Flight Safety Information - February 2, 2024 No. 025 In This Issue : Incident: Lufthansa A333 near Brest on Jan 31st 2024, engine malfunction : Beechcraft V35B Bonanza - Engine Failure/Fatal Accident (Florida) : Chattanooga pilot says laser strike impaired his co-pilot's vision before landing : Feds say pilot error probable cause in fatal 2022 Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter crash : 5 Crucial Parts Of Any Air Crash Investigation : FAA: Bird strikes growing concern for commercial, private aircraft : JetBlue: Unruly customer restrained by other passengers on flight from London to NYC : Sea of foam floods Houston airport hangar : Southwest Airlines to carry overdose reversal medication in onboard medical kits : Man jailed for pushing Southwest Airlines cabin crew member during altercation : Aircastle settles with Russian airlines for $43mn : ATR Expects To Deliver 10-15 Aircraft To Indian Airlines Every Year : US Air Force is one step closer to getting remotely piloted cargo aircraft : ACSF Annual Safety Symposium : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Lufthansa A333 near Brest on Jan 31st 2024, engine malfunction A Lufthansa Airbus A330-300, registration D-AIKQ performing flight LH-440 from Frankfurt (Germany) to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA), was enroute at FL340 about 15nm northwest of Brest (France) when the crew turned the aircraft around and descended to FL280 due to an engine malfunction. The aircraft returned to Frankfurt for a safe landing on runway 25C about 3 hours after departure. The flight was cancelled. A passenger reported the crew announced an engine malfunction, the aircraft became louder and more vibrating than usual. Emergency services were on standby upon arrival back in Frankfurt. https://avherald.com/h?article=514683a7&opt=0 Beechcraft V35B Bonanza - Engine Failure/Fatal Accident (Florida) Date: Thursday 1 February 2024 Time: c. 19:06 Type: Beechcraft V35B Bonanza Owner/operator: Control Data Inc Registration: N6659L MSN: D-10279 Year of manufacture: 1979 Fatalities: Fatalities: / Occupants: Aircraft damage: Destroyed Location: Clearwater, FL - United States of America Phase: Approach Nature: Private Departure airport: Vero Beach Regional Airport, FL (VRB/KVRB) Destination airport: Clearwater-Executive Airport, FL (CLW/KCLW) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Beechcraft V35B Bonanza, N6659L, was destroyed when it crashed into a mobile home park in Clearwater, Florida. Several fatalities are reported at the moment. The FAA reported that the pilot reported an engine failure before the accident. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/351361 Chattanooga pilot says laser strike impaired his co-pilot's vision before landing Jackson Wallace says he was flying from Florida and made it to Dalton before a green laser could be seen flashing in his window. A Chattanooga pilot recorded a video of someone flashing a laser at his aircraft while descending in September of last year. Jackson Wallace says he was flying from Florida and made it to Dalton before a green laser could be seen flashing in his window. "It's just like one of those things there's not much you can do about it and were just trying to keep our eyes inside the aircraft at all times," said Wallace. He says he put his head down and tried to avoid looking into the laser. That's when he told his co-pilot Austin Martin to record the incident. "It actually hit me in the eye, and I lost my vision for a couple minutes," said Martin. Wallace says this has happened several times in the past and quickly reported it to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to the FAA, they received 13,304 reports from pilots last year, a 41 percent increase over 2022. Shining a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety threat. Many types of high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots, many of whom are flying airplanes with hundreds of passengers. Pilots have reported 313 injuries since the FAA began recording data on laser strikes in 2010. The FAA strongly encourages the public to report laser strikes to the FAA and local law enforcement agencies. People who shine lasers at aircrafts face FAA fines of up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple laser incidents. Violators can also face criminal penalties from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. https://www.local3news.com/local-news/chattanooga-pilot-says-laser-strike-impaired-his-co-pilots-vision-before-landing/article_a6377f30-c07b-11ee-9803-7b7541434958.html Feds say pilot error probable cause in fatal 2022 Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter crash National Transportation Safety Board / The Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter that crashed Aug. 23, 2022, on the side of Aetna Mountain along Interstate 24 in Marion County is shown at the salvage yard where it was stored for examination. The pilot's failure to stay clear of high-tension power lines over Interstate 24 was the probable cause of a 2022 deadly Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter crash that claimed two lives, according to the final report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The helicopter was piloted by THP pilot Harold Lee Russell when it crashed Aug. 23, 2022, in Marion County on the side of Aetna Mountain killing Russell, 35, and his passenger, Marion County Sheriff's Detective Matt Blansett, 40. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/feb/01/ntsb-pilot-error-probable-cause-in-fatal-2022/ 5 Crucial Parts Of Any Air Crash Investigation • Such investigations are meant to help prevent future accidents. SUMMARY • Air crash investigations aim to prevent future accidents, not assign blame or liability. • The process involves notification, gathering information, analysis, report writing, and issuing safety recommendations. • The state where the accident occurred may lead the investigation regardless of where the aircraft is registered. An air crash investigation can be a long and challenging process, with investigators gathering information from various sources and meticulously putting it together to determine the probable cause. However, the time spent investigating an air crash varies depending on the nature of the accident. As outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an investigation into an aircraft accident or incident solely seeks to prevent future accidents. It is not a means for apportioning blame or liability. All investigations are typically laid out in the five crucial phases listed below. However, the US National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) notes that the process is not strictly linear, and the phases may sometimes overlap. 1 Notification and decision to investigate The state of occurrence usually announces the accident The first crucial stage of an investigation is to notify relevant states of an accident or serious incident. Authorities must issue a notification as soon as possible and with the quickest means to the following parties: The state where the aircraft is registered The state of the operator The state where the aircraft was designed The state of the manufacturer ICAO (when the accident aircraft exceeds 4,960 lb (2,250 kg) or is turbojet-powered) Authorities from the state where an accident occurred usually lead the investigation regardless of where the aircraft is registered or where it was coming from or going to. For example, in the crash of LAM Mozambique Flight 470 in Namibia in November 2013, the Namibia Directorate of Aircraft Accident Investigations (DAAI) led the investigation despite the Mozambican plane being on a flight from Mozambique to Angola. Following the notification, authorities will decide to launch an investigation, usually in the accident's immediate aftermath. However, this may only come in some cases after critical safety issues are identified. When an accident is suspected to be a result of criminal activity, law enforcement agencies like the FBI will get involved. 2 Gathering information from the area The crash site provides numerous key details After reaching the accident site, the team gathers everything required to analyze the accident and determine the probable cause. This involves collecting physical evidence from the crash site as well as information from outside the scene, including the following items: Parts of the aircraft Black boxes Flight logs Maintenance records Interviews with crew and passengers (if possible). The investigative team prioritizes the recovery of the aircraft's black boxes, specifically the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR). These provide critical information about the aircraft's behavior and crew's actions in the moments leading up to the accident. The collection of data and evidence often develops into a recurring process as more information about the crash comes to light. 3 Analysis of information and evidence Findings may be used to simulate the flight After all the necessary information is collected, investigators put it together to determine the cause of the accident. In the NTSB, a technical team, including a writer-editor with sufficient knowledge of aviation terminology, will write a report providing details of the accident, a review of the investigative analysis, and a determination of the probable cause. The following professionals may be involved in this process: Psychologists Forensic pathologists Bomb experts Other pilots and cabin crew During this phase, investigators may assemble pieces of the aircraft, analyze debris in laboratories, and arrange complete medical or autopsy examinations, if necessary. The flight may also be recreated in a simulator. This will help determine how the aircraft came down and understand the fate of the crew or passengers on the flight. In the crash of South African Airways Flight 295 in 1987, forensic pathologists determined that some passengers had already died before the plane came down due to high levels of toxic fumes in the cabin during an onboard fire. These tests also help determine the possibility of sabotage or criminal activity. 4 Final report and documentation Outlining all details about the crash After analyzing all the data, investigators put together a final report and prepare it for public release. However, before finalization, the state conducting the investigation has to send a draft of the final report to all concerned states, inviting their significant and substantiated comments. Other states shall not release or give the public access to any draft reports or documents without approval from the authorities conducting the investigation. To prevent similar accidents from occurring again, the state leading the investigation must make the final report available to the public as soon as possible. If the report cannot be made publicly available within 12 months, the investigating state must provide an interim statement on each anniversary of the accident, providing an update on the investigation and safety issues raised. This was the case with Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which is nearing its tenth anniversary since disappearing from the sky. 5 Safety recommendations Beyond the investigation After determining the cause of the accident, investigators issue safety recommendations to help prevent similar occurrences. However, at any stage of the investigation, the investigating state may issue recommendations and any preventative action that is deemed necessary to enhance aviation safety. These can be issued to the parties listed below. Regulatory bodies Civil aviation authorities Manufacturers Airlines States Industry stakeholders Investigators will also follow up with various organizations to ensure that safety recommendations are implemented. ICAO also notes that if new groundbreaking evidence is found after an investigation has been closed, the state that conducted the investigation should reopen it. However, if another country instituted it, it must receive approval from the state that conducted the initial investigation. https://simpleflying.com/air-crash-investigation-crucial-parts-list/#notification-and-decision-to-investigate FAA: Bird strikes growing concern for commercial, private aircraft The agency cited increasing populations of large birds and faster aircraft as two reasons for the growing concerns (InvestigateTV) — Thousands of bird strikes are reported each year on commercial and private aircraft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, it’s becoming a more common occurrence for those in the air. Since the birth of aviation, planes have been competing with birds for air space. In 1905, Orville Wright wrote in his diary about hitting a flock of birds while flying over a cornfield near Dayton, Ohio. There was no damage to his plane, but modern-day aircraft aren’t always as lucky. The aviation experts we spoke to say most bird strikes happen between July and November when migratory traffic is high. The FAA also says over 60% of bird strikes occur during the day, usually when planes are landing. In the above video, we go in-depth on how birds are compromising air travel, safety and the technology and tools in place to prevent a catastrophic collision. https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/01/faa-bird-strikes-growing-concern-commercial-private-aircraft/ JetBlue: Unruly customer restrained by other passengers on flight from London to NYC The chaos, which apparently was captured on video and posted online, occurred on JetBlue Flight 1926, which landed Tuesday at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where the passenger was turned over to law enforcement, the airline said. An unruly JetBlue Airways passenger on Tuesday was restrained by multiple flyers and turned over to law enforcement upon landing in New York City from London, the airline said. The chaotic scene was captured on video and posted on Instagram. JetBlue said Thursday the incident occurred on Flight 1926 from London to New York City. The name of the rowdy passenger was not released. JetBlue also didn’t specify if the passenger was arrested upon the flight landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. According to the flight-tracking site, FlightAware, the flight, which took off seven minutes early, landed 26 minutes early at 3:16 p.m. The incident occurred when the passenger “began acting erratically and aggressively toward his travel companion and members of the inflight crew,” the statement said. The crew found an “open bottle of liquor the customer brought onboard and indications of intoxication,” JetBlue said. “For everyone’s safety, the customer was restrained with the assistance of other customers who were witnessing this threatening behavior. The flight landed safely at New York’s JFK Airport where it was met by law enforcement who took over the situation. We appreciate our customers’ assistance and understanding during this incident and apologize for the experience,” the statement said. Apparent video of the incident shows at least four men attempting to physically restrain another man aboard the flight. While the men are trying to get the passenger under control, multiple people are seen standing up as the tussle moves from the aisle into an aisle seat and then back into the aisle. People are heard shouting orders, like “I need you to back up.” A woman is also on the video and appears to say, “Babe, babe, stop fighting them! Stop fighting them! Babe!” Shortly after, a man, who is attempting to physically restrain the passenger, also is heard saying, “Take him down!” At times, the men trying to subdue the passenger move their arms and hands toward the man’s head and neck as he tries to wiggle free. What appears to be a woman’s voice is also heard sobbing, according to the video. JetBlue did not immediately respond Thursday afternoon to a question about whether the Instagram video was shot aboard Flight 1926. Port Authority police about 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday received a report of a disturbance aboard JetBlue Flight 1926. No arrest was made by them, an agency representative said on Thursday. Other videos that circulated around Thanksgiving captured passengers allegedly causing chaos aboard two Frontier Airlines’ flights, one in which a woman pulled her pants down, horrifying onlookers. Another video showed a passenger yelling, midflight, that she was being kidnapped. Bad behavior on commercial flights rose 47% globally in 2022 compared with the previous year, according to data released in June by the International Air Transport Association, an airline trade group. In April, federal officials said they referred more than 250 unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible criminal prosecution since late 2021. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jetblue-unruly-customer-restrained-passengers-flight-london-nyc-rcna136851 Sea of foam floods Houston airport hangar Fire suppression foam was released by accident in a hangar facility next to the Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. The biodegradable foam spilled out of a United Airlines hangar when the fire suppression system went off early Tuesday morning, according to airport officials. The foam filled the surrounding parking lot and a nearby road, covering several vehicles. No one was inside the building when the incident happened and it did not affect the airport's operations. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-68176255 Southwest Airlines to carry overdose reversal medication in onboard medical kits Southwest Airlines has become the latest US-based commercial airline to announce that it will carry naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, as part of its in-flight emergency medical kits. Southwest now joins United, Alaska, Delta, and American Airlines in carrying naloxone on board its flights for cabin crew to use in an emergency. The move follows US federal legislation introduced in May 2023 that requires all airlines to carry opioid overdose medication aboard their aircraft fleets. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows more than 109,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2022, the majority of which were related to opioid abuse. Naloxone is used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. It can be administered either through a nasal spray or injection, but it would not affect someone who does not have opioids in their system, should it be used in error. Southwest Airlines is currently enhancing its onboard emergency medical kits to go beyond current FAA requirements, according to a Southwest statement. The new kits being installed across its fleet throughout 2024 feature an auto-injector dosage of epinephrine (often referred to as ‘epi-pens’), as well as doses of naloxone nasal spray and ondansetron – a nausea prevention drug. Southwest’s emergency medical kits also include a stethoscope specially designed for loud environments, an electronic blood pressure cuff, a pulse oximeter, and a glucometer. The first of the new medical kits was installed in December 2023 and the roll-out is due to continue throughout 2024. “Transport Workers Union Local 556 is the union that represents the 21,000 plus flight attendants at Southwest Airlines,” said the Union’s spokesperson Michael Massoni, who has been a flight attendant for 40 years. “Our Union was pivotal in lobbying to have this addition to our emergency medical kits.” “There are only certain parts of the kit that we’re allowed to use without medical guidance of some sort. Naxalone is one of those items that we would enlist after we first try to enlist the help of a medical professional onboard the aircraft. And if all else fails and we cannot secure one of those, then we could get permission to utilize that through what we call Stat MD, which is a medical service provider that’s available to us on the aircraft via radio or SatCom links,” Massoni added. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/southwest-airlines-overdose-reversal-medication Man jailed for pushing Southwest Airlines cabin crew member during altercation A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight has been jailed in the United States (US) after he pushed a flight attendant during an altercation. Michael Goins, 35, from Spring Hill, Tennesse, was aboard a Southwest Airlines from Indianapolis that landed at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) on March 20, 2022. While the aircraft was waiting to be allocated a gate for deplaning, Goins shouted “several expletives” while speaking on his mobile phone. A fellow passenger with children felt offended by the bad language, to which Goins responded in an aggressive manner. An altercation ensued when Goins deliberately pushed his closed fist into a flight attendant’s stomach and shoved her backwards. At the federal court in Austin, Goins was given the statutory maximum prison sentence for simple assault and ordered to pay $650 compensation. “This prison sentence reflects the seriousness of these types of crimes and promotes respect for the law,” US Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, said. “Airline passengers and employees should be able to travel safely, and this violent behavior cannot be tolerated.” As well as the Austin Police Department, the case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “As a passenger on an active flight, Mr Goins’ disruptive behavior escalated into a violent outburst directed at a flight attendant,” FBI Special Agent Aaron Tapp said. “The FBI is dedicated to ensuring Americans can go to work and travel by plane without the fear of being attacked.” https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/southwest-airlines-cabin-crew-jailed Aircastle settles with Russian airlines for $43mn Aircastle has joined a list of lessors that have reached settlement deals with Russian airlines, receiving USD43 million from two unnamed carriers, it said in a quarterly report issued in early January 2024. Reuters specified that the claim related to four aircraft, although it also did not identify the lessors or airframes. Aircastle confirmed to ch-aviation the aircraft were leased to Rossiya and Aurora. Other lessors, including AerCap, Air Lease Corporation, BOC Aviation, CDB Aviation, DAE Capital, SMBC Aviation Capital, and GA Telesis have previously disclosed various settlements with Russian lessees. While both the European Union and the United States have banned lessors from entering into new leases or continuing existing contracts with Russian carriers since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there are exceptions for pre-approved settlements covering aircraft effectively expropriated by the Russian government and carriers under its supervision. Russian state-owned insurance firm NSK was given RUB296.8 billion rubles (USD3.3 billion) to settle lessor claims on behalf of Russian airlines. Aircraft are formally acquired by NSK and then transferred to the respective carriers. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/136604-aircastle-settles-with-russian-airlines-for-43mn ATR Expects To Deliver 10-15 Aircraft To Indian Airlines Every Year • Currently, IndiGo and Alliance Air are the only two Indian Airlines operating ATR aircraft commercially. SUMMARY • Turboprop aircraft, specifically the ATR 72 and 42, play a significant role in India's domestic air travel, catering to regional routes and challenging airstrips. • The number of ATR aircraft in India has increased by 120% in the last decade, indicating a rising demand for regional air travel. • Alliance Air and IndiGo are the only operators of ATR turboprops in India, utilizing them in the domestic market. While the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 often hog the limelight when it comes to India’s domestic operations, the contribution of smaller turboprops is significant in its own way. Whether it's flying to airstrips where bigger planes can’t land or meeting the market requirements of certain regional routes, turboprop aircraft play a crucial role. And the ATR 72 and 42 are some of the most widely used planes in their segment on several of India’s domestic routes. Significant increase over a decade Jean-Pierre Clercin, ATR’s Asia-Pacific head of sales, spoke with businessline about the current situation of ATR’s commercial aircraft in India. To put things in perspective, he highlighted how out of the total 780+ commercial planes in India, 66 are ATRs. The ATR turboprops are no stranger to Indian skies and have been part of the fleets of former airlines, such as Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, as well as current carriers like IndiGo and Alliance Air. But in the last ten years (from 2013 to 2023), the number of ATR aircraft has seen a massive 120% increase in the country. During this period, the plane maker delivered 75 planes to Indian airlines, suggesting the rising demand for regional air travel. When asked about how 2024 is looking in terms of deliveries in India, Clercin did not give an exact figure. But he gave a larger delivery target for the next five years, eyeing around 10-15 aircraft annually. He said, "I can’t tell you specifically how this year will unfold, but what I can say is that we see a lot of potential in India, from direct orders to aircraft orders placed by lessors. We are targeting 10-15 aircraft deliveries per year on average within the next five years.” Crucial workhorse Currently, government-owned Alliance Air and India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, are the only two operators of ATR turboprops in the country, and both are squeezing the maximum out of the type. Alliance Air: Per ch-aviation, Alliance Air currently has 20 ATRs in its fleet, of which two are ATR 42-600 and the rest ATR 72-600. Almost all of them operate on regional routes in India and some international, such as the Chennai-Jaffna route between India and Sri Lanka. In 2022, Alliance Air signed a deal at the Singapore Airshow for two ATR 42-600 aircraft via Amsterdam-based lessor TrueNoord. The carrier was particularly interested in the smaller variant of the type to help it gain access to smaller airfields such as Kullu and Shimla in the tricky Himalayan region. Later that year, Alliance Air and ATR announced the extension of their Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) for another five years. The carrier has received the company's services for over 20 years since it signed its first ATR pay-by-hour maintenance contract in December 2002. IndiGo: The airline currently has more than 40 ATR 72-600 in its fleet, and the type has helped it expand significantly in India’s regional market. While the A320 family of aircraft dominates IndiGo’s domestic operations, the carrier deviated from the single-aircraft-type fleet and began ATR operations in 2017. IndiGo placed an order for 50 ATR planes, with deliveries pausing briefly during the pandemic but resuming in 2021. Today, it operates the type on more than 275 daily flights to various destinations, including Jabalpur, Pantnagar, Kolhapur, Kadapa, and Kurnool, among others. https://simpleflying.com/atr-expects-to-deliver-10-15-aircraft-to-indian-airlines-every-year/ US Air Force is one step closer to getting remotely piloted cargo aircraft Reliable Robotics, a leading player in autonomous aircraft systems, announced that it has received military airworthiness approval to begin flight testing and operational missions of its remotely piloted Cessna 208 Caravan cargo aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. According to a press release from the company, this milestone represents an elevated level of engagement with the Department of Defense (DoD) as Reliable Robotics is now equipped to showcase its dual-use automated flight capabilities tailored to military applications, including cargo missions. Dr. David O’Brien, Major General (Ret.) and Senior Vice President of Government Solutions at Reliable Robotics, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “Nothing compares to showcasing how our autonomous flight capabilities will immediately enable new ways for the U.S. Air Force and other departments of the military to lead with innovation, improve safety and project power across the globe.” DoD airworthiness policies mandate that all aircraft and air systems intended for Air Force use undergo a rigorous airworthiness assessment in accordance with Air Force standards. In compliance with these requirements, Reliable Robotics conducted a comprehensive safety analysis, maintenance and operational evaluations, and testing of the automated flight technologies. This airworthiness accomplishment represents a pivotal milestone within Reliable’s Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract. Hank “Hog” Griffiths, AFWERX Airworthiness and Test Lead, commented on the significance of this achievement, stating, “Our AFWERX partners are developing exciting automation technologies through robust engineering and flight test campaigns. The technology is maturing rapidly, and this airworthiness approval for a certified aircraft retrofitted with an autonomous flight system provides significant opportunities for the military.” Reliable Robotics has been collaborating with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX since 2021, involving SBIR awards and a comprehensive study on large aircraft automation. In 2023, Reliable demonstrated automated flight capabilities to military personnel as part of the Golden Phoenix exercise at Travis Air Force Base. https://defence-blog.com/us-air-force-is-one-step-closer-to-getting-remotely-piloted-cargo-aircraft/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2024 - February 20 - 25 • HAI Heli-Expo 2024 - February 26 - 29 - Anaheim, CA • 2024 Women in Aviation International Conference - March 21-23 (Orlando) • SMU Air Law Symposium - March 21-22, 2024 ( Dallas, TX) • 2024 ACSF Safety Symposium – Air Charter Safety Foundation - April 1-3, 2024 • Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. (APSCON 2024) - July 29 - August 3; Houston TX • Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium - APATS 2024, 0-11 September, 2024, Singapore • • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) Curt Lewis