Fuel Icing Likely Culprit of 777 Crash at Heathrow

By Chad Trautvetter

September 4, 2008
Safety

The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) today issued an interim report for the January 17 accident involving a British Airways Boeing 777 that landed short of Runway 27L at London Heathrow Airport. According to the NTSB, which cooperated in the accident investigation, “Both engines lost power in the final minute of flight because the fuel flow to each engine was restricted, most probably due to an accumulation of ice within the engine fuel feed system.

The ice is likely to have formed from water–which exists naturally in the fuel–while the aircraft operated for a long period, with low fuel flows, in the cold environment associated with high-altitude flight. While the AAIB issued interim recommendations specific to the Boeing 777 and its Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engine “to reduce the risk of ice formed from water in aviation turbine fuel causing a restriction in the fuel feed system,” the agency also released two broader recommendations for all jets.

The AAIB asked both the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to consider the implications of the findings of this investigation on other certified airframe/engine combinations, as well as review the current certification requirements to ensure that aircraft and engine fuel systems are tolerant to the potential build-up and sudden release of ice in the fuel system.

Back

Gates ready to help with safety issues November 17, 2008 It is an old but still valid saying that “safety is no accident,” although to Gates Aviation Consulting (Stand No. 227) the subject is rather... [more]
Elite Jets First in Region To Gain IBAC OK November 17, 2008 Dubai-base Elite Jets has become the first company in the Middle East to obtain the coveted IS-BAO certification from the International Business... [more]
Tempus in-flight medical kit upgrade with video capability November 16, 2008 RDT (Stand No. 542) has introduced the new Tempus IC version of its in-flight medical emergency response system. The new model is significantly... [more]
NTSB Meeting To Address Helo EMS Safety November 11, 2008 Due to a high number of fatal aeromedical accidents over the past year, the NTSB yesterday announced it will hold a public hearing on the safety... [more]
Business aviation safety slides November 01, 2008 In the first three quarters of this year, both the business jet and turboprop segments saw an increase in accidents and fatalities over the same... [more]