Flight Data Recorder Shows No Structural Faults In Fatal Accident May 9

An initial analysis of the Flight Data Recorder from the Airbus A400M which went down in Spain May 9 resulting in the fatal injury of four people shows there were no mechanical or structural issues with the aircraft.

The French news service AFP reports that Airbus group's chief of strategy Marwan Lahoud fold the German newspaper Handelsblatt that "there was no structural fault, but we have a serious final assembly quality problem" after looking at the initial data from the FDR.

The paper said in a statement that it had learned that the engines on the A400M had been "poorly installed" during final assembly, which may have caused the engines to malfunction leading to the accident.

One source speaking on the condition of anonymity said that a software issue could also lead to loss of engine control.

Airbus has recommended inspections and possible replacement of engine control units on the A400M, but did not directly link that problem with the accident in Seville, Spain.

The aircraft first entered service in 2013, and several countries have grounded their fleets pending the outcome of the investigation into the accident.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.airbus.com