The how and why of a brand new A380, Etihad crash ( 50726 views )
Remember this crash...(November 15, 2007)
The story is here
The brand spanking new Airbus 340-600, the largest passenger airplane ever built, sat in its hangar in Toulouse, France without a single hour of airtime. Enter the flight crew of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) on November 15, 2007 to conduct pre-delivery tests on the ground, such as engine run-ups, prior to delivery to Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi.
The ADAT crew taxied the A340-600 to the run-up area. Then they took all four engines to takeoff power with a virtually empty aircraft. Not having read the run-up manuals, they had no clue just how light an empty A340-600 really is.
The takeoff warning horn was blaring away in the cockpit because they had all 4 engines at full power. The aircraft computers thought they were trying to takeoff but it had not been configured properly (flaps/slats, etc.) Then one of the ADAT crew decided to pull the circuit breaker on the Ground Proximity Sensor to silence the alarm.
This fools the aircraft into thinking it is in the air.
The computers automatically released all the brakes and set the aircraft rocketing forward. The ADAT crew had no idea that this is a safety feature so that pilots can't land with the brakes on.
Not one member of the seven-man crew was smart enough to throttle back the engines from their max power20setting, so the $200 million brand-new aircraft crashed into a blast barrier, totaling it.
The extent of injuries to the crew is unknown, for there has been a news blackout in the major media in France and elsewhere.
38 Response(s) to The how and why of a brand new A380, Etihad crash
Brian Appaswamy Says:
........This story may be true, but there are a few holes in it. The statement 'Without a single hour of airtime' is impossible. The plane was days away from delivery to Etihad, and naturally, by then much of the flight tests had to have been completed. So obviously the airframe and engines had some time on them already. Few, but time nonetheless.
It is very doubtful that officials at Airbus would simply hand over a two hundred million dollar jet to any set of crews before making sure that they are fully qualified, and are able to carry out the tests that needed to be carried out. Also as a pre-delivery run-up procedure, it is all but certain that there had to be more than one Airbus pilot in the cockpit along with the supposed ADAT crew. So as for reading the run-up manuals and such, I have my doubts that anyone would have been allowed to get anywhere even near the cockpit, if they were unsure of what they were doing, and Airbus has to have it's methods of making sure of crew qualifications.
As for no one knowing enough to retard the throttles in order to abort the tests; I think this is a bit of a mute point because if all 4 engines were at the full takeoff power setting, and then the brakes got released as it is alleged here, then retarding the throttles at that point would not necessarily have saved the plane. If the conditions were as they are indicated in this story, then the plane was going to end up on the wall, no matter what.
Finally, shouldn't the plane have been turned around to have it's aft end facing the blast fence normally for a engine run-up? How did this plane go head first in to a blast fence?
Brian.
Brian Appaswamy Says:
..........and by the way, this is not an A380 as the title indicates. This is an A340-642.
Brian. Haris Mushtaq Says:
Official story says that the aircraft was being tested for some engine performance with brakes on and the test was supposed not to move the aircraft with brakes on. For some reason, the brakes failed and the aircraft started to run and the crew carrying out the tests could not manage quickly to idle or reverse the thrust. No one was killed but few were injured severely. Abu Fashla Says:
The ADAT crew taxied this A340-600 to the landing strip where they
then
throttled all four engines to maximum power.
NOT a bright idea. Not having read the aircraft's operations
manual, they
had no clue just how light an empty A340-600 really is.
The takeoff warning horn started blaring away in the cockpit
because these
witless- wonders had all 4 engines at full throttle. The computers
thought
they were trying to take off but the aircraft prevented such due to
the
flaps & slats not being in their proper setting allowing for safe
takeoff.
Enter one of the quick witted ADAT crew who decided to pull the
circuit
breaker on the Ground Proximity Sensor thus silencing the annoying
alarm.
NOT a good idea...
This caused the aircraft to think it was airborne and possibly
about to
land.
As a result, the computers automatically released all brakes which
set the
aircraft rocketing forward. The ADAT crew had no idea that this is
a
design
safety feature preventing pilots from landing the aircraft with
brakes
applied.
Non of the witless seven-man crew thought to throttle back the
engines
from
their max power setting resulting in the $300 million brand-new
A340-600
to
crash, head first, a mile later into a blast barrier, totaling the
aircraft
!
There has been a news blackout in France on the subject of this
lil'
Boo-Boo. Coverage of the story was deemed too insulting to
Muslims!!
Blurpie Says:
Do you mind checking your facts before posting? This story is debunked at http://www.snopes.com/photos/airplane/etihad.asp Matthew Sobel Says:
This was A-rab crash. The myth debunking was to save face and keep selling planes to wealthy oil country. MY family in Israel read the real reports. This is the 3rd A-rab plane to be written off for 'operator' error. I would not fly air AbuFashla. Wulfeyez Says:
Matthew So-bel, it's spelt Arab, not A-rab; weirdo. Also many of the pilots flying for Etihad (and in fact most Middle Eastern airlines) are Westerners. So get off your high horse you racist (So)-Bell-end POLLARD . L.W. Says:
Brian Appaswany is right but I remember reading in the "flight" mag that some one forgot to put the wheel chocks in front of all the main wheels for these ground run engine tests & normally only 1 engine at a time is run at fullpower. Sophocles Says:
Please check your facts before you post up this pejorative, racist rubbish. Cerule.regia Says:
Seems to me the more likely scenario, would be that the pilot intended to pull the circuit breaker for the ground proximity, but pulled the engine-coupling breaker. The engine throttle controls are not mechanically connected to the engine fuel controllers. It is strictly an electrical connection by means of computer control. The throttle levers just tell the computer where the pilot would like the fuel to be set, but the computer makes the change. By disabling the system, the throttle control levers would be disabled along with the computer control and the engines may have spooled up to full power or way beyond maximum limit. All the brake pressure in the world wouldn’t overcome that kind of thrust. A problem with the story that I see, is that French engineers do not like circuit breakers. They much prefer fuses, because if there is an electrical problem they want the system to remain disabled. I am unsure if Airbus uses fuses of circuit breakers. Matthew Sobel Says:
Wulfeyezsitz: I know you feel highly horsed against racism. God/Allah/Great Beaver bless you. The A-rabs crashed the plane at delivery. Period. Those who say otherwise are worried about economics... In fact, Faizel-lal-Diza took PERSONAL delivery of this aircraft. Heads DID roll when the plane was destroyed. Jump up and down all you want, however the WulfeysitZ will still land in same place. My cousin Arlal told me clearly what he saw with his own eyes. Are you anti-Jewish???? Don't worry..a lot of people are so you won't be lack for comfort in your hatred. Doshka Says:
Matthew, man do you and your family sit around the fireplace discussing arab pilots. I think you might be the one who hates. Anyway no one is anti -jewish , some are anti Israel for its policies in Palestine. Criticizing the state is Israel does not mean you are anti jewish. Please differentiate between the two.
In all cases this is an aviation forum and not a political hate forum Matthew. Please be more mature or else please go play with you toy trains, (or dolls if you so prefer). Bernalillo Says:
This is just the usual garbage. Since it is fun to reinforce our opinions regardless of their veracity this "news" story is circulating the rounds of the "Muslims are inferior" group. Jason From Leicester Says:
i think it is sad that it started as a discussion about human error or mechanical failure causing a very expensive piece of kit to be written off. so what on earth has this got to do with religion. the world should ban the word religion and make it illegal to even discuss it. because it causes nothing but arguments and wars. at the end of the day we are all human beings we all get born and die and if there is such a thing as the creator, then i think you will find he dont give a monkeys about all the idols and churches we build for him and all the silly rituals that man has invented. all he cares about is that you love thy neighbour. so shut the f... up about muslims, jews etc. cos its a plane crash end of. Airbusfan Says:
Hello!
It isn't Airbus A380. It is a A340. James Says:
I do not know what happened to this plane but the crash over Brazil indicates that
there is a FUNDAMENTAL flaw in the fly by wire system used by AIRBUS i.e in a Violent Thunderstorm the fly by wire is liable to be knocked out so that the plane is simply unmanageable and can drop out of the sky. Yeah Says:
"you are being tracked", fine with me, but change the fucking error. IT IS NOT AN A380 yu stupid.
---------------Reply by Jean---------------
I am not changing the title from A380 to A320 Sean Mullarkey Says:
stupid pilots of ethihad maybe that guy is drunk emirates is better the best emirates a380 Jayer Says:
do we know if the pilots were muslim? (otherwise - shut up)awesome pics tho' IanAber Says:
Why the hell is this still on the Internet with such an unforgivable and hurtful error. It's a damn A340 not an A380. FIX IT!!!!! Big Tom Says:
Their A-rabs... like the guy said: that's why God gave them Camels Smigel Says:
LOL at Yeah
Hijazi Says:
hi every1. what ever happedned,just forget it.but dont be a BLOODY racist.we are mature enogh.and who is talking about anti jewish? we respect all religions!!!
at the end who is that stupid who cant distinguish between A340 and A380.may be becasuse of some mental disabilities he loves only A380 and wishes to describe all Airbusses as A380.:p A320pilot Says:
people say pilots are dumb but they are not think about the hudson. by the way i am a real pilot i fly a a-320 at chiago o hare intl. airport i just got done my shift. my favroite plane is an a380 or an beluga. Peter Mc Crosky Says:
Its NOT an A380 as your HEADLINES say, you morons its an A340-600. Its NOT the largest passenger airplane ever built it is the LONGEST Fuselage on a passenger aircraft, ghet your facts correct you tossers.
FROM Someone who actually flys REAL AIRLINERS. A320pilot Says:
hey heres a tip me=x c-130 pilot served in desert storm Im Pilot Says:
We Pilots are not fools especially a person eligible to take off a test run is not a trainee. I fly air bus and you guys sit back and relax and write stories about crash. Is there any 1 to write about Kaishka crash? Air france crash? stop shitting around reg this crash please feel sorry for the crew n i roger it Fart Knocker Says:
You know, anyone who has any experience with aircraft, whether it be line service, or even an Experienced pilot that has had 5 or more years, should know the difference between an A320, A340, A380, hell even a C-172, etc. Some of you guys to me seem as if you dont even know what the heck you are talking about. As for the Racist Crap, take it someplace else. We all share the same interest here, whether it was a muslim, white guy, or even a chimp flying the plane, it happened. Whoever did it, I bet feels really bad about what they did, and most likely do not have their license anymore. Seriously cut the racist crap. Friggen Trolls... Bobby Joe Says:
This just goes to show how A-rabs are and they stink also. I'm surprised the plane wasn't loaded with explosives and driven into the airport. Those dirty, worthless, smelly A-rabs. Ahmad Almaadadi Says:
all airplane dont be crash we want to enjoy our nice flight please dont be crsh we want to live please... RFNA Says:
=.= A380.... dont make me laugh, if thats a double decker then am a space shuttle >.> please check your facts before posting something, this can cause harm to the company just for posting something that it aint. even i know this is an a340. Uma Says:
The pilots DID NOT survive this! That's another lie given out to save face. What I heard that Etihad wanted to show off their pilots' capabilities on the test run in France, and that turned out to be a big mistake. All aboard died. Capildeo Says:
ALL pilots have to undergo a rigirous training period on the Flight Simulator for the type of airplane.It is almost impossible for this kind of accident to happen without real reasons.It had to be real pilot error that caused this to happen.Some one was joking around for this to happen and it has to be the top man on the flight deck!Sorry to see such a beautiful aircraft totalled. Vinny Says:
hey. good thing it didn"t get off the ground..pilots like that hit buildings.and being muslims,they were probably shot dead after the fact.bacon sandwich a day keeps the doctor away! Ahmad Almaadadi Says:
=.= A380.... dont make me laugh, if thats a double decker then am a space shuttle >.> please check your facts before posting something, this can cause harm to the company just for posting something that it aint. even i know this is an a340
Chris Says:
Stop bitching all of you .what has happened has happened , leave it OK ? Andreas W. Says:
This story is funny! So full of nonsense ... unthinkable in serious airline business.
But I wonder how it can provoke a discussion with insults and prejudice aso. Not very much better than the islamists. Jay Says:
The above story is not true however the accident was and according to reports at the time the aircreft was not under control of the crew on board as they were not paying attention and rolled into the blast barrier
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