US television news programme ABC's Eyewitness News has aired the airport surveillance footage from the 10 May Northwest Airlines runway collision, as US aviation safety investigators release their preliminary report.
The airing of the footage comes as National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials inspecting DC-9 found that the narrowbody’s right hydraulic reservoir fluid quantity was below “empty”. In its preliminary report the safety regulator says the DC-9’s right-side hydraulic system “was pressurised with hydraulic fluid and a leak from the rudder shutoff valve housing was noted”.
The NTSB adds that the rudder shutoff valve, which had a recorded service life of 62,436h, was removed and sent to the agency’s materials laboratory for further examination.
Inspection of the DC-9’s left hydraulic reservoir fluid quantity, meanwhile, showed that it was above “full”, notes the NTSB. On 10 May the DC-9 crew experienced a reported loss of right hydraulic system fluid shortly after taking off from Columbus, Ohio. The crew continued the flight and landed without incident at their destination, Minneapolis-St Paul.
The flight then taxied under its own power to gate G10 where it stopped and awaited a tow. At the same time, a Northwest A319 was being pushed back from its gate by a tug for takeoff to San Antonio, Texas.
The DC-9 “then moved forward and impacted the right wing” of the A319, says the NTSB. Both aircraft were evacuated - the DC-9 via the rear air stair door; the A319 via the front left slide.
The collision resulted in substantial damage to both aircraft. Photographs of the crash show the DC-9 partially lodged underneath the A319.
The DC-9 captain received serious injuries, while its first officer and a flight attendant received minor injuries.
One flight attendant aboard the A319 also received minor injuries, as did a ramp service agent, says the NTSB.
The agency says none of the DC-9’s passengers were injured. However, Northwest previously said that one passenger was slightly injured, while another complained of shortness of breath.
Several parties are participating in the NTSB’s investigation, including the US Federal Aviation Administration, the US Air Line Pilot Association, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Northwest and the Professional Flight Attendants Association.
Source: Flight International
