Air France A330 Crash in the Atlantic Ocean
1 June 2009; Air France A330-200; Flight 447; Atlantic Ocean: The aircraft was on a scheduled international flight from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Paris, France. The aircraft crashed in the Atlantic Ocean in an area roughly 390 miles (650 kilometers) northeast of Brazil's Fernando de Noronha islands, which are about 220 miles (354 kilometers) off the northeast coast of Brazil. Debris from the aircraft was found near the estimated position of its last radio communication. All 216 passengers and 12 crew members, together representing over 30 nationalities, are missing and presumed dead.
Recovery Efforts
Brazilian military aircraft have spotted several areas of suspected debris, and ships from Brazil and elsewhere are converging on these areas to recover any floating debris and the bodies of any crash victims. So far, most of the debris recovered was not from the accident aircraft, but on 6 June 2009, two bodies were recovered along with a piece of luggage that contained paperwork related to the accident flight. As of 7 June 2009, these bodies have not been positively identified as being passengers from the flight. What isn't yet known is the location of any wreckage on the ocean floor, including either of the black boxes (cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder). Each recorder is equipped with an underwater locator beacon, also called a "pinger," which is activated when the recorder is immersed in water. It transmits an acoustical signal that can be detected with a special receiver and can from depths down to 14,000 feet (over four kilometers).
Investigation and Possible Causes
The investigation is headed by the French Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA), the equivalent of the NTSB in the US or the AAIB in the UK, and the BEA will be assisted by a variety of other nations, including Brazil and the US. So far, the most direct evidence of the cause of the accident is the presence of suspected aircraft debris on the ocean surface and a series of 24 automatically generated maintenance messages that were transmitted from the plane shortly before the crash. According to Air France officials, these messages indicated that there were several problems with the aircraft, including some unspecified problems with the electrical system and cabin pressurization system. An Airbus analysis of 24 maintenance messages sent from the aircraft indicate that the pilots and flight control system may have been provided contradictory airspeed indications from one or more of the air data computers. During the last four minutes of messages, the autopilot was switched off, either automatically by the aircraft or manually by the pilots. Other functions, such as the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and the rudder travel limiter failed at the same time. In addition, investigators have also said the messages indicated that cabin pressure was lost and there was some kind of electrical system failure.
Generic Pitot Static System
Airspeed Measuring System Issues
According to a statement from Air France, starting in May 2008 Air France experienced several incidents involving a loss of airspeed data in flight during the cruise phase on some A340 and A330 flights. These incidents were analyzed with Airbus and it was found that pitot tubes had sometimes experienced icing for a few minutes, after which the problem disappeared. In early 2009, Airbus recommended that a new pitot tube model be used that could reduce the incidence of high altitude airspeed discrepancy resulting from pitot probe icing. In late April 2009, Air France decided to replace all its pitot probes on several models, including the A330 fleet, but the accident aircraft had not yet had its pitot probe replaced. After the accident, Air France speeded up this pitot replacement program and has reminded its pilots of the current instructions issued by Airbus for coping with the loss of airspeed data.
General Description of a Pitot-static System
Weather Issues
While there were severe thunderstorms in the area of the crash, and some suspicion that the aircraft was hit by lightning or encountered severe turbulence, there is no direct indication that this occurred. There were a number of aircraft that had been flying between South America and Europe in the hours before and after the departure of Flight 447, including another Air France aircraft on a Sao Paulo to Paris flight that had taken off about the same time as Flight 447, and none of these crews reported any unusually severe weather en route.
AirSafe.com will update crash information as it becomes available.
Interim Accident Investigation Update (PDF - English)
Interim Accident Investigation Update (PDF - French)
Fatal Events for Airlines from Europe
Fatal Air France Plane Crashes
Other A330 Crash Events
Air France Wikipedia Page
Flight 447 Accident Wikipedia Page
Initial Report on the Air France Accident
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http://www.airsafe.com/plane-crash/air-france-flight-447-airbus-a330-atlantic-ocean.htm
Revised: 18 November 2009
