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Airbus says AI2379 lost controls for four seconds
The Telegraph··14 Aug
Airbus's first reading of the digital flight data recorder on Air India AI2379, a Phuket-Delhi A320 on August 4, said all three hydraulic systems lost pressure in sequence. Elevators and ailerons did not respond normally for about four seconds as the jet dropped some 300 feet. Autopilot 2 disconnected. The first officer then applied full nose-down input.
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What It Means For You
- If you flew or booked Phuket-Delhi on Air India, the manufacturer now says AI2379 lost normal elevator and aileron response for about four seconds on August 4.
- Injured passengers can note 20 travellers and four cabin crew were listed as seriously hurt, with 17 taken to hospital after a 300-foot drop.
- Anyone following the probe can see Airbus assisting AAIB and asking for structural checks because load limits were exceeded.
What's Happening
- Airbus analysed the DFDR and found sequential Green, then Blue and Yellow, hydraulic pressure losses around 4.02 am.
- AP2 disconnected. The first officer's full nose-down command had no immediate surface response until pressure returned.
- The jet lost about 300 feet. The preliminary file does not state a final cause.
Why Three Hydraulics Matter on an A320
- An A320 has Green, Blue and Yellow hydraulic systems so that elevators (pitch) and ailerons (roll) still move if one system fails. All three dropping together is not the normal redundancy case.
- Airbus delivered an initial dossier to Air India about 15 hours after the event and has sought data from the flight guidance and flight augmentation computers.
- The same aircraft later featured in Air India's decision to screen all pilots for prohibited substances after a separate crew-test finding on this flight.
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