Flight Safety Information - June 19, 2024 No. 122 In This Issue : Incident: United B772 over Pacific on Jun 18th 2024, shaken, not stirred : Accident: ANZ A320 enroute on Jun 16th 2024, turbulence proved coffee was really hot : Flight Safety International Pilot Hiring Event - Columbus, OH - July 19 : Incident: ALK B733 at Goma on Jun 18th 2024, battery thermal runaway in cargo hold : NTSB: Pilot experienced 'extreme loss of control' before fatal upstate NY crash : Egypt pilot dies mid-flight forcing co-pilot to change course : AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE NAMES NEW LEADER : Boeing CEO faces safety grilling as crash victims’ families look on : These new bombshell allegations from Boeing whistleblowers about what happens to faulty plane parts are pretty horrifying : Vintage airplane crashes in central Georgia, sending 3 to hospital : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: United B772 over Pacific on Jun 18th 2024, shaken, not stirred A United Boeing 777-200, registration N777UA performing flight UA-1273 from San Francisco,CA to Kahului,HI (USA), was enroute over the Pacific Ocean when the aircraft was shaken by turbulence prompting the passenger oxygen masks to be released. The aircraft continued to Kahului for a safe landing. The aircraft was unable to depart for its return flight UA-1722, which was cancelled. The aircraft returned to service about 8 hours after landing. A passenger reported the aircraft encountered turbulence and the oxygen masks were released. The crew subsequently announced there was a sensor malfunction. https://avherald.com/h?article=51a1433a&opt=0 Accident: ANZ A320 enroute on Jun 16th 2024, turbulence proved coffee was really hot An ANZ Air New Zealand Airbus A320-200, registration ZK-OXH performing flight NZ-607 from Wellington to Queenstown (New Zealand), was enroute at FL340, cabin service was in progress with cabin crew serving drinks to the passengers, when the aircraft encountered turbulence. A pot of coffee was spilled causing burns to flight attendant and a female passenger. The aircraft continued to Queenstown, where two ambulances were awaiting the aircraft and took the injured to a local hospital. The aircraft continued its schedule with a delay of about 30 minutes. The airline confirmed a flight attendant and a passenger were injured during turbulence of flight NZ-607. https://avherald.com/h?article=51a0eb2d&opt=0 YOUR NEXT DESTINATION Now Hiring at Our Center in Columbus, Ohio FlightSafety is seeking experienced pilots to join the ranks of the best flight instructors in the industry at our Columbus Learning Center. Use your seasoned skills to make an impact on aviation in a profound way. COMPETITIVE INCENTIVES AVAILABLE · Schedule 60 Days in Advance · Sign on and Monthly Bonuses · Competitive Base Salary · Full Relocation Support · Be Home Every Night · Career Growth RSVP Today Click here to RSVP and/or submit your resume. Date: Friday, July 19, 2024 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET Location: 4010 Bridgeway Avenue, Columbus, OH 43219 Contact Kevin.Goeppner@flightsafety.com for more information. We look forward to seeing you. Incident: ALK B733 at Goma on Jun 18th 2024, battery thermal runaway in cargo hold An ALK Airlines Boeing 737-300 on behalf of Congo Airways, registration LZ-LVK performing flight 8Z-112 from Goma to Kinshasa (DR Congo), was climbing out of Goma when the crew received a cargo hold smoke indication and decided to return to Goma for a safe landing. Emergency services found a suitcase showed signs of heat damage and found a Powerbank (LiOn Battery) in the suitcase which had suffered a thermal runaway. LiOn Batteries are not permitted in checked luggage but must be carried in the carry-on luggage. https://avherald.com/h?article=51a0dc4f&opt=0 NTSB: Pilot experienced 'extreme loss of control' before fatal upstate NY crash A small plane that crashed near the Albany International Airport on Monday, appeared to have "extreme loss of control," as it briefly flew erratically before crashing and killing the pilot, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Plane crash near Albany International Airport: What happened? According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a twin-engine Piper PA-31 Navajo crashed near the end of the runway at the airport, just southeast of the airport's property, just after 8:15 a.m. Monday. Steve Smith, airport spokesman, said that the privately-owned aircraft arrived at the airport on Sunday, just after noon, and fueled up Monday morning to travel to Montreal, Canada. Lynn Spencer, an air safety investigator for the NTSB, said that the Canadian-registered aircraft crashed roughly two minutes after taking off from the airport and was destroyed in a post-crash explosion and fire. The airplane turned left twice "and seemed to have difficulty gaining altitude, and then went nearly straight up to about 800 feet and did a loop, and then turned left, did at least one roll" before turning again and crashing. "This kind of flight path is typical of an extreme loss of control situation in the cockpit," Spencer said, noting that it appeared to some witnessed that the pilot was attempting to regain control of the airplane just before she crashed. The struggle was noted by an air traffic controller who cancelled the takeoff clearance for the next airplane set to depart from the Albany airport, according to the NTSB. That next aircraft was delayed by several minutes, Smith said. The pilot - a woman - was the lone person on board the aircraft. Her name was not released. She underwent an autopsy on Tuesday. Spencer said that the woman was an airline transport pilot, which requires the highest level of pilot training and pilot certification. One person on the ground was injured when she was struck by debris. She suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Albany plane crash investigation ongoing While on scene the NTSB will evaluate video footage, impact scars and physical evidence. Many witnesses also shared what they saw, photographed and recorded with authorities, she said. The wreckage will be moved to a facility in Massachusetts Tuesday night for further examination. Federal authorities is also investigating whether the weather was a factor in the crash. The NTSB's preliminary report is expected to be completed within two to three weeks, with the final report expected to take between 18 and 24 months, Spencer said. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2024/06/18/upstate-ny-plane-crash-albany-international-airport-pilot-killed-ntsb-report/74140935007/ Egypt pilot dies mid-flight forcing co-pilot to change course Captain Hassan Youssef Adas died while steering a flight from the Egyptian capital Cairo to the Saudi city of Taif on 17 June 2024 An Egyptian pilot passed away mid-flight while steering the aircraft from Cairo to Taif, Saudi Arabia. In a poignant scene, social media users shared a video capturing the moment passengers listened as the co-pilot announced the pilot’s death over the plane’s intercom while the aircraft was still airborne. In his announcement, he said: “We apologise for diverting the flight to King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah due to the death of my brother and friend, Captain Hassan, the pilot.” Captain Hassan Youssef Adas, the flight commander, died after suffering a medical emergency during flight NE130, which had departed from Cairo airport en route to Taif. Following his death, the aircraft landed at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah. Local media reported that the pilot was in his late thirties, unmarried, and had been experiencing health issues related to obesity and its complications. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240618-egypt-pilot-dies-mid-flight-forcing-co-pilot-to-change-course/ AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE NAMES NEW LEADER Mike Ginter, a leading general aviation advocate and retired U.S. Navy pilot, has been appointed to a new post, leading the AOPA Air Safety Institute. “For more than 70 years, the AOPA Air Safety Institute has delivered lifesaving information and education to pilots, and I am honored to be part of continuing that legacy,” said Ginter. “It’s important to meet pilots where they are with practical tools and information they can really use, and no organization does that better than ASI.” Since 2018, Ginter has served as AOPA’s vice president of airports and state advocacy, spearheading efforts to protect airports, bringing 1,000 new volunteers into the AOPA Airport Support Network, and helping to successfully resolve more than 700 airport issues on behalf of AOPA members. Most recently, he led the effort to plan and execute the successful National Celebration of General Aviation Flyover of Washington, D.C., which highlighted the history and utility of GA aircraft. Prior to joining AOPA, Ginter spent 27 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of captain. During that time, he accrued more than 5,300 flight hours and 555 carrier landings, completed four deployments to the Persian Gulf, commanded a jet squadron, and served as operations officer for the USS John F. Kennedy. In 2003, he led the demonstration team responsible for showcasing the capabilities of the Lockheed S-3 Viking. That same year, his squadron won the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award. Throughout his Navy career, Ginter, who earned his private pilot certificate at 18, continued to fly GA aircraft. He previously owned a North American T–6 Texan, and currently owns a 1972 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza and a Cessna 172, which his wife, Donna, is using for flight training. “Mike is an active flyer who understands the real-world challenges GA pilots face,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “His down-to-earth approach to making every flight safer resonates with pilots of all experience levels.” The past few years have been among the safest in GA history, and in his new role as senior vice president of the Air Safety Institute, Ginter is committed to ensuring that trend continues by expanding the reach of ASI’s safety content, delivering data-driven analysis, and exploring new ways to support pilots. With more than 10 million touches each year, ASI provides award-winning videos, podcasts, publications, reports, online courses, quizzes, CFI renewal programs, and more to help pilots fly safely. The institute’s work is supported by generous donations to the AOPA Foundation. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2024/june/18/new-leader-for-air-safety-institute Boeing CEO faces safety grilling as crash victims’ families look on The chief executive of Boeing was grilled by U.S. senators on Tuesday about the company’s mounting safety and manufacturing shortfalls while relatives of people who died in two crashes of Boeing 737 Max jetliners looked on. David Calhoun turned and apologized directly to the families holding pictures of their loved ones before facing tough questions about Boeing’s stated commitment to safety — despite whistleblower complaints and mid-flight emergencies in the years since those 2018 and 2019 crashes, which killed 346 people, that have raised intense questions suggesting otherwise. “I apologize for the grief that we have caused,” he told the families. He told the committee in prepared remarks that Boeing’s safety culture “is far from perfect, but we are taking action and making progress.” He reiterated that promise and positive outlook multiple times under questioning. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations that held Tuesday’s hearing, called Calhoun’s appearance “a reckoning.” He also pointed to similar promises the company made in the immediate aftermath of the 737 Max 8 crashes, which he said evidence has shown were not kept. “In fact, there is near overwhelming evidence, in my view as a former prosecutor, that prosecution should be pursued,” he said during his opening remarks. Calhoun’s appearance before Congress was the first by a high-ranking Boeing official since a panel blew out of a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. No one was seriously injured in the incident, but it raised fresh concerns about the company’s best-selling commercial aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are conducting separate investigations. Since then, multiple whistleblowers have come forward to the committee alleging oversight gaps and manufacturing shortcuts that prioritize speed and profits over safety. All 787 Dreamliners should be grounded, Boeing whistleblower warns Hours before Calhoun was set to appear, the Senate panel released a 204-page report with new allegations from a whistleblower who fears that “nonconforming” parts — ones that could be defective or aren’t properly documented — are going into 737 Max jets. The report concluded Boeing “continues to prioritize profits, push limits, and disregard its workers,” including punishing those who try to come forward and raise concerns. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri accused Calhoun of “strip-mining” an iconic American company “for profit shareholder value — and you’re being rewarded for it.” “Why haven’t you resigned?” the senator asked. “I’m proud of having taken the job, I’m proud of our safety record, and I’m proud of every action we have taken,” Calhoun replied. “Every action you have taken,” Hawley repeated back. “Wow.” Calhoun acknowledged retaliatory actions have been taken against whistleblowers within the company, but also said those who have done so have faced discipline. In both cases, he would not provide specific numbers or details. “I know it happens,” he said. Two whistleblowers have died in recent months — one of whom by suicide after testifying to the Senate committee. Calhoun, who was appointed to the top job in 2020, has already announced he plans to step down as CEO by the end of this year. A successor has not yet been named. Boeing CEO to step down as embattled plane maker faces quality and safety crisis Among those in the room were the parents and brother of 24-year-old Danielle Moore, who was on board Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 that crashed shortly after takeoff in 2019. The Moore family drove to Washington from Toronto to demand accountability from Boeing and its leadership. “My sister was someone who cared, and what I’m seeing at Boeing is a culture of people who don’t care, who don’t care about the work that they’re doing, who don’t care about public safety,” David Moore said in an interview ahead of the hearing. Chris Moore stood and held a large photo of his daughter directly behind the witness’ table where Calhoun testified, joining a sea of family members who displayed reminders of their losses for the CEO and senators to see. “I feel (Danielle) right now moving us to … demand accountability of Boeing and even the FAA,” he told Global News. “There’s a lot of blame to be passed around here.” Clariss Moore, Danielle’s mother, yelled through tears “how could you, Boeing and the CEO, let that happen,” as Calhoun entered the hearing room. Other attendees yelled “shame.” The department determined last month that Boeing violated settlement terms that shielded the company from prosecution for fraud for allegedly misleading regulators who approved the 737 Max. A top department official said Boeing failed to make changes to detect and prevent future violations of anti-fraud laws. Prosecutors have until July 7 to decide what to do next. Boeing says it has slowed production, encouraged employees to report safety concerns, stopped assembly lines for a day to let workers talk about safety, and it appointed a retired Navy admiral to lead a quality review. Late last month, it delivered an improvement plan ordered by the FAA. That hasn’t stopped the bad news for Boeing, however. In the past week, the FAA said it was investigating how falsely-documented titanium parts got into Boeing’s supply chain, and federal officials examined “substantial” damage to a Southwest Airlines 737 Max after an unusual mid-flight control issue. Boeing disclosed that it hasn’t received a single order for a new Max — previously its best-selling plane — in two months. Chris Moore said he wants to see a criminal trial in order for the truth behind the company’s culture to come to light. “I don’t fly anymore,” he said. “And it’s not because I’m scared. It’s because I don’t want to support this industry.” https://globalnews.ca/news/10573042/boeing-ceo-us-senate-air-safety/ These new bombshell allegations from Boeing whistleblowers about what happens to faulty plane parts are pretty horrifying • A new report from the Senate subcommittee contains fresh allegations from a Boeing whistleblower. • Sam Mohawk, a quality assurance investigator, says the 737 program lost track of hundreds of bad parts. The Senate subcommittee investigating Boeing's safety and quality practices on Monday released a new report — and it contains new allegations from company whistleblowers about what happens to faulty plane parts. The sprawling 204-page report contained several new allegations from whistleblowers familiar with the company's practices at its Washington facilities. The allegations "paint a troubling picture of a company that prioritizes speed of manufacturing and cutting costs over ensuring the quality and safety of aircraft," the subcommittee wrote. A new slate of accusations came from Sam Mohawk, a Boeing quality assurance investigator in Renton, Washington. Mohawk, per the committee's report, wrote a June 11 complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleging that the 737 program was losing "hundreds" of "non-conforming" parts. Mohawk further alleged that at the Renton factory, the company ordered staff to move "improperly stored" aircraft parts to "intentionally hide" them from FAA inspectors. "There were approximately 60 parts being stored outdoors, including 42 rudders alone, plus flaps, winglets, ailerons, stabilizers, and vertical fins," Mohawk's OSHA complaint read. "Since then, those parts that were hidden from the FAA inspection have been moved back to the outside area or lost completely," Mohawk added. Meyers, a former Boeing quality manager, said staff at Boeing's manufacturing team regularly tried to retrieve bad parts from a "reclamation" area even after they were sent there for disposal. Meyers further alleged that Boeing's manufacturing staff had forms that helped them justify moving parts from reclamation back into the production line. "The example forms reviewed by the Subcommittee, some dating as far back as 2002, appeared to relate to a variety of small and large aircraft parts, including "787 leading edge slats", "landing gear fitting", "787 nacelle forgings", and "wire bundles," the subcommittee wrote. The fresh slate of accusations from Boeing whistleblowers adds to the existing allegations against the company from other Boeing whistleblowers. Notably, two Boeing whistleblowers died before the Senate subcommittee's report came out on Monday. Former Spirit AeroSystems employee Joshua Dean, 45, died in May after contracting a sudden illness. Dean had testified against Spirit in a shareholder lawsuit, and accused it of poor quality control when producing the Boeing 737-Max. Another Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, 62, died in March, in the middle of his deposition against Boeing. The Charleston County coroner's office told BI in a statement that the former Boeing manager died from "what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound." The Senate's new document did drop before Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun faced a Senate panel on Tuesday. Lawmakers grilled Calhoun on the series of high-profile safety incidents that have beleaguered the planemaker, During his testimony, Calhoun said that he was "proud" of the company's safety record. "I am proud of every action we've taken," Calhoun said during a tense exchange with Sen. Josh Hawley. For its part, Boeing told BI that it's reviewing the whistleblowers' claims after receiving the document late on Monday evening. "We continuously encourage employees to report all concerns as our priority is to ensure the safety of our airplanes and the flying public," a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement to BI. https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-whistleblower-faulty-plane-parts-may-be-on-new-aircraft-2024-6 Vintage airplane crashes in central Georgia, sending 3 to hospital ATLANTA (AP) — A vintage airplane crashed while the pilot was trying to land at an airport in central Georgia on Monday night, sending all three people on board to the hospital with injuries, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The twin-engine Lockheed 12A, built in 1936, crashed into a tree near the Seven Lakes Airport in Jackson, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Atlanta, WAGA-TV reported. Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said fire personnel and sheriff’s deputies were proficient in getting the occupants out of the plane and stabilized. All three are expected to pull through, but they have a long road ahead, Long said by telephone on Tuesday. The pilot was most seriously hurt with head and chest injuries and each of the two passengers has a broken leg, he said. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash. https://apnews.com/article/vintage-airplane-crash-georgia-bb4f7a700958d2feeae5fc12219aa24b CALENDAR OF EVENTS • (APTSC) Asia and Pacific Turboprop Safety Conference - June 26 - 27, 2024 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia • Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. (APSCON 2024) - July 29 - August 3; Houston TX • Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS 2024), Aug. 13-15, Beijing, China. • Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium - APATS 2024, 0-11 September, 2024, Singapore • Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 17 & 18 September - London • 2024 Ground Handling Safety Symposium (GHSS) - September 17-18, 2024 - Fort Worth, TX • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • International Congress of Aerospace Medicine ICAM 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal, 3 - 5 October 2024 • Aviation Health Conference back on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th October 2024 • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore Curt Lewis