AI171 Preliminary Investigation: 2018 report flagged fuel switch concern, but said that it was not ‘unsafe’ India news
Mumbai: 12 June Air India Flight 171 In the accident, a preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of Investigation (AAIB), refers to a servicability bulletin on the fuel control switch of Boeing -787 that indicates a potential tool malfunction, but it was not an unprotected position. The AAIB report mentions that the engine of the engine one and two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft was cut within a second interval of a second and was later turned on before the accident.Captain Sam Thomas, president of the airline Pilot Association of India, said: “AAIB report refers to a servicability bulletin about fuel control switch gates, indicating a potential tool malfunction. The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a prejudice towards the pilot error. ALPA clearly dismisses this estimate and emphasizes a fair, fact-based investigation. ,What is a possible technical issue? The AAIB report refers to the ‘Special Airwriting Information Bulletin (SAI) number NM-18-33’ released by the US Regulatory, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in December 2018. Bulletin fuel control switch is about the possible disintegration of the locking feature. Bulletin was released after the report came out of the Boeing 737 operators that fuel control switches were installed with a locking feature. The said fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is the same on the model of various Boeing airplanes including B787, which the plane crashed.The FAA recommended: “To ensure your engagement, inspect the locking facility of the fuel control switch. While the airplane is on the ground, check if the fuel control switch can be moved without picking up the switch between the two posts. If the switch can be transferred without lifting it, the locking facility has been dismissed and the switch should be repeated soon.The AAIB report said: “Airworks anxiety was not considered an unsafe situation that would warrant an airwellness directive (AD) by the FAA. According to Air India information, the suggested inspections were not done because SAIB was a consultant and not mandatory.”
