Flight Safety Information January 1, 2013 - No. 001 In This Issue FAA orders new round of Boeing 737 jet inspections Edinburgh bound easyjet plane forced to make emergency landing at Luton FAA Database: Student Pilot Crashed King Air Camera captures helicopter crash in sea in Brazil (Video) PROS IOSA Audit Experts FAA orders new round of Boeing 737 jet inspections The Federal Aviation Administration will require $5 million in new inspections and possible repairs for Boeing 737s in response to a large hole that was torn in the roof of a Southwest Airlines jet as it flew in 2009. The order calls for repetitive inspections for cracking in the top of the fuselage of 109 planes in the Boeing 737-300, 737-400 and 737-500 series. The FAA said Monday in a statement that it "always evaluates the effectiveness of our safety improvements" and "additional actions were needed to reduce risk further and assure continued safe operation." Dallas-based Southwest said safety is "paramount" to its operations. "We are prepared to comply and do not anticipate impact to Southwest flight schedules or operations," said company spokeswoman Brandy King. "We remain completely confident in the airworthiness of our fleet." It's unclear how many Southwest planes would be affected by the new inspection requirements because the airline is retiring some planes. Southwest operated 136 737-300s and 20 737-500s as of Sept. 30, according to public documents. The FAA said its latest airworthiness directive, which will be published Wednesday in the Federal Register, was prompted by reports of cracking near the lap joints in a plane's crown area, which is above the passenger cabin. The order is designed to "detect and correct fatigue cracking of the fuselage skin, which could cause the fuselage skin to fracture and fail, and result in rapid decompression of the airplane," the agency said. Planes develop tiny cracks in their skins through use as they age. Most of those are found and repaired during routine maintenance checks, but that's not always the case. The FAA already requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the crown area of the fuselage skin and corrective action, if needed. The new order broadens that requirement, adding inspections to new areas and different methods, such as optical imaging or ultrasonic testing, to detect microscopic cracks without dismantling a plane. It also requires repetitive inspections for loose fasteners in previously repaired areas and the installation of reinforcement straps - called internal tear strap doublers - on the inside of the fuselage skin. The FAA estimates the new inspections will cost up to $5.2 million and repairs could cost nearly $2 million. Southwest said it worked in conjunction with jet maker Boeing Co. regarding some of the new inspection methods for evaluation by the FAA. "This is part of the long-standing process through which airplane manufacturers, operators and regulators work together to continue the safety of the world's jetliners at the highest levels," Boeing spokesman Miles Kotay told USA Today. The FAA reported no incidents involving the same fixtures since 2009 and Boeing has completed hundreds of inspections worldwide "with few findings," he said. This is the FAA's third of four inspection orders related to cracking near the lap joint after the Southwest incident in July 2009. Then, a 737-300 flying from Nashville, Tenn., to Baltimore had to make an emergency landing after a football-sized hole ripped open in its roof. A similar incident on a Southwest jet in April 2011 was due to a different issue, according to the FAA. That 737-300 made an emergency landing in Yuma, Ariz., after a 5-foot hole opened in the plane's roof. The National Transportation Safety Board supported the new rule, according to the FAA order. The board did not return a phone call. http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20121231-faa-orders-new-round-of-boeing-737- jet-inspections.ece Back to Top Edinburgh bound easyjet plane forced to make emergency landing at Luton The plane was forced to land in Luton due to an oil leak in the engine. AN easyjet plane en route to Edinburgh has made an emergency landing at Luton airport after an oil leak. The flight from Geneva to Edinburgh had 151 passengers on board, and landed at Luton as a precautinary measure. A spokeswoman for the airline said: "easyJet can confirm that flight EZY6908 flying from Geneva to Edinburgh diverted to London Luton Airport due to a technical issue. "The captain took the decision to divert as a precaution only. The safety of its passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority." http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/edinburgh-bound-easyjet-plane-forced-to-make-emergency- landing-at-luton-1-2714131 Back to Top FAA Database: Student Pilot Crashed King Air A twin turboprop Beechcraft King Air 100 that crashed at night during a snowstorm on Dec. 19 near Libby, Mont., killing both aboard, was piloted by 54-year-old Carl Douglas who, FAA records show as of Friday, held only a student pilot certificate. Douglas was CEO of Stinger Welding and was flying with passenger John Smith, 43. Both men died shortly after midnight when the aircraft hit Swede Mountain three miles northeast of Libby Airport. While the FAA's online database does not show more advanced credentials for Douglas, the event is still under investigation by the NTSB and new facts may emerge. At least one airport official familiar with Douglas has publicly commented on the matter. A Libby airport official told local media he was surprised by the fact that the FAA's online database of airmen listed Douglas as a student pilot. Ron Denowh, chairman of Libby Airport's governing board, told TheWesternNews.com, "If that's the case, that really surprises me." Denowh said he had seen the accident aircraft fly into Libby "hundreds" of times and had believed Douglas had "been flying all his life." Regarding the online database, Denowh said, "I hate to hear this. If it's true, there will probably be a lawsuit." Douglas was reportedly flying the King Air into Libby from Arizona with plans to attend a Christmas party later in the week. Swede Mountain, where the aircraft crashed, sits nearly 1,700 feet above the elevation of Libby Airport, a few miles away. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/student_pilot_douglas_king_air_crash_libby_montana_207920- 1.html ************** Status: Preliminary Date: 19 DEC 2012 Time: 00:02 Type: Beechcraft B100 King Air Operator: Stinger Welding Inc. Registration: N499SW C/n / msn: BE-89 Crew: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Passengers: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Total: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: 9 km (5.6 mls) NNE of Libby Airport, MT (United States of America) Phase: Approach (APR) Nature: Executive Departure airport: Coolidge Municipal Airport, AZ (), United States of America Destination airport: Libby Airport, MT, United States of America Narrative: A Beechcraft B100 King Air turboprop plane was destroyed when it struck terrain on top of Swede Mountain, north northeast of Libby Airport, MT, USA. The pilot and passenger were killed. The airplane was being piloted by the CEO of Stinger Welding Inc. The flight left Coolidge Municipal Airport, AZ about 20:25 on December 18 and crashed just after midnight. The airplane was probably approaching Libby Airport's runway 15 from the north. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Camera captures helicopter crash in sea in Brazil Helicopter Crashes At Copacabana Beach Video Amateur video has captured the moment that a rescue helicopter crashed into the sea at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro as it attempted to rescue a drowning swimmer. The helicopter's crew all survived the incident. The helicopter was trying to rescue a swimmer from the water at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on December 29 when it suffered engine failure and crashed into the sea, Brazil fire officials said. Amateur video captured the moment the helicopter plummeted into the ocean as hundreds of beach goers looked on. Moments after the crash, the crew of the helicopter can be seen swimming next to the aircraft as it begins to sink. The four crew members and the swimmer who had been in difficulty all survived with only minor injuries and were able to swim to shore. The helicopter was recovered from the sea by fire department officials. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/9773906/Camera-captures-helicopter- crash-in-sea-in-Brazil.html ************* Date: 29-DEC-2012 Time: 16:10 LT Type: Helibrás HB-350B3 Esquilo Operator: Grupamento Aeromaritimo do Corpo de Bombeiros Registration: PP-BRJ C/n / msn: 4523 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Sea of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil Phase: En route Nature: Military Departure airport: Copacabana Destination airport: Copacabana Narrative: A helicopter from the Fire Department of Rio crashed into the sea, in Copacabana Beach, when he tried to perform a rescue swimmer. The accident occurred around 16:10 in front of the station 3, near the Copacabana Palace Hotel. The four occupants of the aircraft were rescued and taken to the Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto. Initial reports are that the crew suffered minor injuries and were doing well. The bather who was drowning was saved by a practitioner of bodyboarding. The causes of the accident will be cleared by the Centre for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa). The helicopter was submerged, and was rescued with the help of floats and subsequently removed from the sea. www.aviation-safety.net Curt Lewis