Flight Safety Information - August 29, 2024 No. 173 In This Issue : Accident: Nostrum CRJX at Madrid on Aug 20th 2024, bird strike : Incident: Azul A20N at Sao Luiz on Aug 26th 2024, bird strike : Boeing 737-924ER (WL) - Severe Turbulence/Injuries (Memphis) : ‘Exceptional landing’: Pilot experiencing landing gear issues makes successful emergency landing at Conroe airport : Cracked Thrust Link Assembly Found On Fourth Boeing 777-9 : Airplane tires like the one that killed 2 Delta workers are like bombs in waiting : Passenger destroys American Airlines counter with hammer after scammer sold him fake ticket : Malaysia Airlines operator validity reduced by CAAM after string of incidents : ASAP Aerospace Optimizes Airline Fleet Maintenance Efficiency with High-Performance Commercial Jet Parts : Calendar of Events Accident: Nostrum CRJX at Madrid on Aug 20th 2024, bird strike An Air Nostrum Canadair CRJ-1000 on behalf of Iberia, registration EC-MQQ performing flight IB-8685 from Munich (Germany) to Madrid,SP (Spain), was on approach to Madrid's runway 32R when a vulture impacted the aircraft near the right hand wing root. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 32R. The aircraft is still on the ground in Madrid on Aug 28th 2024. https://avherald.com/h?article=51cfc4ca&opt=0 Incident: Azul A20N at Sao Luiz on Aug 26th 2024, bird strike An Azul Linhas Aereas Airbus A320-200N, registration PR-YRB performing flight AD-4017 from Sao Luiz,MA to Recife,PE (Brazil), was climbing out of Sao Luiz's runway 06 when a bird impacted the aircraft's nose prompting the crew to stop the climb at FL060 and return to Sao Luiz for a safe landing on runway 06 about 13 minutes after departure. https://avherald.com/h?article=51cf23fa&opt=0 Boeing 737-924ER (WL) - Severe Turbulence/Injuries (Memphis) Date: Wednesday 28 August 2024 Time: Type: Boeing 737-924ER (WL) Owner/operator: United Airlines Registration: N66814 MSN: 42745/4787 Year of manufacture: 2014 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Category: Accident Location: between Cancun and Memphis - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Cancún Airport (CUN/MMUN) Destination airport: Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD/KORD) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: United Airlines flight UA1196, a Boeing 737-924ER, encountered severe turbulence on a flight between Cancún (CUN) and Chicago-O'Hare, IL (ORD). The flight diverted to Memphis, TN (MEM). One person was taken to the hospital; six others were injured as well but did not require treatment. The seat belt sign was on at the time, according to the airline. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/414851 ‘Exceptional landing’: Pilot experiencing landing gear issues makes successful emergency landing at Conroe airport CONROE, Texas – In what first responders are calling an “exceptional” landing by a skilled pilot, all three people aboard a plane, which made an emergency landing after experiencing issues with its landing gear, emerged unharmed at a Conroe airport Wednesday. The plane made the landing at the Conroe North Houston Regional Airport at 11:49 a.m. Wednesday. The Conroe Police Department said the King Air aircraft experienced issues with the landing gear. In a video posted by the department, the plane makes the landing, appearing to lean to one side with the wing skidding down the runway. “Fortunately, all three individuals on board emerged unharmed. We extend our gratitude to the skilled pilot for their exceptional landing and to the prompt response of all first responders,” the department said. https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/08/28/exceptional-landing-pilot-experiencing-landing-gear-issues-makes-successful-emergency-landing-at-conroe-airport/ ******************** Date: Wednesday 28 August 2024 Time: c. 11:49 LT Type: Beechcraft B200 Super King Air Owner/operator: Airtime LLC Registration: N3PX MSN: BB-1173 Year of manufacture: 1984 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Conroe/North Houston Regional Airport (CXO/KCXO), Conroe, TX - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Naples Airport, FL (APF/KAPF) Destination airport: Baytown Airport, TX (HPY/KHPY) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Beechcraft B200 Super King Air suffered a collapse of the right-hand landing gear on landing at Conroe/North Houston Regional Airport (CXO). Originally destined for Baytown, the aircraft diverted to Conroe where it experienced a collapse of the right-hand landing gear during rollout. Pilot and passengers were safe. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/414795 Cracked Thrust Link Assembly Found On Fourth Boeing 777-9 Boeing found cracks in at least one thrust link assembly on its fourth 777-9 test aircraft, which has been inactive for nearly three years, Aviation Week has learned. Sources with knowledge of Boeing’s 777-9 test fleet inspection results confirmed they discovered damage on WH004 that is similar to cracks on WH001, WH002, and WH003—the three active test aircraft. The inspections were done after a fractured part was discovered on WH003 following a seemingly routine test flight in mid-August. The issue prompted Boeing to pause all 777-9 flying activity and inspect the rest of the test fleet. WH004 has flown the least of the four 777-9s, having accumulated just 62 cycles and 178 hours between September 2020 and November 2021, Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery data shows. The aircraft was idled during a prolonged run-up to type inspection authorization (TIA) that ended when the FAA cleared Boeing to start formal certification testing July 12. TIA activity lasted just more than a month until the latest problem surfaced, and WH004 never re-joined the active fleet. Boeing declined to discuss the inspection findings. The company is keeping customers up to date, though the lack of conclusive information so far means Boeing is providing little more than progress reports, multiple sources tell Aviation Week. Boeing designed the thrust link assembly but does not manufacture the part. Aviation Week has not independently verified the part’s supplier. Also not clear is what part of the assembly is failing, where the cracks are occurring, or why. Each of the 777-9’s GE Aerospace GE9X engines includes two fail-safe thrust links for redundancy. The links transfer vertical and lateral mechanical stresses between the engine and aircraft. The thrust links attach to the fan frame and carry mechanical loads, as well as engine torque about the engine axis and thrust, to the aft engine mount at the rear. Before the latest setback, Boeing’s working plan had the 777-9 earning FAA approval in late 2025 with first deliveries to follow soon after. Barring a rapid resolution to the thrust link assembly issue, those targets now appear to be in jeopardy. “This stalls momentum following TIA in July,” Jefferies analysts wrote in an Aug. 27 note. “It is too early to determine the impact on [entry into service] timing, as it is not known if the issue is design- or production-related.” High-profile failures during TIA are rare but not unheard of, and do not always lead to significant delays. The original 777’s flight test program suffered a pair of emergency landings in early 1995 linked to an air conditioning system clamp failure and faulty pneumatic check valve design. The issues were quickly addressed, allowing Boeing to hit its May 1995 FAA approval and first-delivery targets. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/aircraft-propulsion/cracked-thrust-link-assembly-found-fourth-boeing-777-9 Airplane tires like the one that killed 2 Delta workers are like bombs in waiting A 1996 scientific paper says that "the energy released by a tire burst can be equivalent to dynamite" A tire that exploded on a Delta Air Lines DAL operated Boeing 757 on Tuesday morning killed two workers and injured another in Atlanta. The tragic incident is a reminder that airplanes are incredibly dangerous machines and that their engines aren’t the only component capable of unleashing serious power. A 1996 paper in the SAE Transactions journal explored just how immense an airplane tire blowout can be. “A bursting tire is like an exploding bomb,” the wrote. “The energy released by a tire burst can be equated to dynamite.” (The deadly Air France-operated supersonic Concorde plane explosion in 2000 was caused in part by a tire explosion; fragments struck the fuel tank, which leaked and engulfed the jet in flames before it crashed.) In order to “quantify the burst tire phenomena,” scientists purposely explored tires from an F-16 fighter jet and a B-52 bomber. The latter blowout released 1 million pound-feet of force, or two sticks of dynamite. (A B-52 has about twice the maximum takeoff weight as a 757.) The scientists detailed the carnage that struck the testing chamber they had set up: The damage included removing paint chips from the facing test cell wall and scattering them throughout the test cell. Other loose paint chips and dust were found on floors and tables around the large [landing gear development facility]. The video camera recording the test runs, along with its mounting box, were blown off the wall in the test cell. A high intensity light 15 feet away from the tire was blown out. On the second floor, approximately 45 feet across the building, picture frames fell from walls. A previously cracked window pane was blown out of the building. Wood framing around a window air conditioner, approximately 240 feet away, was knocked off and a clock fell off the wall. Had the personnel running the tests not been “required to wear ear protection and remain outside of the test cell, a minimum of 20 feet away from the tire, with solid metal doors and a dynamometer carriage between the tire and themselves,” the scientists noted, “significant injuries could have been experienced.” As of Tuesday afternoon, Delta had not yet released the identities of the workers killed in the incident or said what caused the explosion. https://qz.com/delta-tire-explosion-atlanta-boeing-danger-1851633158 Passenger destroys American Airlines counter with hammer after scammer sold him fake ticket An enraged traveler was caught on camera destroying an American Airlines counter in Chile with a hammer just moments after realizing that a scammer had apparently sold him a fake plane ticket. The Haitian man flew into the violent rage at Santiago’s Nuevo Pudahuel Airport late Monday after trying to check in for his American Airlines flight to Miami, Florida, local outlet Cooperativa reported. Footage shot by bystanders showed the construction worker, who was set to stop over in Miami en route to Haiti, suddenly rifling through his work bag after an airline employee informed him he wouldn’t be able to board the flight. The Haitian man flew into the violent rage at Nuevo Pudahuel Airport in Santiago, Chile late Monday after trying to check in for his American Airlines flight to Miami, Florida. He was filmed screaming as he climbed behind the counter and started obliterating multiple mounted TV screens with the hammer. The man then smashed several computer screens on the check-in counter, the clip shows. The irate would-be passenger caused roughly $20,000 in damages, authorities said. He was eventually detained by airport security and turned over to cops. https://nypost.com/2024/08/29/world-news/passenger-destroys-american-airlines-counter-with-hammer-after-scammer-sold-him-fake-ticket/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=referral Malaysia Airlines operator validity reduced by CAAM after string of incidents The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has reduced Malaysia Airlines’ Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from three years to one after probing into a string of operational and technical issues. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said that the carrier is now required to submit a monthly report to CAAM with detailed updates on its mitigation plans to improve operations. Since the beginning of 2023, the Malaysian flag carrier has been involved in a string of technical issues, sparking concerns for passenger safety. A Malaysian politician posted an impassioned message on Facebook, outlining all the incidents that beset the airline since January 2023. One of the latest incidents involved an Airbus 330-323 that was forced to perform an emergency landing at Alice Springs Airport (ASP) due to a technical issue en route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). On August 24, 2024, the Malaysian Airlines Group (MAG) issued a statement of apology to its customers over the incidents and assured them that it would prioritize fleet reliability and “operational resilience for the company’s long-term success and growth.” The group also announced scaling back flights and operations until December 2024. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/malaysia-airlines-operator-validity-reduced-by-caam-after-string-of-incidents ASAP Aerospace Optimizes Airline Fleet Maintenance Efficiency with High-Performance Commercial Jet Parts ASAP Aerospace revolutionizes fleet maintenance efficiency by providing high-performance commercial jet parts to airlines. "Our comprehensive inventory of commercial jet parts, combined with our dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, positions us as the go-to distributor for aviation companies worldwide.” — Joe Faruqui ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, July 25, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ -- ASAP Aerospace, a prominent distributor of commercial aircraft parts, proudly announces its collaboration with leading airlines to enhance fleet maintenance efficiency through the supply of high-performance commercial jet components. Offering a comprehensive array of ready-for-purchase products with competitive pricing and expedited delivery, including those for commercial jets, business jets, regional jets, and rotary-wing aircraft, ASAP Aerospace remains at the forefront of providing top-quality solutions for the industry. The partnership between ASAP Aerospace and airlines signifies a significant milestone in streamlining fleet maintenance operations domestically and abroad. 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With a commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction, ASAP Aerospace remains a trusted partner for all aviation parts needs. For more information about ASAP Aerospace and its range of aviation, aerospace, and defense solutions, please visit www.asap-aerospace.com. About ASAP Aerospace: ASAP Aerospace is a leading distributor of aerospace and civil aviation parts, specializing in commercial jet parts, business jet components, regional jet parts, and jet engine parts. With a vast inventory and commitment to quality, ASAP Aerospace serves as a reliable partner to the aviation and defense industry by delivering top-notch solutions and exceptional customer service. https://www.militaryaerospace.com/directory/components-power-electronics-sensors/components-fasteners/press-release/55136480/asap-aerospace-asap-aerospace-optimizes-airline-fleet-maintenance-efficiency-with-high-performance-commercial-jet-parts CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium - APATS 2024, 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 • Safety is not a Secret - September 27-28, 2024 - Seminar, JUNGLE AVIATION AND RELAY SERVICE • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • DEFENCE AVIATION SAFETY 2024 - 2 OCTOBER - 3 OCTOBER 2024 - LONDON • 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 • Safeskies Australia Conference, Canberra Australia - 16th and 17th of October 2024 - www.safeskiesaustralia.org • 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