Complete Fuel Switch Checks by July 21 Ordered by DGCA After Air India Crash Probe

On Monday, India aviation regulator instructed all airlines in the country to scrutinize fuel switches on Boeing planes by July 21 to look at malfunctioning in their locking mechanism on the 787, 747 and 737 models.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) observed that various Indian and foreign carriers had already commenced the process of annually inspecting their fleet.

The DGCA order is issued days after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has provided its preliminary investigation report on the incident of the Air India Flight 171 and the accident which took place in Ahmedabad on June 12.

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The report cited an advisory by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of 2018, whereby operators of various types of Boeing were asked to examine the locking mechanism of the fuel cut-off switches of their aircraft to satisfy that it would not unintentionally be moved. That FAA communication did not require an inspection, but recommend it.

As it happens, the AAIB preliminary report found out that on the Air India flight of June 12, there was a movement of both engine fuel switches to the same state of CUTOFF position one second after another of each other during take-off. Making 32 seconds after the take-off, Boeing 787 crashed, killing 260 people in spite of crew efforts to resume the flow of fuel in 10-14 seconds.

It is not clear how the cut-off engaged its circumstances.

The June 12 London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner lost thrust seconds after being off Ahmedabad airport as it ploughed into a medical college hostel killing all except one among 242 passengers on board and 19 on the ground.

In its interim report published just before the end of last week, AAIB stated that on December 17, 2018, FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB), but this was optional and not compulsory in nature.

A possible problem with the fuel control switch locking mechanism, shown in the report, that is possible to be unlocked during several models of Boeing aircraft, was discussed. These include the Boeing 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 787, and MD-series (MD-11, MD-90) aircraft.

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What DGCA order says

On Monday, the Indian regulator's order said, “DGCA issues Mandatory Modifications for aircraft/engines/components registered in India based on the Airworthiness Directives issued by State of Design/Manufacture. For other non-mandatory instructions including service bulletins, service letters and other information such as SAIB issued by State of Design/Manufacture or OEM (original equipment manufacturer)…”

It added, “It has come to the notice of DGCA, that several operators-internationally as well as domestic have initiated inspection on their aircraft fleet as per the SAIB NM-18-33 dated 17th December 2018.”

The move by DGCA was triggered by a report published by Reuters in the US that the FAA and Boeing have quietly provided staff with notifications saying that the fuel switch locks on Boeing jets are safe. A preliminary report into Air India crash also led to the issuance of the Continued Airworthiness Notification at the FAA on July 11.

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