Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE
Asymmetrical thrust is emerging as the most likely cause for the crash of a Philippine Air Lines' (PAL) Airbus Industrie A320 at Bacolod, after the pilot attempted to land with only one of the aircraft's two engine thrust reversers serviceable.
Flight International understands from investigators in the Philippines that the No 1 engine's thrust reverser had been reported faulty before PAL flight 137 left Manila for Bacolod on the island of Negros. Airline officials stress that there are procedures for a reverser-out landing, but it is unclear if these were followed by the A320 crew.
A preliminary analysis of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder by the French accident investigation bureau since confirmed by sources in Manila, indicates that only the No 2 engine thrust reverser was deployed. The other reverser remained stowed, with the CFM56-5 engine set at climb power.
The A320 landed long, more than one-third of the way down the length of Bacolod's 2,100m (6,890ft) runway. As full reverse power was applied to the No 2 engine, the No 1 engine accelerated and the A320 veered off the runway to the right. Runway marks indicate the port main gear subsequently returned to the runway, with the aircraft about 20¹ to the centreline.
The A320's captain then appears to have attempted a go-around by stowing the No 2 engine reverser and increasing thrust. Investigators estimate the A320 was 1.2-1.5m clear of the ground, when its gear and engines hit the end perimeter wall and the aircraft crashed landed into adjoining houses, killing three people on the ground.
The crew and passengers survived, but the eight-month-old $40 million jet was declared a constructive total loss. Among the badly injured was the pilot, Captain Theodore Facun, whose 5,000h of flight time includes 120h on the A320. Examination of throttle settings has revealed little because the forward bulkhead was pushed back, compacting the cockpit to about half its original length.
Source: Flight International
