According to leaked documents a preliminary report by the CAA Sudan states, that the airplane overran runway 36 by about 200 meters as the result of landing with tailwind, one locked out thrust reverser and the failure of spoilers. The airplane came to a safe stop, but the fire started in the moment, the airplane came to a standstill. 30 people died in the blaze, 178 people escaped and survived.
According to the report the left hand engine thrust reverser of the Airbus A310 had been locked stowed by maintenance. The airplane was dispatched with the thrust reverser inoperative according to minimum equipment list.
After the diversion to Port Sudan the airplane returned to Khartoum and approached runway 36 in rain and winds from 320 degrees at 7 knots. The runway was wet. The autopilot had been disconnected at 800 feet AGL, minimum landing flaps had been deployed.
The airplane touched down before the touch down zone at 134 knots indicated airspeed, however a ground speed of 155 knots. Spoiler number 5 malfunctioned. The crew applied reverse thrust using the right hand thrust reverser, which worked normal. 10 seconds after touchdown the speed had reduced to 98 KIAS (122 knots ground speed), 20 seconds after touchdown the speed had dropped to 90 KIAS (107 knots ground speed). At that point a ground proximity warning "terrain, terrain" activated and the "Pull Up" light illuminated. The crew stowed the thrust reverser 28 seconds after touchdown at 79 KIAS (93 knots ground speed). 7 seconds later the airplane went past the runway end at a speed of 76 knots (this speed was not specified as ground or indicated speed). The airplane came to a stop 200 meters past the runway end. Tracks indicate, that the fire on the right side started after the airplane stopped.
The continuing investigation focusses on the reasons why the deceleration of the airplane deteriorated, the reasons of the GPWS alert and the source and cause of the fire
الأحد 09 أغسطس 2009, 4:53 am
