. The order comes days after European jet maker Airbus said that it notched up 1,419 net new orders worth $140 billion last year for new commercial aircraft, besting U.S. rival Boeing Co. in the race for orders for the fourth year running. Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC