Heathrow Boeing 777 Crash Interim Report Released
Those investigating the crash of a Boeing 777 at Heathrow Airport earlier this year are closely assessing the aircraft’s engines and fuel systems, it emerged in an interim report released today.
The Boeing 777 - operated by British Airways - crashed just short of Heathrow’s southerly runway after having flown from China.
Landing on grass, the aircraft skidded, damaging its undercarriage.
136 passengers were on board the flight, together with 16 crew members. Just one of these received serious injuries as a result of the crash.
The accident led to the cancellation of a number of scheduled arrivals and departures.
Electromagnetic Theory
One initial theory involved radio signals emanating from a procession of cars transporting Prime Minister Gordon Brown away from Heathrow. The idea, however, has now been discounted – the report, produced by the AAIB (Air Accidents investigation Branch), rejecting the interference of electromagnetic waves as having played a part.
Fuel Flow
The flight occurred during what has been referred to as atypically low temperatures. One notion, therefore – mentioned in the report - is that the Boeing’s fuel was affected, even though the air temperature was not outside safe boundaries.
The report additionally wrote of how the flow of fuel could have been weakened by fuel system restrictions affecting the areas between the -777’s fuel tanks and its engine HP (High Pressure) pumps.
These pumps, it said, had "unusual and fresh cavitation damage to the outlet ports consistent with operation at low inlet pressure.”
The Boeing’s engines are presently being assessed by Rolls Royce, while Boeing is looking at the fuel system.
Source – Airport International’s London Reporter
Recent related News Items:
Engines 'Did Not Respond' on Heathrow Air Crash Aircraft
Heathrow Airport Crash Causes Delays
Heathrow Airport Crash Investigation
