Fri, Feb 13, 2009
Crew Discussed 'Significant' Ice Accretion On Wings,
Windscreen
ANN REALTIME UPDATE
02.13.09 1630 EST: The flight data recorder recovered from
the wreckage of Continental Connection flight 3407 has revealed a
series of "severe" pitch and roll oscillations moments after the
flight crew lowered 15 degrees of flaps to configure their
Bombardier Q400 turboprop for landing, NTSB member Steven
Chealander disclosed during a Friday press conference.
Both the FDR and cockpit voice recorders were recovered in
surprisingly good shape, and are now being analyzed by Board
investigators in Washington, DC. Chealander said a prelminary
analysis of the last 30 minutes of voice and flight data recovered
from the recorders indicated the following timeline of events:
- At 30 minutes prior to the end of the recording, the flight
crew briefed on the ILS approach to runway 23 at BUF, and
destination weather. The crew also discussed their current
visibility conditions flying at 16,000 feet, reporting 3 miles
visibility in light snow and mist;
- Commenting on restricted ("hazy") visibility at FL160, the
pilot requested and was granted permission to descend to 12,000
feet. ATC cleared the aircraft to 11,000 feet soon after;
- The flight crew activated airframe deicing systems, and
discussed "significant" ice buildup on the windscreen and leading
edges of the wings on the descent;
- The pilot put the landing gear down one minute prior to the end
of the recording, and selected Flaps 15 degrees 20 seconds after
deploying the gear;
- The flight director recorded a series of "severe pitch and roll
excursions" seconds after the flaps were lowered. The crew
apparently attempted to retract landing gear and flaps before the
aircraft impacted.
The Q400 is equipped with pneumatic deicing boots on the leading
edges of the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical
stabilizer.
Chealander warned the investigation has just begun, and it's too
soon to draw any conclusions about what brought down the aircraft
with 49 people onboard. "We're not ruling anything in, or anything
out," he told reporters.
Previous Report
1200
EST: National Transportation Safety Board investigators
have recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data
recorder from the wreckage of
Continental Connection Flight 3407, which
impacted a western New York home Thursday evening while on approach
to land at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF).
The NTSB will hold a briefing at 4:00 pm EST Friday to release
further details of the accident, which claimed the lives of all 49
persons onboard the Bombardier Q400 turboprop and at least one
fatality on the ground.
Witnesses say the aircraft impacted the home at a steep,
left-wing down attitude. Fire consumed the wreckage but for the
aircraft's empennage section, which contained the CVR and FDR.
We will follow this story throughout the day and provide
updates as more information becomes available. Aero-News joins with
others in expressing our deepest sympathies for the friends and
families of the victims of this accident.
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