Flight International Online news 9:00GMT: An Air France A340-300 that overran the runway at Toronto Pearson airport on August 2 does not appear to have suffered any technical problems, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) says today as part of an update into its investigation.
This preliminary finding supports Airbus’ assertion in August that there is no indication that any aircraft systems or engine anomalies existed at the time of the accident.
Air France Flight 358 touched down about 4,000ft (1,220m) from the threshold of Toronto’s runway 24L, nearly halfway along the strip, while landing in heavy rain. An ensuing fire destroyed the aircraft. There were no fatalities, but two crew members and nine passengers received serious injuries.
To date, says the TSB, investigators “have not found significant anomalies of the aircraft systems”.
It says a review of digital flight data recorder (DFDR) data has not revealed any system troubles or malfunctions. Additionally, based on a physical examination of the wreckage combined with a follow-up detailed DFDR review of parameters, “no problems were detected with the flight controls, spoilers, tires and brakes, or thrust reversers”.
The flight controls functioned as expected, says the agency, noting that spoilers were deployed on touchdown, the tires and braking system worked as per design, and the thrust reversers were found in the deployed position.
Brake assemblies were pressure-tested, and more detailed teardown work was completed at the Messier-Bugatti-Goodrich facility in Troy, Ohio. “The main and alternate systems on brakes 2 to 8 were tested at the plant, and all passed the tests,” says the TSB.
Brake 1 could not be tested because of its damaged post-crash fire condition. But this brake was disassembled and nothing was found to indicate that any pre-existing condition was present that would result in a failure or reduced capability of this unit, according to the agency.
The data also show that the aircraft landed with 7500 kg of fuel.
The TSB notes in its report that about the time that the A330 landed, a sharp boundary of rain associated with a thunderstorm “moved approximately north to south over Runway 24L, accompanied by wind gusts and a change in surface wind strength and direction”. Severe lightning and lightning strikes were also reported during this period.
The TSB in a previous update said evidence does not indicate that the crash was caused by hydroplaning or lightning.
There remains a considerable amount of investigative and analytical work to be done, says the TSB. In the coming months, investigators will analyze the accident and other previous occurrences that have similar characteristics.
“The analysis of the available factual information is still under way; consequently, it would be inappropriate to speculate as to the findings of the board on this occurrence,” it says.
MARY KIRBY / PHILADELPHIA
Source: Flight International
