By Leithen Francis in Singapore
Investigations into September’s fatal crash of a Mandala Airlines Boeing 737-200 in Indonesia have determined that an incorrect flap setting was a contributing factor.
Industry sources in Indonesia familiar with the investigation say investigators from Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Commission (NTSC) have discovered that the Mandala aircraft failed to get airborne because the flaps were set incorrectly.
The 737 (PK-RIM), took off from Medan Airport on 5 September but failed to get airborne and crashed into an approach light at the end of the runway.
It then went through a fence and out onto a street where it crashed into residential buildings, resulting in the death of 99 of the 117 people on board and nearly 50 people on the ground.
A few days after the crash there were reports saying the NTSC investigators had found a fan blade in poor condition. But a source in Indonesia familiar with the probe says investigators took the suspect Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 engine to Indonesian Aerospace’s hangar in Bandung for examination and found “there was no indication that the engine was not working”.
NTSC investigators also conducted fuel tests and determined there was no fuel contamination, says the source.
The NTSC has yet to issue its report into the crash because it still working on its analysis but hopes to “come up with a final draft” at the end of May, says an official at the agency who wishes to remain anonymous.
Source: Flight International
