S.A. Airlink second incident in 2 months

This is the CVR transcript :

4.1.1 The last 1 minute and 6 seconds of the CVR were analyzed and combined with the
information obtained from the FDR. A related FDR Graph is included as Attachment A.
The First Officer was the pilot flying (PF) with the Captain as pilot not flying (PNF).
From the FDR data it is evident that the right-hand engine failed after 70 knots but prior
to V1 as indicated by the right hand engine torque which started spooling down. This
occurred as the Tower advised the aircraft of a smoke trail behind the aircraft. All
hydraulic and oil pressures were still normal at this stage.
During rotation at 05:57:01Z, an unknown aircraft transmitted the words “Severe smoke”.
A warning sound [ping] is then heard and the First Officer (FO) stated “right oil
contamination”. The FDR data indicated that the aircraft was at a pressure altitude of
approximately 100 feet and at an indicated airspeed of 140 knots.
The Captain stated at 05:57:10Z that “we have lost an engine” and then “we are losing
an engine”. The FO responded at 05:57:14Z that “I have it, I have it” – “Keeping runway
track six thousand feet”- “Flap is zero””and confirms “we have lost an engine”. The FDR
now indicated a pressure altitude of approximately 350 feet with an indicated airspeed of
140 knots, the right-hand and left hand engine rpm was at 100%. The left hand engine
torque was still at approximately 100% with the right hand engine torque reducing
rapidly. The hydraulic and oil pressures were normal.
At 05:57:25Z the Captain notified the Tower “Okay we’ve lost an engine”. The
associated pressure altitude was approximately 480 feet with an indicated airspeed of
120 knots, The right-hand and left-hand engine rpm was at 100% with the left-hand
engine torque at 100% and hydraulic and oil pressure normal. The FO comments “We’re
not maintaining
At 05:57:28Z three audible warning sounds [pings] are heard and the Master Warning
switch is activated. The right-hand engine beta goes to zero. The left-hand engine torque
is at 100%. The pressure altitude is at approximately 490 feet and indicated airspeed
120 knots. An unidentified transmission advises” Your gear is still down”.
At 05:57:30Z the FO stated “gear up”, followed by the Captain saying “ok gear up”.
However, the left engine now spools down from 100% to zero within 7 seconds. The
pressure altitude was approximately 450 feet with an indicated airspeed of 125 knots.
12
At 05:57:33 three audible warning sounds [pings] are heard together with stick shaker
activation. The indicated airspeed reduces to approximately 117 knots with the angle of
attack of 14 degrees. A low hydraulic pressure is as well as low oil pressure recording is
activated on the right-hand engine.
A clicking sound like a switch or handle moving is then heard on the area microphone
with an associated sound of an engine running down.
The FO stated “wait, wait pitch forward Allister” with the pressure altitude at
approximately 450 feet and indicated airspeed of 130 knots. The pitch attitude was 7.5
degrees nose up.
A GPWS warning of “Don’t sink” was followed immediately by three pings. At 05:57:39Z
the stick shaker can be heard again followed by three audible warning sounds [pings].
The associated pressure altitude was approximately 350 feet with an indicated airspeed
of 110 knots. The pitch attitude is -2.5 degrees nose down angle of attack 14 degrees
and flap setting zero.
The FO comments “fly it out of here” followed by the GPWS stating “Too low”. Another
three audible warning sounds [pings] are heard together with a stick shaker sound in the
background and the FO states “gear is up flaps is***” whereby the Captain confirms
“gear is up flaps***”. The FDR now indicated a pressure altitude of approximately 150
feet and an indicated airspeed of 70 knots. The pitch attitude is 2.5 degrees nose up with
a flap setting of zero and a further three audible warning sounds [pings] are heard.
At 05:57:52 the CVR recording stops.

ZS-NRM, at least they lost the one they hadn’t resprayed in the new colour scheme yet. Unfortunately the Captain died in this accident.

Yeah, that was real rotten luck, apparently he crashed an Islander into a house about 5 years ago and everyone got out alive, but he was pretty banged up. Bummer!:(

ZS-NRM, at least they lost the one they hadn’t resprayed in the new colour scheme yet. Unfortunately the Captain died in this accident.

This was the Jetstream 41 which crashed in Durban :

Rumour is that all J.31’s have been grounded, worldwide! I wonder if this affects the RAF’s Dominie T.1’s?

Sorry to resurrect this but it seems this jolly airline is in trouble again. More pax stranded. How is the Jetstream faring in Europe (see the problem in bold below)?

SA Airlink planes grounded

Quote: Pretoria – All 14 of SA Airlink’s Jetstream 41 planes have been grounded – a move which could throw the holiday plans of hundreds of people into disarray.

The fatal crash seems to be crew error:

Quote: According to the CAA the problems are similar to those experienced by the plane which went down in Durban in September. The pilot, Allister Freeman, died 13 days after the crash. The CAA says his co-pilot, Sonja Bierman, can’t recall anything about the crash.

An initial report has shown that one of them switched off the working engine instead of the right engine which had cut out because of a faulty air seal.

The problem has been found on 13 Jetstream 41s worldwide.

SA Airlink will not be grounded
Dec 14, 2009 8:21 PM | By Sapa
SA Airlink will not be grounded, but has been given until next Monday to make sure its maintenance programme met required safety standards, the transport department said…

http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/local/article233513.ece

Airlink ‘must explain itself’

Johannesburg – SA Airlink will be given a chance to explain itself to Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele next week, the transport department said on Saturday…http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/dcf8a16b7a0a496eb947a17218a4e4dc/12-12-2009-02-30/Airlink_must_explain_itself

This is a regional airline, privately owned, and they’re not having a lot of luck lately. Thanks for the pic Mpacha. BTW the SABC reported some minor injuries (10) but everyone has been discharged from hospital.

A picture sent to me by a friend.

Official press release from SA Airlink

Press release;

sa airlink media bulletin # 1 issued 7 december 2009 12h05

december 2009
INCIDENT – SA AIRLINK FLIGHT SA8625 – GEORGE

SA Airlink regrets to advise that its flight SA8625 operating from Cape Town to George has been involved in an incident on landing at George Airport. The aircraft an Embraer 135 ( 37 seat ) regional jet ZS SJX is reported as having aquaplaned off the end of the wet runway. The incident occurred at 11h06 local.

The 30 passengers and 3 crew are unhurt. Airlink has arranged trauma counselling for all passengers and crew. Airport staff and trauma councillors are with the passengers at present.

Weather at the time is reported as being overcast with rain. The aircraft appears to be damaged the extent of which is unknown at this stage.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to our passengers
SA Airlink will release further information as soon as it becomes available.

Issued for Airlink
Karin Murray
Tel 011 451 7300

There has just been a third incident, possibly with injuries.

http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/2e11ecffc03b40a2b11f747d42e23603/07-12-2009-11-51/Plane_crash-lands_in_George

🙁

I’m a pretty good flyer and can take bangs, thunderstorms and turbulence in my stride, but about the only time I have been apprehensive aboard an aircraft was on a SAA B737-200 from Port Elizabeth to Durban back in 1999. The thing looked as if it was about ready for the scrapyard and the flying wasn’t much better.
The SAA flight back from Johannesburg to London was ok, though.