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Mushrif A

Transmile 727-200 may crash ....

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...if what happened below in Bangalore happened in mid-air.....probably a write-off now.

 

"An investigation of the 4 May explosion of a Transmile Airlines Boeing 727-200 freighter’s left wing during towing at Bangalore airport has found evidence of damaged wiring and electrical arcing within the wing’s fuel tank.

 

In an update issued today by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the investigators also note that the aircraft was compliant with a FAA airworthiness directive requiring plastic sleeving for all wires, but that this “however, did not prove to be sufficient to prevent the Bangalore accident”.

 

“The evidence indicates that an explosion in the left wing fuel tank destroyed the structural integrity of the wing,” says the NTSB in its update.

 

“Had this explosion occurred in flight, it would have resulted in the catastrophic failure of the wing and the airplane would have crashed,” it adds.

 

An on-scene NTSB-led team, which also travelled to the Malaysian carrier’s home country, found evidence of damaged wiring, as well as electrical arcing within the left wing the fuel tank in an aluminum conduit tube that carries 115V AC power to the fuel pumps, notes the safety board.

 

“This accident illustrates that ignition sources continue to exist and fuel tank explosions continue to occur in both wing and center wing fuel tanks despite the corrective efforts of government regulators and industry,” says the NTSB.

 

It adds: “The safety board continues to believe the best protection against fuel tank explosions is to eliminate the flammable conditions inside the fuel tanks through design changes such as nitrogen-inerting systems.”

 

The investigation was conducted between May 24 and June 2.

"

Source: Flight International

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"An investigation of the 4 May explosion of a Transmile Airlines Boeing 727-200 freighter’s left wing during towing at Bangalore airport has found evidence of damaged wiring and electrical arcing within the wing’s fuel tank."

 

 

Wow, this one completely slipped by me.. I don't remember it at all.

 

Which was the aircraft involved?

Maybe that explains why transmile is looking for more MD-11s.. the 727s should be replaced with A300Fs.. But sourcing aircraft these days is no easy job!

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Some developments:

 

Transmile had reported earlier this month (following the signing of the pact between Transmile Group and DHL) that they are actively trying to source MD11F equipment, but the aircraft are not so easily come by.

 

LufthansaCargo has just announced that they are looking at retiring their 19 MD11F fleet in favour of 777F, 744F or 748F aircraft. It is quite possible that we might start seeing some of these ex-german registered birds in the colours of Transmile by mid-2007..

 

 

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This was issued by NTSB advisory dated 7/12/2006:

The investigation into a wing fuel tank explosion on a Transmile Airlines B-727 airplane in Bangalore, India, on May 4, 2006, is ongoing. The Directorate of Civil Aviation of India is leading the investigation; the U.S. is participating as the country of manufacture. An NTSB-led team was on-scene in India and also traveled to Malaysia from May 24 to June 2.

 

 

The accident occurred while the Malaysian-registered cargo airplane was waiting to be towed for a return flight to Subang, Malaysia. None of the four people aboard were injured.

 

 

The evidence indicates that an explosion in the left wing fuel tank destroyed the structural integrity of the wing. Had this explosion occurred in flight, it would have resulted in the catastrophic failure of the wing and the airplane would have crashed.

 

 

Investigators found evidence of damaged wiring and electrical arcing within the left wing fuel tank in an aluminum conduit tube that carried 115V AC electrical power to the fuel pump.

 

 

Wire arcing within the conduit routed through the fuel tank was previously recognized as a potential ignition source, and the accident airplane had been modified in accordance with an FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD). The AD required removal of the wires from the conduit, inspection, and re-installation of the wires or replacements into the conduit after insertion into a protective plastic sleeve. This, however, did not prove to be sufficient to prevent the Bangalore accident.

 

 

This accident illustrates that ignition sources continue to exist and fuel tank explosions continue to occur in both wing and center wing fuel tanks despite the corrective efforts of government regulators and industry. The Safety Board continues to believe the best protection against fuel tank explosions is to eliminate the flammable conditions inside the fuel tanks through design changes such as nitrogen-inerting systems (NTSB Safety Recommendation A-96-174).

 

Fuel tank pics:

http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2006/060707_4.jpg

http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2006/060707_2.jpg

 

A/c:

http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2006/060707_3.jpg

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"An investigation of the 4 May explosion......

 

 

and it's on my birthday :D

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Denny, Thanks for the Link to the Pics. So this AIrcraft will be Left at banglore or is Transmile going to Repair it?? ANyone have any idea?

thanks

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He he he.... I'm referring to the covered-up logo and title. As if nobody will know who it is. Standard procedure.

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Is it enough to cover up logo and airline name?? What about the registration at the rear end, nlg doors and below the wing.. and the malaysian flag too??

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