Officials Won't Comment

Were mechanics on the ground at El Paso International Airport breaking the rules last month, when they conducted engine run-up tests on a Continental Airlines 737?

As Aero-News reported, Donald Gene Buchanan was sucked into right turbofan of a waiting 737 January 16th during a maintenance check. He was killed when the engine spooled up to 70-percent power. Buchanan, a 64-year old A&P from Julie's Aircraft Services, had been checking for a reported oil leak at the time.

The question, however, is whether the run-up -- which was conducted at the gate -- should have been conducted somewhere else. The El Paso Times reports airport rules say run-ups are forbidden in the terminal area -- and are only allowed in the designated run-up area, more than two miles away across the field.

Passengers were boarding the airliner when the pilots advanced the throttles -- causing Buchanan to be pulled into the engine.

Bill Gamble, an air safety investigator from Arlington, TX who is investigating the death for the NTSB, said he is aware of the airport's procedures for run-ups -- but he was not prepared to comment on whether those rules were violated.

"We are still collecting data," Gamble told the Times.

Meanwhile, the owner of Julie's Aircraft Services says his mechanics don't have authorization to order run-ups, or to taxi aircraft to the run-up area.

"The captain is in charge of the airplane. We don't have run-up and taxi authorization from Continental," said Thorleifur Juliusson. "It could be requested to take it (the engine's power) up that high, but then the captain would have to say let's take it (the plane) up to Runway 22," where the run-up apron is located.

Continental wouldn't comment on the fatal accident -- citing the ongoing NTSB investigation as its reason.

El Paso airport Aviation Director Pat Abeln also would not comment on factors involved in the January 16 fatality -- but he did note the airport has run-up areas for a reason, largely due to noise.

"Those are reasonable rules and regulations and we would expect them to be complied with," Abeln said.

FMI: www.continental.com, www.elpasointernationalairport.com