The AAIB’s preliminary report into the June 12 AI 171 crash shows both engine fuel control switches shifted to CUTOFF seconds after takeoff, starving both engines. Cockpit confusion followed. Made by Honeywell and previously flagged by the 2018 FAA advisory, investigations now target human error, mechanical fault, or design issues.
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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS
Preliminary report on Air India AI 171 crash reveals both engine fuel control switches moved to 'CUTOFF' post-takeoff.
The Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 airplane, was flying from Ahmedabad to London on June 12. Shortly after the plane took off, it crashed, and 260 people died.
Investigators, from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in their first report revealed that: both of the plane's engine fuel control switches moved from the 'RUN' position to the 'CUTOFF' position just after takeoff. This caused the plane to lose power and crash.
It manages the fuel flow to the engines. The Boeing 787 has two of these switches, one for each engine.
Pilots find these switches in the cockpit. These switches have two main settings:
The switches are designed to be very safe and require a very deliberate action to move them. They are "spring-loaded", pilots must lift them up over a metal stop or projection before they can slide them between 'RUN' and 'CUTOFF'.
They also have physical brackets or guards around them to protect them from accidental bumps. Experts say it is almost impossible for a pilot to accidentally flip both switches while flying.
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Pilots use these switches only on the ground. They move them to 'RUN' when starting the engines before takeoff and to 'CUTOFF' when shutting down the engines after landing.
Pilots only use them during a flight if an engine has a serious problem, like an engine failure or a fire. In such emergencies, they follow a detailed checklist, and usually, they would only shut down one engine, since modern airplanes can fly with just one engine. Shutting down both engines in the air is extremely rare and dangerous.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. What is the actual color of an aircraft's "black box"? A) Jet Black B) Navy Blue C) Bright Orange D) Silver Answer: C Explanation: "Black box," an aircraft's flight recorder is painted a bright, fluorescent orange color. This color is used to make the device highly visible and easier to locate among the wreckage following an accident. |
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