Cypriot Airliner Crash NOrth of Athens

[simon T 0]

well said captain..regarding the cabin alt warning horn,the intermittent horn does make us have an 'indifferent' attitude to the horn because we hear the warning horn(albeit a steady one instead of an intermittent horn if you have t/o config warning or cabin alt warning)everytime in every flight when we deploy the flaps with the thrust levers still quite forward..i guess somehow ,this 'indifference'-ness played a role in this..imho, boeing should have included the condition==>cab alt above 10000' in the AIR CON,master caution sys..instead of it coming on only when the cab alt exceeds 13875' in which the AUTO FAIL light comes on and act the master caution sys..

 

anyway,personally..i feel that the pressurisation mode selector in our a/c doesn't seem to be quite distinct for such an important switch ....it's a black radial with a black narrow detent to indicate the mode u have selected..colleagues should know what i'm talking about..;-)

 

just my 2 cents,cheers

[Teoh Z Yao 0]

Interesting info there...

[Pieter C. 5]

Airline In Cyprus's Worst Crash To Stop Flying

 

October 30, 2006

A Cypriot commercial airline, which changed its name after Cyprus's worst aviation disaster, said it would terminate flight operations.

 

AJet, successor company to Helios Airways, will end its flight schedule within three months, said holding company Libra Holidays in a statement released to the stock exchange on Monday.

 

Libra said the decision was based on financial considerations. AJet will remain a legal entity because of financial claims against third parties, it said.

 

The carrier has suffered a barrage of bad publicity over its safety track record since its Boeing 737-300 crashed into a Greek hillside on August 14, 2005, killing all 121 people on board.

 

In one of the most mysterious disasters in aviation history, the aircraft flew on autopilot for more than two hours after taking off from Larnaca in Cyprus for Prague. It crashed from lack of fuel as a flight attendant with rudimentary pilot's training and the only person apparently conscious on the aircraft grappled with the controls.

 

Greek F-16 fighter pilots, which scrambled to intercept the aircraft after it failed to respond to radio calls, saw the attendant in the cockpit and oxygen masks hanging in the cabin.

 

A Greek investigator's report released in early October blamed the crash on deficient technical checks, the pilots' failure to pick up on compression warnings regulating oxygen supplies and shortcomings in the safety culture at Helios.

 

It also blamed Cyprus's regulatory authority for an inadequate execution of its oversight responsibility and planemaker Boeing for failing to respond to previous pressurization incidents.

 

The carrier has challenged the report, saying it offered no adequate or plausible explanation of how its alleged shortcomings could be linked to the accident.

 

(Reuters)

 

[Sandeep G 1]

A Greek investigator's report released in early October blamed the crash on deficient technical checks, the pilots' failure to pick up on compression warnings regulating oxygen supplies and shortcomings in the safety culture at Helios.

 

It also blamed Cyprus's regulatory authority for an inadequate execution of its oversight responsibility and planemaker Boeing for failing to respond to previous pressurization incidents.

 

Boeing's response to previous pressurization incidents.. do they mean with the aircraft type in general or with Helios' fleet???????

 

[Pieter C. 5]

AJet, successor company to Helios Airways, will end its flight schedule within three months.

 

Apparently, they closed already

 

November 2, 2006

Cypriot budget airline aJet faced closure on Thursday in a tax dispute with authorities which grounded aircraft of the carrier after the company said it would suspend operations earlier than scheduled.

 

AJet is the successor company to Helios, the carrier involved in one of Europe's worst air crashes of 2005. The company had announced on October 27 its intention to suspend flight operations within three months, but in a note to authorities on November 1, said the decision was effective immediately.

 

Libra Holidays Group, the publicly listed parent company of aJet, said financial pressure from creditors forced the suspension of operations.

 

"The key reason for the immediate closure was that its creditors were seeking immediate payment, and not incremental which was what had initially been agreed," Libra said in a statement released to the island's stock exchange.

 

Cypriot aviation authorities moved to ground an aJet plane bound for Britain late on Wednesday. The order came almost immediately after aJet informed aviation authorities it would suspend operations.

 

There were aJet flights scheduled on Thursday to Sofia and Warsaw.

 

Newspapers reported AJet owed the state more than CYP2 million Cyprus pounds (USD$4.3 million) in accrued tax which the government demanded the carrier pay immediately.

 

"We had no other choice but to ground the plane," said Communications Minister Haris Thrasou.

 

AJet and Helios have been hammered by a barrage of bad publicity over its safety record since its Boeing 737-300 crashed into a Greek hillside on August 14, 2005, killing all 121 people on board.

 

The aircraft flew on autopilot for more than two hours, with most people on board unconscious, before crashing from lack of fuel.

 

The carrier changed its name earlier this year.

 

A Greek investigator's report released in early October blamed the crash on deficient technical checks, the pilots' failure to pick up on compression warnings regulating oxygen supplies, and shortcomings in the safety culture at Helios.

 

The carrier has challenged the report, saying it offered no plausible explanation of how its alleged shortcomings could have been linked to the crash.

 

(Reuters)

 

 

[Radzi 2]

Final report of the Helios crash.

 

Status: Final

Date: 14 AUG 2005

Time: 12:03

Type: Boeing 737-31S

Operator: Helios Airways

Registration: 5B-DBY

C/n / msn: 29099/2982

First flight: 1998

Total airframe hrs: 17900

Cycles: 16085

Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-3C1

Crew: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6

Passengers: Fatalities: 115 / Occupants: 115

Total: Fatalities: 121 / Occupants: 121

Airplane damage: Written off

Location: 2 km (1.3 mls) from Grammatikos (Greece)

Phase: En route

Nature: International Scheduled Passenger

Departure airport: Larnaca Airport (LCA/LCLK), Cyprus

Destination airport: Athens-Elefthérios Venizélos International Airport

(ATH/LGAV), Greece

Flightnumber: 522

 

Narrative:

Helios' Boeing 737-300 5B-DBY underwent maintenance on the night prior to the accident. The pressurization system was checked, but after completion of the tests the Pressurization Mode Selector (PMS) was reportedly left in the "Manual" position instead of the "Auto" mode. In manual mode the crew had to manually open or close the outflow valves in order to control the cabin pressure. The outflow valves were one-third in the open position which meant that the cabin would not pressurize after takeoff. The PMS mode was apparently not noted during the pre-departure checks by the crew.

 

In the morning the 737 was to operate Flight 522 from Larnaca to Prague, Czech Republic with an intermediate stop at Athens, Greece. The flight departed Larnaca at 09:07 for the leg to Athens with a planned flying time of 1 hour and 23 minutes. As the airplane climbed over the Mediterranean the cabin altitude alert horn sounded. This occurred as the 737 passed through an altitude of 10,000 feet. Cabin altitude is usually held around 8,000 feet. The crew possibly thought it was an erroneous takeoff configuration warning because the sound is identical. Then, at 14,000 feet, the oxygen masks automatically deployed and a master caution light illuminated in the cockpit. Because of a lack of cooling air another alarm activated, indicating a temperature warning for the avionics bay.

 

The German captain and the Cypriot co-pilot tried to solve the problem but encountered some problems communicating with each other. They contacted the Helios´ maintenance base to seek advice. The engineer told that they needed to pull the circuit breaker to turn off the alarm. The radio contact ended as the aircraft climbed through 28 900 ft.

 

The circuit breaker was located in a cabinet behind the captain. The captain got up from his seat to look for the circuit breaker. The crew were not wearing their oxygen masks as their mindset and actions were determined by the preconception that the problems were not related to the lack of cabin pressure.

As the airplane was still climbing the lack of oxygen seriously impaired the flight crew. The captain probably became unconscious when he was trying to find the circuit breaker. The first officer was still in his seat when he also became unconscious. Because the plane's autopilot was programmed for FL340 the Boeing continued to climb until leveling out at that altitude some 19 minutes after takeoff. At 09:37 the 737 entered the Athens FIR but not contact was established with the flight. Over Rodos at about 09:52 the airplane entered the UL995 airway.

 

At 10:21 the airplane passed the KEA VOR, which is located about 28 nm south of the Athens airport. The airplane then passed the Athens Airport and subsequently entered the KEA VOR holding pattern at 10:38. All efforts by Greek air traffic controllers to contact the pilots were futile. Around 11:00 two Greek F-16 fighter planes were scrambled from the Néa Anghialos air base.

 

At 11:24, during the sixth holding pattern, the F-16's intercepted the airliner. The F-16 pilots reported that they were not able to observe the captain, while the first officer seemed to be unconscious and slumped over the controls.

 

At 11:49, the F-16's reported a person not wearing an oxygen mask entering the cockpit and occupying the captain's seat. The F-16 pilot tried to attract his attention without success.

 

At 11:50, the left engine flamed out due to fuel depletion and the aircraft started descending. At 11:54, two Mayday messages were recorded on the CVR.

 

At 12:00, the right engine also flamed out at an altitude of approximately 7100 feet. The aircraft continued descending rapidly and impacted hilly terrain.

 

The same Boeing 737, 5B-DBY, suffered a loss of cabin pressure on December 20, 2004 during a flight from Warsaw to Larnaca. Three passengers needed medical treatment after landing in Larnaca. This incident was caused by a leaking door seal of the right hand rear door.

 

DIRECT CAUSES:

1. Non-recognition that the cabin pressurization mode selector was in the MAN (manual) position during the performance of the:

a ) Preflight procedure;

b ) Before Start checklist; and

c ) After Takeoff checklist.

 

2. Non-identification of the warnings and the reasons for the activation of the warnings (cabin altitude warning horn, passenger oxygen masks deployment indication, Master Caution), and continuation of the climb.

 

3. Incapacitation of the flight crew due to hypoxia, resulting in continuation of the flight via the flight management computer and the autopilot, depletion of the fuel and engine flameout, and impact of the aircraft with the ground.

 

LATENT CAUSES

 

1. The Operator's deficiencies in organization, quality management and safety culture, documented diachronically as findings in numerous audits.

 

2. The Regulatory Authority's diachronic inadequate execution of its oversight responsibilities to ensure the safety of operations of the airlines under its supervision and its inadequate responses to findings of deficiencies documented in numerous audits.

3. Inadequate application of Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles by the flight crew.

 

4. Ineffectiveness and inadequacy of measures taken by the manufacturer in response to previous pressurization incidents in the particular type of aircraft, both with regard to modifications to aircraft systems as well as to guidance to the crews.

 

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT:

 

1. Omission of returning the pressurization mode selector to AUTO after un-

scheduled maintenance on the aircraft.

 

2. Lack of specific procedures (on an international basis) for cabin crew procedures to address the situation of loss of pressurization, passenger oxygen masks deployment, and continuation of the aircraft ascent (climb).

 

3. Ineffectiveness of international aviation authorities to enforcenimplementation of corrective action plans after relevant audits.

Edited November 26, 2006 by Radzi

[Ignatius 4]

Its sad when u found out the actual cause can infact be avoided

Edited November 26, 2006 by Ignatius

[Naim 6]

Discovery Channel Asia (Channel 50 on Astro) will air a documentary on this crash at 9.00pm, 12 Dec 2006, entitled "The Mystery of Helios".

[Sherman 0]

Discovery Channel Asia (Channel 50 on Astro) will air a documentary on this crash at 9.00pm, 12 Dec 2006, entitled "The Mystery of Helios".

 

so fast the documentary done? anyway, thanks for the information... will not missed it...

[Pieter C. 5]

Cyprus To Charge Five For Worst Airline Disaster

 

November 4, 2008

Cypriot prosecutors said on Tuesday they would bring criminal charges against five people over a 2005 air crash which killed 121 people.

 

The Helios Airways Boeing 737-300 was traveling from Larnaca in Cyprus to Prague when it crashed just north of the Greek capital Athens on August 14 2005, killing everyone on board in Greece and Cyprus's worst air disaster.

 

"We have concluded that criminal prosecution is warranted against certain individuals who we believe bear responsibility for the crash," said Cyprus's chief prosecutor, Attorney-General Petros Clerides.

 

The aircraft was flying on autopilot in Greek air space for two hours with most people on board unconscious before it ran out of fuel and crashed into a hillside. A flight attendant with a trainee pilot's license had taken the controls and tried in vain to avert the disaster.

 

Clerides declined to specify the charges, which he said were still being drafted, or name the individuals concerned. "These concern serious, possibly the most serious offenses of our criminal code."

 

An inquiry by Greek authorities published in October 2006 blamed the crash on a preflight check which failed to see that a gauge regulating oxygen to the aircraft was on the wrong setting, and pilots' failure to pick up on warnings the aircraft was running out of oxygen. It also cited deficiencies in the safety culture of the airline.

 

Helios, which was renamed after the disaster, has since shut down. Nearly all the victims were Cypriots, including many families with children.

 

"We want everyone involved in this crime to be prosecuted. It's been three years, and this case should go to court," said Prodromos Prodromou, whose nephew Andreas had attempted to pilot the plane.

 

Two Greek F-16 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the aircraft saw a pilot slumped over the controls, and a second man wearing an oxygen mask trying to pilot the aircraft.

 

The second man was the flight attendant who broke into the cockpit and briefly flew the aircraft. He was thought to be the only person conscious on board at the time of the crash.

 

(Reuters)

 

[BC Tam 2]

My respect, tabek, kow-tow or whatever to you Uncle Pieter Tuan !

How you can remember, let alone associate some recent piece of news with some forum thread that has laid dormant for two years

[Pieter C. 5]

Cyprus To Bring Charges Over Airline Disaster

 

December 23, 2008

Cypriot prosecutors filed charges in court on Tuesday against five people for a 2005 plane crash which killed 121 people in Greece's worst air disaster.

 

The Helios Airways Boeing 737-300 was traveling from Larnaca in Cyprus to Prague when it crashed north of Athens on August 14 2005, killing everyone on board.

 

In documents submitted to Cyprus courts on Tuesday, public prosecutors listed charges of manslaughter and causing death through negligence.

 

Prosecution officials said five people were named in the documents. Their identities were not publicly disclosed.

 

"Indictments will be delivered and the date set for the individuals to respond is February 26," Cyprus's deputy attorney-general Akis Papasavvas said. "The charges concern two of the three most serious offences under the Cyprus penal code."

 

Failure to switch a valve regulating oxygen supply to the aircraft knocked its pilots and most of the passengers unconscious shortly after the plane took off from Larnaca, investigators found.

 

The aircraft glided on autopilot in Greek air space for two hours before it ran out of fuel and crashed into a hillside.

 

A flight attendant with a trainee pilot's license, probably the only person conscious on the plane, took the controls and tried in vain to avert the disaster. He was spotted in the cockpit by Greek air force pilots scrambled to trail the Boeing.

 

An inquiry by Greek authorities published in October 2006 cited perceived deficiencies in the safety culture of the airline.

 

Under Cyprus law, manslaughter carries a maximum jail term of life, and death through negligence or reckless behavior four years.

 

Helios, which was renamed after the disaster, has since shut down.

 

(Reuters)