Thu, May 03, 2007
Loss Of Hydraulics Led To Domino Effect
The
National Transportation Safety Board has released a probable
cause report, stating a Northwest Airlines captain's decision to
shut down the left engine on a DC-9 was responsible for the jet's
May 2005 ground collision with a Northwest Airbus A319 at
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
As ANN reported, the DC-9 --
having lost its steering or braking capability as it taxied to the
terminal building -- impacted the right wing of a much bigger A319
after running under the tail.
Four crewmembers on the DC-9 were injured, including the captain
and first officer. Two ground workers were also injured in the
incident. A section of the DC-9 roof peeled back and the A319 wing
was damaged, spilling a puddle of jet fuel a few hundred feet wide.
The 94 passengers on the DC-9 and 39 passengers on the A319 were
evacuated.
The 16 mph impact occurred shortly after the DC-9's pilots
became aware they had a problem with their right hydraulic system,
according to Minnesota's Star-Tribune.
According to the NTSB report, the left hydraulic system was
operating properly and when the captain shut off the left engine
after the plane landed in the Twin Cities, the "airplane
experienced a loss of steering and a loss of brakes."
Northwest spokesman Bill Mellon said Tuesday that Northwest has
developed an inspection procedure for its fleet relating to the
rudder shutoff valve but declined to comment to the newspaper on
other aspects of the NTSB report.
The NTSB probable cause reads: "the Captain's decision to
shutdown the left engine during taxi with no hydraulic pressure on
the right side hydraulic system to effectively operate the brakes,
steering, or thrust reversers. A factor was the fatigue fracture of
the rudder shutoff valve which resulted in the loss of right side
hydraulic pressure."
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